Portland State University
Portland, OR
90.9%
Acceptance Rate
$11,679
Avg Cost (In-State)
$31,074
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
52.9%
Graduation Rate
13,182
Total Enrollment
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
Rolling admissions
Common App
No
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
0
Letters of Rec
0
Application Fee
$65
Interview
Not required
Essays: No essay required for freshman admission
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$46,937
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$57,906
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
53%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $51,358 | $71,621 | 362 |
| Psychology, General. | $33,179 | $49,063 | 343 |
| Social Sciences, General. | $35,093 | $52,562 | 219 |
| Marketing. | $41,395 | $61,499 | 211 |
| Public Health. | $36,762 | $58,860 | 186 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | $45,401 | $58,109 | 180 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | $23,253 | $50,949 | 179 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | $58,069 | $77,226 | 179 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗Oregon Promise (Community College)
~$8k valueOregon Promise covers most community college tuition for Oregon residents who go directly to CC within 6 months of HS graduation.
Who it helps: Recent Oregon HS grads going directly to an OR community college.
How to use: File FAFSA + Oregon Promise app by April 1.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Oregon Opportunity Grant
Up to $3,612/year (publics); $3,612 (privates)
stateOR residents with financial need at OR colleges. Pell-aligned EFC.
Deadline: March 1 (FAFSA)
Learn more ↗Oregon Tribal Student Grant
Full cost of attendance at OR publics
stateEnrolled members of one of OR's nine federally recognized tribes attending OR public colleges/universities.
Deadline: ORSAA or FAFSA + apply
Learn more ↗Verne Catt McDowell Scholarship
$5,000
nationalStudents from Linn/Lane/Marion counties Oregon pursuing social-work or related helping professions.
Deadline: April 30
Learn more ↗Federal Work-Study
Varies (hourly wages, typically $10–$20/hr)
federalStudents with financial need who want to earn money through part-time employment while enrolled.
Deadline: Varies by school (apply via FAFSA)
Learn more ↗Federal Pell Grant
Up to $7,395/year
federalUndergraduate students with demonstrated financial need (determined by FAFSA EFC).
Deadline: June 30 (FAFSA deadline for current award year)
Learn more ↗Dell Scholars Program
$20,000 over 4 years + laptop + textbook credits
nationalStudents who have participated in an approved college-readiness program, demonstrate financial need, and have a minimum 2.4 GPA.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Coca-Cola Scholars Program
$20,000
nationalHigh school seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA who demonstrate leadership and community service.
Deadline: October 31
Learn more ↗Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship
Up to $55,000/year
nationalHigh-achieving high school seniors with financial need (family income under $95,000). Minimum 3.5 GPA.
Deadline: November 18
Learn more ↗Siemens Competition (now part of Regeneron ISEF)
Up to $100,000
activityHigh school students who compete in regional and national ISEF-affiliated science fairs.
Deadline: Varies by regional fair
Learn more ↗Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 90.9% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
90.87%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
38.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
38.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
84.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
28.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
30.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
73.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
49.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Not considered
Visits, info sessions and opening emails don't move the needle here.
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
Georgia State University-Perimeter College
Atlanta, GA
90.8% acceptance
Both admit around 91% of applicants, with 14k undergrads and a s campus — a close selectivity match.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI
90.7% acceptance
Both admit around 91% of applicants, with 17k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
University Park, PA
91.2% acceptance
Both admit around 91% of applicants, with 8k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
91.3% acceptance
Similar selectivity (91% vs 91%) but out-of-state cost runs $20k — meaningfully less than $31k.
California State University-Fresno
Fresno, CA
95.3% acceptance
Similar selectivity (95% vs 91%) but out-of-state cost runs $20k — meaningfully less than $31k.
California State University-Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA
93.3% acceptance
Similar selectivity (93% vs 91%) but out-of-state cost runs $20k — meaningfully less than $31k.
Reaches above this college
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
11.6% acceptance
Same u setting in the West, but more selective (12% vs 91%) — a stretch target if Portland State University is already on your list.
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
11% acceptance
Same u setting in the West, but more selective (11% vs 91%) — a stretch target if Portland State University is already on your list.
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA
9.8% acceptance
Same u setting in the West, but more selective (10% vs 91%) — a stretch target if Portland State University is already on your list.
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