Cal State Long Beach vs. Portland State University

Should I go to California State University Long Beach or Portland State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal State Long Beach 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 Long Beach vs. Portland State University comparison
California State University Long Beach Portland State University College 3 College 4
California State University Long Beach Portland State University
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Overview

Cal State Long Beach Portland State University
Location Long Beach, CA Portland, OR
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 38,973 21,609
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #507 #730
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csulb.edu pdx.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal State Long Beach Portland State University
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $9,000
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $27,900
Room & Board $14,932 $14,940
Avg Net Price $9,346 $16,273
Avg Grant Aid $9,478 $9,750
% Receiving Grant Aid 75% 86%

Admission

Cal State Long Beach Portland State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 74,718 7,926
Admitted 29,851 7,378
Acceptance Rate 40% 93.1%
Enrolled % 18% 22.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.36
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26 17/24
SAT Range 1020/1240 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 Long Beach Portland State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

Cal State Long Beach Portland State University
Graduation Rate 54% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,100 $48,600
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $15,000 $22,634
Median Loan Payment $155 $234

Diversity

Cal State Long Beach Portland State University
% Men 41% 42%
% Women 59% 58%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 19% 59%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 39% 12%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 5% 6%
% International 6% 5%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

Cal State Long Beach Portland State University
% In-State 97% 78%
% Out-of-State 2% 20%

Campus

Cal State Long Beach 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 Long Beach is larger than than Portland State University based on total student enrollment (38,973 students vs. 21,609 students)

Cal State Long Beach vs. Portland State University Cost Comparison

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

  • Portland State University is 56.7% more expensive to attend than Cal State Long Beach 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 Long Beach ($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 Long Beach than Portland State University ($9,346 vs. $16,273)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 0.1% lower than costs at Portland State University ($14,932 vs. $14,940)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Portland State University than California State University Long Beach (86% vs. 75%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Portland State University students is 2.9% larger than aid received California State University Long Beach ($9,750 vs. $9,478)

Cal State Long Beach vs. Portland State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Long Beach 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 Long Beach .

  • The average SAT score at California State University Long Beach (1056) is 17 points higher than at Portland State University (1039)
  • Incoming Cal State Long Beach students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Portland State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Cal State Long Beach students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Portland State University (3.36)
  • Portland State University has a higher acceptance rate (93.1%) than Cal State Long Beach (40%)

Cal State Long Beach vs. Portland State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal State Long Beach 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 Long Beach.

  • The graduation rate at Cal State Long Beach is higher than Portland State University (54% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from California State University Long Beach earn on average $2,500 more per year than Portland State University graduates after ten years. ($51,100 vs. $48,600)
  • California State University Long Beach students graduate with a $7,634 lower median federal student loan debt than Portland State University graduates. ($15,000 vs. $22,634)
  • Cal State Long Beach graduates are paying $79 less per month on federal student loans than Portland State University graduates. ($155 vs. $234)
  • More Cal State Long Beach 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/