Portland State University
Portland State University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Portland State University at a Glance
Portland State University (PSU) is a public research university in Portland, Oregon, United States. It was founded in 1946 as a post-secondary educational institution for World War II veterans. It evolved into a four-year college over the next 20 years and was granted university status in 1969. It is one of two public universities in Oregon that are in a large city. It is governed by a board of trustees. PSU is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".
1946
80 years old
$98M
$98 million
19,687
15,426 undergrad · 4,617 grad
1,951
50 acres
Identity
How to Apply to Portland State University
Official admissions page$60
Fee waiver available
Fee waiver
Is Portland State University Worth It?
Portland State University is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $9,552/year net price and $57,906 median earnings, graduates earn 6.1× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 53% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With a 91% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
Bottom line: Portland State University delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Portland State University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #13 of 149 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-Bakersfield | 100 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| #2 | California State University-Stanislaus | 100 | $6,067 | $63,188 |
| #3 | California State University-San Bernardino | 100 | $4,564 | $59,977 |
| #4 | California State University-Los Angeles | 100 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| #5 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #6 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #13 | Portland State University | 80 | $9,552 | $57,906 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Portland State University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in OR.
Best Programs at Portland State University
The highest-earning program at Portland State University is Computer Science at $78,100/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Film/Video and Photographic Arts at $20,000/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from Portland State University earns $78,100, while a Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduate earns $20,000. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Science graduates carry $25,000 in median debt vs. $22,455 for Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $9,552/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $78,100 | $78,100 | $25,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $67,600 | $67,600 | $29,016 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $61,000 | $61,000 | $25,856 |
| Civil Engineering | $52,700 | $52,700 | $25,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $48,900 | $48,900 | $21,749 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $45,600 | $45,600 | $23,100 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $44,200 | $44,200 | $22,375 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $40,800 | $40,800 | $22,427 |
| Marketing | $38,400 | $38,400 | $20,000 |
| Mathematics | $38,100 | $38,100 | $20,832 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | $36,700 | $36,700 | $22,208 |
| Architecture | $36,500 | $36,500 | $27,589 |
| Economics | $35,900 | $35,900 | $20,024 |
| Social Work | $35,300 | $35,300 | $22,375 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $34,900 | $34,900 | $26,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $33,600 | $33,600 | $22,146 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $32,100 | $32,100 | $29,166 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $31,400 | $31,400 | $22,500 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $30,300 | $30,300 | $25,300 |
| Social Sciences, General | $30,100 | $30,100 | $24,305 |
| Sociology | $30,100 | $30,100 | $22,168 |
| Geography and Cartography | $30,000 | $30,000 | $21,500 |
| Biology, General | $29,300 | $29,300 | $24,115 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | $28,800 | $28,800 | $25,000 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $28,400 | $28,400 | $23,583 |
| Public Health | $28,300 | $28,300 | $21,528 |
| Psychology, General | $28,100 | $28,100 | $21,238 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $28,000 | $28,000 | $21,166 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $26,800 | $26,800 | $24,069 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $26,600 | $26,600 | $25,368 |
| History | $26,600 | $26,600 | $22,166 |
| Political Science and Government | $26,500 | $26,500 | $19,500 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $26,300 | $26,300 | $20,500 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $25,600 | $25,600 | $22,409 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $25,300 | $25,300 | $24,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $24,500 | $24,500 | $27,743 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $24,400 | $24,400 | $21,268 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $24,300 | $24,300 | $24,838 |
| Anthropology | $23,400 | $23,400 | $25,759 |
| Philosophy | $23,200 | $23,200 | $27,964 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $22,300 | $22,300 | $24,316 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $20,000 | $20,000 | $22,455 |
Similar Colleges in OR
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Portland, OR
- Student Body
- 13,182 students
- Admission Rate
- 91%
- Graduation Rate
- 53%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $9,552
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $57,906
- Median Student Debt
- $20,500