Portland State University vs. SPU

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

Portland State University SPU
Location Portland, OR Seattle, WA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 21,609 3,118
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #730 #270
Religious Affiliation - Free Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pdx.edu spu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Portland State University SPU
Tuition (In State) $9,000 $36,504
Tuition (Out of State) $27,900 $36,504
Room & Board $14,940 $14,409
Avg Net Price $16,273 $26,549
Avg Grant Aid $9,750 $25,359
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 99%

Admission

Portland State University SPU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,926 3,895
Admitted 7,378 3,533
Acceptance Rate 93.1% 90.7%
Enrolled % 22.1% 15.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.53
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24 20/27
SAT Range 1000/1250 1080/1350
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 11, 2024

Academics

Portland State University SPU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Portland State University SPU
Graduation Rate 38% 74%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,600 $50,400
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,634 $25,603
Median Loan Payment $234 $264

Diversity

Portland State University SPU
% Men 42% 31%
% Women 58% 69%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 61%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 12% 10%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 8%
% International 5% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

Portland State University SPU
% In-State 78% 71%
% Out-of-State 20% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Portland State University is larger than than SPU based on total student enrollment (21,609 students vs. 3,118 students)

Portland State University vs. SPU Cost Comparison

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

  • Seattle Pacific University is 305.6% more expensive to attend than Portland State University for in-state tuition ($36,504.00 vs. $9,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.8% higher at SPU than Portland State University ($36,504.00 vs. $27,900.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Portland State University than SPU ($16,273 vs. $26,549)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Seattle Pacific University are 3.7% lower than costs at Portland State University ($14,409 vs. $14,940)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Seattle Pacific University than Portland State University (99% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Seattle Pacific University students is 160.1% larger than aid received Portland State University ($25,359 vs. $9,750)

Portland State University vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Seattle Pacific University (1145) is 106 points higher than at Portland State University (1039)
  • Incoming SPU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Portland State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman SPU students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Portland State University (3.36)
  • Portland State University has a higher acceptance rate (93.1%) than SPU (90.7%)

Portland State University vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Portland State University or SPU? 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 SPU and Portland State University.

  • The graduation rate at SPU is higher than Portland State University (74% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Seattle Pacific University earn on average $1,800 more per year than Portland State University graduates after ten years. ($50,400 vs. $48,600)
  • Portland State University students graduate with a $2,969 lower median federal student loan debt than SPU graduates. ($22,634 vs. $25,603)
  • Portland State University graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than SPU graduates. ($234 vs. $264)
  • More SPU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Portland State University students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 55%)

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