Portland State University
Portland, OR
Portland State University is a public research university located in the heart of downtown Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1946, the university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various fields of study. With a student population of over 26,000, PSU is dedicated to providing a diverse and inclusive learning environment.
One of the defining features of Portland State University is its commitment to community engagement and civic responsibility. PSU is known for its unique partnership with the city of Portland, allowing students to actively participate in shaping the future of their community. This hands-on approach is reflected in the university's strong emphasis on experiential learning, offering students opportunities to intern, conduct research, and collaborate with local businesses and organizations.
Portland State University also boasts a strong reputation for its sustainability initiatives. As one of the greenest campuses in the United States, PSU incorporates sustainability into its teaching, research, and operations. The university is home to numerous eco-friendly initiatives, including LEED-certified buildings, sustainable transportation options, and recycling programs. This commitment to sustainability aligns with the city of Portland's reputation as a leader in environmental conservation and creates a unique learning environment for students interested in sustainability and eco-conscious practices. Overall, Portland State University offers students a vibrant and engaged learning community set against the backdrop of a lively and progressive city.
Located in Portland, OR and set in an urban environment, Portland State University is a public university. Its campus spans 50 acres. This institution follows a quarterly calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 93%. The freshman retention rate at Portland State University is 72% and the six-year graduation rate is 53%.
To find out more about what Portland State University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
16,864
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
93%
Acceptance Rate
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
53%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. How difficult is it to get admitted to Portland State University and what are the admission requirements?
In 2023, the school accepted 7,377 new students. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively easy to get into.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.37. This implies that you'll probably need a GPA above the average to secure admission.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
The freshman retention rate for Portland State University was 72% in 2023, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the educational experience at this institution.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 53%.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2023, the school had an enrollment of 21,611 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 16.3% for that year. There was a total of 16,864 undergraduate students, including 408 international students. The school reported to have a total of 2,147 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 5,567 male and 7,926 female full-time students in 2023. 879 full-time graduate men and 1,527 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 1,407 Asian students and 685 Afro-American students in 2023. 3,136 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 988 as multirace. The school also had 82 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 203 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 391 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this institution have.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Portland State University is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
According to the reports from public county and municipal institutions, tuition fees were $10,806 for area residents. Tuition fees were $29,706 for students coming from a different state. If you are an international student at Portland State University, you should know that the 2023 tuition was $29,706, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $1,701 in 2023.
Tuition | Fees | Total | |
---|---|---|---|
Out-of-State | $29,706 | $1,701 | $31,407 |
In-State | $10,806 | $1,701 | $12,507 |
Books and Supplies
The estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another significant expense. Most students have to pay about $1,200 for books and supplies during their time at Portland State University.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Portland State University was $12,522 in 2023. If you only wanted a dormitory room, you had to pay $7,425 for the 2023 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $6,150.
Tuition | $ 10,806 |
Room and Board | $ 12,522 |
Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
Total Expense | $ 24,528 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial help: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Portland State University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
According to the most recent data, 1,027 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $12,091 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 5,383 students who secured need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 6,766. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $35,179,374, and state $22,674,695. The students of Portland State University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $2,426,336, and external in the amount of $3,844,661.
$3,715
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
134 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2023. 30 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $35,179,374 while the state aid is $47,916. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $583,754. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $1,206,011 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2023, this ratio at Portland State University was 17:1. That means that there were 17 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 749. Out of that number, there were 643 male and 826 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Portland State University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Portland State University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some information about social life at Portland State University.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
That includes sororities and fraternities. At this school, 1% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 1 for female students. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. You have a talent for media and communication? Portland State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Portland State University, there are many amenities required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Portland State University.
All in all, campus life at Portland State University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Portland State University.
Career Counselling
At Portland State University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Portland State University is located in Portland, OR.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Portland State University is 93%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Portland State University is 72%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.