Portland State University
Portland, Oregon · Public · 90.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 69/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Portland State University scores 69 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale - an urban public research university in Portland, OR with 13,182 enrolled undergraduates. The score reflects a 7.8-year payback period, a 60.0% earnings premium, a 0.534 debt-to-earnings ratio, a 52.7% completion rate, and a 63.3% repayment rate at 7 years. Net price is $9,552, and in-state tuition of $11,679 with net price well below that reflects substantial need-based aid and grant funding. The engineering programs are genuinely strong: Computer Science (160 grads, $78,669 year-one, grade B), Electrical Engineering (57 grads, $82,853 year-one, grade B), and Mechanical Engineering (75 grads, $73,079 year-one, grade B) all earn B grades. Psychology (350 grads, $33,179 year-one, grade D) is PSU's largest program and a major drag on institutional averages. Social Sciences General (275 grads, $35,093 year-one, grade D) similarly weighs heavily on the median.
Portland State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,679/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $31,074/yr |
| Average net price | $9,552/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $38,208 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $57,906 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $217 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 52.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 13,182 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $11,679/year ($31,074/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $9,552/year, or roughly $38,208 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $7,655/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,112/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,500, which works out to about $217 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($38,400) and comes to 0.53, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,655 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,752 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,981 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,993 |
| $110,001+ | $19,112 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $7,655 per year at PSU. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $7,752, nearly the same. The 52.7% completion rate is the central risk. For CS, engineering, or finance students in this bracket, the cost-to-outcome ratio is exceptional. For liberal arts, social sciences, or arts students, even $7,655 per year produces a weak payback relative to the D and F grade outcomes.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $8,981 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $12,993. The gradual increases maintain PSU's low-cost positioning through the middle-income range. At $9,000-$13,000 per year, PSU's engineering and business programs offer outstanding value for Portland metro students. The repayment rate of 63.3% at 7 years is lower than the payback math would suggest - indicating that some graduates, particularly in low-earning programs, are not making consistent progress on their debt.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $19,112 per year at PSU - a four-year total near $76,000. For high-income families, PSU's advantage is primarily for students who want to be in Portland and who are entering engineering, CS, or finance.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Portland State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $49,063 | D |
| Social Sciences, General | $52,562 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $71,621 | C+ |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $50,949 | F |
| Marketing | $61,499 | C+ |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $59,961 | C+ |
| Biology | $54,934 | D |
| Computer Science | $113,889 | B |
| Accounting | $77,226 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,109 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science is PSU's strongest program by volume and outcome: 160 graduates, $78,669 year-one, $113,889 at year four, grade B on $31,000 debt. PSU's CS program benefits directly from Portland's growing technology sector and the presence of Intel, Nike, and Adidas headquartered in the metro. Year-one earnings of $78,669 and a year-four trajectory to $113,889 are strong at any price point - at a $9,552 net price, CS graduates at PSU recover their $31,000 median debt in under one year of post-graduation earnings. This is the clearest value case in PSU's portfolio.
Psychology
Psychology earns a D grade: 350 graduates - PSU's largest program - at $33,179 year-one, $49,063 at year four, debt-to-earnings 0.738 on $24,499 median debt. At $33,179 in Portland's high-cost-of-living metro, psychology graduates face real financial pressure in their early years. The D grade reflects that even at PSU's very low net price, the earnings premium from a psychology bachelor's is modest relative to the debt burden. Psychology at PSU is a graduate-school pipeline; students without plans for licensed clinical or counseling training are entering a labor market where the bachelor's alone does not produce competitive earnings.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts earns an F grade: 233 graduates, $23,253 year-one, $50,949 at year four, debt-to-earnings 1.301 on $30,250 median debt. Year-one median earnings are $23,253. The F grade reflects a debt-to-earnings ratio above 1.0 and year-one earnings that do not cover monthly debt payments for most graduates. The year-four figure of $50,949 shows meaningful career growth, but the first several years post-graduation are financially constrained. Students who select Liberal Arts at PSU should have a specific professional plan - the general degree does not produce marketable credentials in Portland's competitive labor market.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 55.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 63.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 63.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 68.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Portland State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 90.9% |
| Enrollment | 13,182 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 41.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,893 |
PSU's 90.9% admission rate is near-open enrollment. No standardized test ranges are reported. PSU operates as Portland's urban access university, serving students who would not otherwise attend a four-year institution. Prospective students should focus evaluation on which program they intend to enter - PSU's programs include Fine Arts (F grade, $20,866 year-one) and Computer Engineering (B grade, $87,259 year-one). The same $9,552 net price buys extremely different outcomes depending on major selection. Students should not assume that PSU's overall ROI of 69 applies uniformly - it does not.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland State University (this school) | 69 | $9,552 | $57,906 |
| Oregon Institute of Technology | 83 | $15,706 | $72,273 |
| Western Washington University | 72 | $21,193 | $62,569 |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills | 71 | $8,615 | $57,162 |
| Oakland University | 71 | $9,120 | $58,612 |
| Eastern Oregon University | 43 | $17,148 | $50,112 |
Who Thrives Here
Portland State admits 90.9% of applicants. The Scorecard does not report standardized test score ranges. With 13,182 enrolled undergraduates and a 41.7% Pell grant rate, PSU serves a diverse, heavily urban student body - many students are working adults, commuters, and transfers from Oregon community colleges. The institution's open-access mission and downtown Portland location make it a non-traditional student-friendly environment. The 52.7% completion rate is particularly notable in this context: PSU's student population includes a significant share of part-time and adult learners whose completion timelines differ from traditional undergraduates. Students entering engineering, CS, or finance will find PSU's low net price a significant advantage in the Portland tech economy.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Portland State University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $9,552 a year after aid ($38,208 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $57,906 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: its 52.7% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 63.3% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $20,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $38,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Portland State University: Common Questions
Is Portland State University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Portland State University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 69/100 on our ROI scale. At $9,552 a year after aid ($38,208 over four years) against $57,906 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 7.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Portland State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $9,552 a year, or roughly $38,208 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Portland State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $57,906 ten years after enrolling, roughly $16,106 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Portland State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 7.8 years for Portland State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Portland State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,500, against average earnings of $38,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Portland State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 52.7%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.