Portland State University (PSU) : Overview, Courses, Scholarships & Rankings
About Portland State University
Steps from the city's arts venues and parks, Portland State University puts an urban campus right inside daily life. Class projects often look outward, with a reputation for sustainability, social impact, and practical problem solving across the arts, sciences, engineering, education, business, and health fields. Students tap a modern library, collaborative labs and studios, a lively student union, recreation and fitness spaces, and advising, tutoring, and wellness services that meet you where you are.
Campus culture feels welcoming and unpretentious, a mix of commuters and residents who trade ideas over coffee, then head to clubs, service work, intramurals, and outdoor trips. The Saturday campus farmers market is a beloved ritual. Career prep leans into the city: internships with nonprofits, public agencies, and creative and tech teams, plus guest speakers and a career center that ties classwork to real work. And Portland's transit, neighborhoods, and riverfront become extended classrooms. Notable alum: Carolyn Davidson, designer of the Nike Swoosh.
Key Institutional Details
Contact & Profile
Academic & Institutional
Academic Programs & Fields of Study
Portland State University (PSU) offers 145 degree programs across 26 major academic fields, graduating approximately 6,036 students annually. The most popular fields by graduate volume are Business (19 programs, 976 graduates), Education (14 programs, 677 graduates), Social Sciences (10 programs, 560 graduates), Public Services (6 programs, 428 graduates) and Psychology (3 programs, 419 graduates). Explore program details, award levels, and graduate demographics below.
Business (19 programs, 976 graduates)
Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | 208 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52.0201 |
| Marketing Management | 164 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1401 |
| Accounting | 155 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
52.0301 |
| Logistics and Supply Chain Management | 109 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
52.0203 |
| Finance, General | 78 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0801 |
| Human Resources Management | 74 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1001 |
| Business and Management Services | 43 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.9999 |
| Real Estate | 32 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
52.1501 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 25 |
|
Master's
|
52.1399 |
| Taxation | 16 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
52.1601 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 14 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
52.0799 |
| Management Science | 12 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
52.1301 |
| Business Communications | 11 |
|
Other Award
|
52.0501 |
| Sales and Marketing Operations | 11 |
|
Other Award
|
52.1801 |
| Entrepreneurship Studies | 8 |
|
Other Award
|
52.0701 |
| International Business and Trade | 6 |
|
Other Award
|
52.1101 |
| Apparel and Accessories Marketing | 5 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
52.1904 |
| Project Management | 4 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
52.0211 |
| Nonprofit and Organizational Management | 1 |
|
Master's
|
52.0206 |
Education (14 programs, 677 graduates)
Educational Sciences, Teaching Methods and Pedagogy
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development | 263 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
13.1299 |
| General Education | 128 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
13.0101 |
| Special Education Teaching | 76 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
13.1001 |
| School Counseling and Guidance | 41 |
|
Master's
|
13.1101 |
| Early Childhood Education | 39 |
|
Master's
|
13.1210 |
| Educational Leadership and Administration | 38 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
13.0401 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 32 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
13.0301 |
| English as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching | 29 |
|
Master's
Other Award
|
13.1401 |
| Higher Education Administration | 13 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (R)
|
13.0406 |
| Education of Individuals with Vision Impairments | 11 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
13.1009 |
| Adult and Continuing Education Administration | 3 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
13.0403 |
| Elementary Special Education Teaching | 2 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
13.1017 |
| Early Childhood Special Education Teaching | 1 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
13.1015 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 1 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
13.1311 |
Social Sciences (10 programs, 560 graduates)
Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science Studies
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Sciences | 277 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.0101 |
| Political Science and Government | 84 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
45.1001 |
| Sociology | 52 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
45.1101 |
| Urban Studies and Affairs | 37 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
45.1201 |
| Economics | 25 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.0601 |
| Geography | 23 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
45.0701 |
| Anthropology | 22 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
45.0201 |
| Geographic Information Science and Cartography | 19 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
45.0702 |
| International Relations | 12 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.0901 |
| Econometrics and Quantitative Economics | 9 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
45.0603 |
Public Services (6 programs, 428 graduates)
Public Administration, Social Work and Community Services
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Work | 366 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
44.0701 |
| Public Administration | 27 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
44.0401 |
| Public Policy Analysis | 15 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
44.0501 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | 10 |
|
Bachelor's
|
44.0201 |
| Public Policy Analysis | 5 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
44.0599 |
| Public Administration and Social Services | 5 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
44.9999 |
Psychology (3 programs, 419 graduates)
Psychological Sciences, Mental Health and Behavioral Studies
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Psychology | 401 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
42.0101 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis | 10 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
42.2814 |
| Community Psychology | 8 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
42.2802 |
Engineering (8 programs, 372 graduates)
Engineering Sciences and Applied Technology Solutions
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical and Computer Engineering | 120 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.4701 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 91 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1901 |
| Civil Engineering | 64 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0801 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering | 33 |
|
Bachelor's
|
14.1001 |
| Materials Engineering | 28 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
14.1801 |
| Computer Engineering | 15 |
|
Bachelor's
|
14.0901 |
| Environmental Health Engineering | 12 |
|
Bachelor's
|
14.1401 |
| Systems Engineering | 9 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
14.2701 |
Health (10 programs, 345 graduates)
Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audiology | 73 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51.0202 |
| Community Health and Preventive Medicine | 66 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.2208 |
| Public Health | 54 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
51.2201 |
| Health and Wellness | 37 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.0001 |
| Communication Sciences and Disorders | 29 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
51.0201 |
| Health Services Administration | 29 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.2211 |
| Health Administration and Management | 24 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51.0701 |
| Public Health Education and Promotion | 21 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51.2207 |
| Environmental Health | 11 |
|
Master's
|
51.2202 |
| Lactation Consultant | 1 |
|
Other Award
|
51.0815 |
Computer & IT (4 programs, 343 graduates)
Computer Science, Information Technology and Cybersecurity
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 244 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
11.0701 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 69 |
|
Bachelor's
|
11.0101 |
| Data Modeling and Database Administration | 18 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
11.0802 |
| Information Systems Security and Auditing | 12 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
11.1003 |
Interdisciplinary (9 programs, 316 graduates)
Cross-Disciplinary Studies and Integrated Research Programs
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multi- and Interdisciplinary Studies | 152 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
30.9999 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 96 |
|
Bachelor's
|
30.0101 |
| Global Studies | 20 |
|
Bachelor's
|
30.2001 |
| Data Science | 17 |
|
Bachelor's
|
30.7001 |
| Business Analytics | 13 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
30.7102 |
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | 9 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
30.0501 |
| Sustainability Studies | 5 |
|
Other Award
|
30.3301 |
| Gerontology | 3 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
30.1101 |
| Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature | 1 |
|
Other Award
|
30.3601 |
Liberal Arts (2 programs, 241 graduates)
Liberal Arts Education, General Studies and Humanities
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | 230 |
|
Bachelor's
|
24.0101 |
| Liberal Arts and Humanities | 11 |
|
Other Award
|
24.0199 |
Admission Requirements & Test Scores
Comprehensive overview of admission criteria, standardized test score ranges, and application requirements for prospective students at Portland State University (PSU).
Application Requirements
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Test score ranges represent the middle 50% of admitted students (25th-75th percentile). Requirements may vary by program.
Tuition, Fees & Estimated Costs
Overview of tuition rates, housing, and other annual education expenses for undergraduate and graduate students
Financial Aid & Student Support
Summary of scholarships, grants, student loans, and financial aid statistics for undergraduate students
Student Success Metrics
Graduation rates and post-graduation earnings to help assess student outcomes and long-term value of education.
Loan Burden & Repayment Outcomes
Breakdown of loan repayment rates and student debt levels by income and dependency status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Portland State University (PSU)
How much does it cost to attend Portland State University (PSU)?
The annual tuition at Portland State University (PSU) is $10,617 for in-state students and $28,257 for out-of-state students. When including room and board, books, and other expenses, the total estimated cost is approximately $27,402 for in-state students and $45,042 for out-of-state students. Additional costs include room and board $13,728 and books and supplies $798.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition and cost estimates are approximate and may not include all fees, personal expenses, or transportation costs.
What academic programs and degree levels does Portland State University offer?
Portland State University (PSU) offers 145 academic programs across 26 major fields of study, with available degree levels: Certificate (1-2 yrs), Bachelor's, Postbac Cert., Master's, Doctorate (Research), Other Award.
Most popular program areas include:
- Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship (19 programs)
- Educational Sciences, Teaching Methods and Pedagogy (14 programs)
- Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science Studies (10 programs)
- Public Administration, Social Work and Community Services (6 programs)
- Psychological Sciences, Mental Health and Behavioral Studies (3 programs)
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated, not all offered programs.
What is the acceptance rate for Portland State University?
Portland State University (PSU) has an 90.9% acceptance rate and a 19.6% yield rate, making it moderately selective.
Admission statistics breakdown:
- Total applicants: 8,877
- Students admitted: 8,070
- Students enrolled: 1,580
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Admission statistics may vary by program and application cycle.
What financial aid and scholarships are available at Portland State University?
Portland State University (PSU) provides financial aid to 9% of first-time, full-time students, with average grants of $8,827 and average loans of $6,104.
Average financial aid amounts by type:
- Pell grants: $5,148
- State/Local grants: $3,927
- Institutional grants: $4,105
- Federal loans: $4,735
The university supports 1,275 students with grants and 499 students with loans annually.
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Financial aid amounts and percentages may vary by program, enrollment status, and individual circumstances.
What is the average salary for Portland State University graduates?
Portland State University (PSU) graduates earn a median salary of $46,937 after 6 years and $57,906 after 10 years.
The salary range 10 years after graduation spans from $33,117 (25th percentile) to $85,203 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $89,500 (90th percentile).
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Salary data reflects graduates who received federal financial aid (approximately 60% of all graduates). Actual earnings may vary significantly based on program, location, and individual circumstances.
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