Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Portland State University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 35% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 61st percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (OR wage index 0.99). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Portland State University
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $78,669 | $113,889 | +6% | #99 of 349 | #92 | $25,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $82,853 | $101,905 | +1% | #86 of 258 | #108 | $23,875 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $73,079 | $94,223 | +2% | #102 of 318 | #120 | $23,000 |
| Physics | $62,749 | $87,488 | +14% | #30 of 107 | #24 | $22,358 |
| Computer Engineering | $87,259 | — | — | — | — | $25,000 |
| Civil Engineering | $67,509 | $86,084 | -1% | #105 of 233 | #112 | $22,470 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $52,859 | $79,727 | -4% | #202 of 452 | #204 | $16,444 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $58,069 | $77,226 | +1% | #310 of 796 | #335 | $23,000 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $40,230 | $75,765 | +16% | #23 of 110 | #12 | $22,221 |
| Economics | $47,865 | $75,482 | -9% | #220 of 368 | #210 | $20,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $51,358 | $71,621 | +5% | #325 of 1176 | #325 | $19,901 |
| Chemistry | $35,395 | $70,948 | +9% | #71 of 209 | #52 | $24,000 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services | $37,585 | $70,765 | +1% | #19 of 37 | #20 | $18,000 |
| Mathematics | $37,427 | $68,280 | -2% | #178 of 309 | #166 | $20,834 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $49,696 | $68,274 | +0% | #87 of 187 | #100 | $18,791 |
| Social Work | $41,594 | $63,456 | +23% | #18 of 420 | #7 | $23,000 |
| Architecture | $32,678 | $62,349 | -7% | #66 of 78 | #61 | $25,000 |
| Marketing | $41,395 | $61,499 | -11% | #370 of 516 | #383 | $18,000 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences | $37,709 | $59,961 | -2% | #76 of 156 | #65 | $15,844 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $35,615 | $59,563 | +1% | #102 of 215 | #116 | $21,480 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $35,143 | $59,232 | +5% | #192 of 660 | #168 | $20,499 |
| Political Science and Government | $35,173 | $59,185 | -6% | #336 of 565 | #316 | $19,083 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $31,512 | $58,961 | +7% | #79 of 265 | #64 | $25,000 |
| Public Health | $36,762 | $58,860 | +0% | #97 of 215 | #88 | $21,500 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $45,401 | $58,109 | +5% | #208 of 660 | #209 | $22,630 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $37,831 | $57,932 | -4% | #89 of 138 | #88 | $21,253 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | $31,571 | $57,438 | +3% | #75 of 207 | #73 | $16,476 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $37,419 | $57,303 | -3% | #24 of 33 | #25 | $21,720 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $30,253 | $56,436 | -15% | #93 of 118 | #89 | $21,666 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $35,304 | $56,158 | +9% | #114 of 299 | #115 | $23,100 |
| Biology | $29,468 | $54,934 | -4% | #533 of 841 | #533 | $22,750 |
| Geography and Cartography | $35,330 | $54,310 | -6% | #89 of 117 | #82 | $21,771 |
| History | $24,612 | $54,131 | +7% | #152 of 459 | #124 | $24,423 |
| Sociology | $28,708 | $53,753 | +2% | #195 of 462 | #178 | $18,376 |
| Social Sciences | $35,093 | $52,562 | -2% | #43 of 87 | #38 | $21,914 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | — | $51,925 | +4% | #42 of 90 | #36 | $23,499 |
| Visual and Performing Arts | — | $51,248 | +8% | #4 of 10 | #3 | — |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | $34,020 | $51,066 | -2% | #13 of 24 | #12 | $19,500 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $23,253 | $50,949 | -4% | #277 of 476 | #289 | $22,604 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $32,481 | $50,427 | +4% | #59 of 172 | #62 | $20,750 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $27,500 | $50,241 | -9% | #179 of 225 | #173 | $19,500 |
| Philosophy | $24,124 | $50,191 | -8% | #62 of 86 | #56 | $18,822 |
| Psychology | $33,179 | $49,063 | -3% | #598 of 1027 | #590 | $19,655 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | $45,870 | — | — | — | — | $25,000 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $25,352 | $45,692 | +15% | #39 of 255 | #44 | $29,399 |
| English Language and Literature | $27,819 | $43,342 | -11% | #443 of 576 | #443 | $19,513 |
| Anthropology | $34,862 | $41,759 | -11% | #142 of 188 | #143 | $17,937 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $27,028 | $41,639 | -5% | #98 of 144 | #96 | $23,250 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $20,866 | $40,731 | -2% | #235 of 423 | #232 | $26,296 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $25,262 | $39,563 | -23% | #23 of 24 | #23 | $25,000 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The Portland State University Town Property Report
- Avg home value near campus: $429,780
- Avg rent near campus: $1,583/mo — vs ~$865/mo campus room rate
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 97209 (3.9% cap, Portland)
Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.
Free — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
🏆 Where Portland State University Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $8,694 | $26,334 |
| Room | $7,785 | |
| Board | $5,355 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $28,023 | $46,923 |
Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,558 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,186 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,162 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,351 |
| $110,001+ | $19,412 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Portland State University's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Portland State University?
How much does it cost to attend Portland State University?
What is the graduation rate at Portland State University?
Is Portland State University a good school?
- Outcomes (B): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (B): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Portland State University?
Is there rental demand near Portland State University?
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Portland State University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to Portland State University
Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology