Portland State University

Add Comparison

2017 Undergraduate Tuition

$7,403

5.46% growth from 2016

2017 Average Net Price

$13,573

After Financial Aid

2016 Student Loan

6.79%

Default Rate

2017 Acceptance Rate

92.4%

6,815 Applicants

2017 Enrolled Students

26,693

62.3% Full-Time

2017 Graduation Rate

48.9%

598 Graduates

About

Portland State University is a higher education institution located in Multnomah County, OR. In 2016, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Portland State University were General Psychology (346 degrees awarded), Liberal Arts & Sciences (244 degrees), and General Social Sciences (235 degrees).

In 2017, 7,136 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Portland State University. 56.8% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 43.2% awarded men. The majority of degree recipients were white (4,444 degrees), 6.33 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (702 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Portland State University is $7,403, which is $-19,097 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($26,500).

Photo by David Wilson

Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at Portland State University is $7,403, which is $-19,097 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($26,500).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $13,573.

In 2017, 49% of undergraduate students received federal grants, while 46% of undergraduate students received federal loans.

Student Expenses

Tuition Costs

$7,403

2017 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2017, the cost of tuition at Portland State University was $7,403. The cost of tuition at Portland State University is $-19,097 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($26,500).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Portland State University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$13,573

2017 Value

6.27%

1 Year Growth

In 2017 Portland State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $13,573. Between 2016 and 2017, the average net price of Portland State University grew by 6.27%.

This chart compares the average net price of Portland State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$12,831

Room and Board

$1,263

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Portland State University was of $12,831 in 2017. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,263. The cost of room and board increased by 4.42% between 2016 and 2017. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Portland State University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid by Income Level

49%

Of Undergraduates Receive Grants

46%

Of Undergraduates Receive Federal Loans

49% of undergraduate students at Portland State University received grants or loans in 2017. This represents a decline of 2% with respect to 2016, when 50% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Portland State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

6.79%

2016 Default Rate

469

Number of Defaults

In 2016 the default rate for borrower's at Portland State University was 6.79%, which represents 469 out of the 6912 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Portland State University received 6,815 undergraduate applications in 2017, which represents a 6.94% annual growth. Out of those 6,815 applicants, 6,300 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 92.4% acceptance rate.

There were 26,693 students enrolled at Portland State University in 2017, and 41% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Portland State University has an overall enrollment yield of 30.6%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

92.4%

Acceptance Rate in 2017

6,300

Accepted Out of 6,815

In 2017, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Portland State University was 92.4% (6,300 admissions from 6,815 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2016, which was 89.4%. Between 2016 and 2017, the number of applicants grew by 6.94%, while admissions grew by 10.5%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Portland State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

SAT Scores

41%

Submission Percentage

754

Scores Submitted

41% of enrolled first-time students at Portland State University in 2017 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Portland State University has a total enrollment of 26,693 students. The full-time enrollment at Portland State University is 16,624 students and the part-time enrollment is 10,069. This means that 62.3% of students enrolled at Portland State University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Portland State University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 55.6% White, 12.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.63% Asian, 6.11% Two or More Races, 3.39% Black or African American, 1.11% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.573% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Portland State University in full-time Undergraduate programs are majority White Female (28.6%), followed by White Male (23.1%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (9.26%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are majority White Female (37%), followed by White Male (21.1%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (5.47%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

62.3%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Portland State University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 26,693 students. The full-time enrollment at Portland State University is 16,624 and the part-time enrollment is 10,069. This means that 62.3% of students enrolled at Portland State University are enrolled full-time compared with 78% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Portland State University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

72%

2017 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Portland State University was 72%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (83%), Portland State University had a retention rate lower than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Portland State University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity

White
14,828
Hispanic or Latino
3,428
Asian
2,303

The enrolled student population at Portland State University is 55.6% White, 12.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.63% Asian, 6.11% Two or More Races, 3.39% Black or African American, 1.11% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.573% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 51.5% White, 13.4% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.57% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1,205 students (4.51%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2017, 968 more women than men received degrees from Portland State University. The majority of degree recipients at Portland State University are white (4,444 degrees awarded). There were 6.33 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (702 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Portland State University is General Psychology (346 degrees awarded), followed by Liberal Arts & Sciences (244 degrees) and General Social Sciences (235 degrees).

The most specialized majors across all degree types at Portland State University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Architecture and Related Services (108 degrees awarded), Language & Linguistics (150 degrees), and Public Administration and Social Service (399 degrees).

Workforce

Common Jobs by Major

Social workers, all other

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Portland State University are Social workers, all other (166,323 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (118,559 people), Other managers (104,354 people), Architects, except landscape and naval (87,610 people), and Postsecondary teachers (59,019 people).

The most specialized majors at Portland State University are Architecture and Related Services (108 degrees awarded), Language & Linguistics (150 degrees), Public Administration and Social Service (399 degrees), Interdisciplinary Studies (340 degrees), and Natural Resources & Conservation (90 degrees).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Portland State University are Surgeons, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel, Physicians, and Property, real estate, & community association managers

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Portland State University are Elementary & secondary schools (249,555 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (165,403 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (153,635 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (135,515 people), and Individual & family services (105,712 people).

Degrees

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Portland State University.

Most Common

General Psychology
346 degree-majorss awarded
Liberal Arts & Sciences
244 degree-majorss awarded
General Social Sciences
235 degree-majorss awarded

In 2017, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Portland State University was General Psychology with 346 degree-majorss awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Portland State University according to their major.

Gender Breakdown for Common Majors

Degrees Awarded to Men

3,084
4,052

In 2017, 3,084 degrees were awarded to men at Portland State University, which is 0.761 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (4,052).

This chart displays the gender disparity between the top 5 majors at Portland State University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2017, 143 degrees were awarded to men at Portland State University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 0.894 times less than the 160 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2017, 256 degrees were awarded to women at Portland State University in General Psychology, which is 2.49 times more than the 103 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

19%

100% Completion Time

42%

150% Completion Time

In 2017, 19% of students graduating from Portland State University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 42% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 48% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Diversity

Graduation Rate by Race and Gender

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Black or African American Female

Highest Graduation Rate (63.6%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate at Portland State University is Female and Black or African American (63.6% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (68.1%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 2.84% of graduates (17 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
4,444 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
702 degrees awarded
Asian
478 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Portland State University is white (4,444 degrees awarded). There were 6.33 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (702 degrees).

3.91% of degree recipients (279 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Gender

Most Common Gender Demographic

White Female
2,576 degrees awarded
White Male
1,868 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
430 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and gender grouping at Portland State University is white female (2,576 degrees awarded). There were 1.38 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1,868 degrees).

Operations

Portland State University has an endowment valued at nearly $2.53M, as of the end of the 2017 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $3.01M (119%), compared to the 5.91% average return ($16.9M on $287M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2017, Portland State University had a total salary expenditure of $517M. Portland State University employs 235 Assistant professors, 231 Professors, and 221 Associate professors. Most academics at Portland State University are Male Professors (161), Female Assistant professors(132), and Male Associate professors (117).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Portland State University are: Business and Financial Operations, with 506 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 228 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 207 employees.

Finances

Endowment

$2.53M

2017 Endowment

6.17%

growth from 2016

Portland State University has an endowment valued at about $2.53M, as of the end of the 2017 fiscal year. The endowment of Portland State University grew 6.17% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $284M lower than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Portland State University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$42.9M - Federal
$12.6M - State
$2.46M - Local

As of 2017, Portland State University received $42.9M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $12.6M from state grants and contracts, and $2.46M from local grants and contracts.

Expenses

Salary Expenditure

$221M

2017 Salaries

3.19%

growth from 2016

In 2017, Portland State University paid a median of $221M in salaries, which represents 42.7% of their overall expenditure ($517M) and a 3.19% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 5.57% growth from 2015 and a 0.408% growth from 2014.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 215M (42.7% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$71.5M

Instructional Salaries

842

Number of Employees

In 2017, Portland State University paid a total of $71.5M to 842 employees working as instructors, which represents 32.3% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $61.3M (31.9%) for similar Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity.

Faculty and Staff

Occupations by Share

Assistant professor

Most Common Instructor

235 Employees

Business and Financial Operations

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

506 Employees

In 2017, the most common positions for instructional staff at Portland State University were Assistant professor with 235 employees; Professor with 231 employees; and Professor with 221 employees.

In 2017, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Portland State University were Business and Financial Operations with 506 employees; Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 228 employees; and Office and Administrative Support with 207 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Gender

Most Common Demographic

Male Professor
Female Assistant professor
Male Associate professor

In 2017, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Portland State University was Male Professor with 161 employees, Female Assistant professor with 132 employees, and Male Associate professor with 117 employees.

This chart shows the gender split between each academic rank present at Portland State University.

Keep Exploring

Georgia State University

University

Florida Atlantic University

University

Washington State University

University

Azusa Pacific University

University

Edgewood College

University