Cal State Fullerton vs. Portland State University

Should I go to California State University Fullerton or Portland State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal State Fullerton or Portland State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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California State University Fullerton vs. Portland State University comparison
California State University Fullerton Portland State University College 3 College 4
California State University Fullerton Portland State University
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Overview

Cal State Fullerton Portland State University
Location Fullerton, CA Portland, OR
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 40,386 21,609
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #699 #730
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fullerton.edu pdx.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal State Fullerton Portland State University
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $9,000
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $27,900
Room & Board $16,702 $14,940
Avg Net Price $7,925 $16,273
Avg Grant Aid $9,194 $9,750
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 86%

Admission

Cal State Fullerton Portland State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 48,748 7,926
Admitted 32,527 7,378
Acceptance Rate 66.7% 93.1%
Enrolled % 16.2% 22.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.77 3.36
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/23 17/24
SAT Range 1000/1180 1000/1250
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2023

Academics

Cal State Fullerton Portland State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 24:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Communication (14%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

Cal State Fullerton Portland State University
Graduation Rate 50% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,000 $48,600
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $15,000 $22,634
Median Loan Payment $155 $234

Diversity

Cal State Fullerton Portland State University
% Men 42% 42%
% Women 58% 58%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 22% 59%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 40% 12%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 4% 6%
% International 6% 5%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

Cal State Fullerton Portland State University
% In-State 99% 78%
% Out-of-State 1% 20%

Campus

Cal State Fullerton Portland State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Fullerton is larger than than Portland State University based on total student enrollment (40,386 students vs. 21,609 students)

Cal State Fullerton vs. Portland State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Fullerton or Portland State University?

  • Portland State University is 56.7% more expensive to attend than Cal State Fullerton for in-state tuition ($9,000.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 58.3% higher at Portland State University than California State University Fullerton ($27,900.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Fullerton than Portland State University ($7,925 vs. $16,273)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Portland State University are 11.8% lower than costs at California State University Fullerton ($14,940 vs. $16,702)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Portland State University than California State University Fullerton (86% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Portland State University students is 6% larger than aid received California State University Fullerton ($9,750 vs. $9,194)

Cal State Fullerton vs. Portland State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Fullerton or Portland State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Portland State University or Cal State Fullerton .

  • The average SAT score at Portland State University (1039) is 15 points higher than at Cal State Fullerton (1024)
  • Incoming Cal State Fullerton students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Portland State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Cal State Fullerton students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at Portland State University (3.36)
  • Portland State University has a higher acceptance rate (93.1%) than Cal State Fullerton (66.7%)

Cal State Fullerton vs. Portland State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal State Fullerton or Portland State University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Portland State University and Cal State Fullerton.

  • The graduation rate at Cal State Fullerton is higher than Portland State University (50% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from California State University Fullerton earn on average $400 more per year than Portland State University graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $48,600)
  • California State University Fullerton students graduate with a $7,634 lower median federal student loan debt than Portland State University graduates. ($15,000 vs. $22,634)
  • Cal State Fullerton graduates are paying $79 less per month on federal student loans than Portland State University graduates. ($155 vs. $234)
  • More Cal State Fullerton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Portland State University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 55%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/