OSU vs. Portland State University

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

OSU Portland State University
Location Corvallis, OR Portland, OR
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 35,622 20,519
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #379 #689
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website oregonstate.edu pdx.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

OSU Portland State University
Tuition (In State) $11,145 $9,315
Tuition (Out of State) $33,315 $28,215
Room & Board $15,075 $13,728
Avg Net Price $21,868 $12,509
Avg Grant Aid $9,922 $8,827
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 84%

Admission

OSU Portland State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 29,025 8,877
Admitted 22,886 8,070
Acceptance Rate 78.8% 90.9%
Enrolled % 20.5% 19.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.36
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 17/24
SAT Range 1120/1370 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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

OSU Portland State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (6%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

OSU Portland State University
Graduation Rate 61% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,900 $48,600
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $22,634
Median Loan Payment $242 $234

Diversity

OSU Portland State University
% Men 7% 8%
% Women 8% 14%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 59%
% Black 1% 4%
% Hispanic 9% 12%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 7% 6%
% International 6% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 4%

Students

OSU Portland State University
% In-State 57% 80%
% Out-of-State 40% 18%

Campus

OSU 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

  • Oregon State University is larger than than Portland State University based on total student enrollment (35,622 students vs. 20,519 students)

OSU vs. Portland State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OSU or Portland State University?

  • Oregon State University is 19.6% more expensive to attend than Portland State University for in-state tuition ($11,145.00 vs. $9,315.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 18.1% higher at OSU than Portland State University ($33,315.00 vs. $28,215.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Portland State University than OSU ($12,509 vs. $21,868)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Portland State University are 9.8% lower than costs at Oregon State University ($13,728 vs. $15,075)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Oregon State University than Portland State University (89% vs. 84%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oregon State University students is 12.4% larger than aid received Portland State University ($9,922 vs. $8,827)

OSU vs. Portland State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, OSU 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 OSU .

  • The average SAT score at Oregon State University (1113) is 74 points higher than at Portland State University (1039)
  • Incoming OSU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Portland State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman OSU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Portland State University (3.36)
  • Portland State University has a higher acceptance rate (90.9%) than OSU (78.8%)

OSU vs. Portland State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, OSU 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 OSU.

  • The graduation rate at OSU is higher than Portland State University (61% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Oregon State University earn on average $5,300 more per year than Portland State University graduates after ten years. ($53,900 vs. $48,600)
  • Portland State University students graduate with a $866 lower median federal student loan debt than OSU graduates. ($22,634 vs. $23,500)
  • Portland State University graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than OSU graduates. ($234 vs. $242)
  • More OSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Portland State University students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 55%)

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