Portland State University vs. WVU

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

Portland State University WVU
Location Portland, OR Morgantown, WV
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 21,609 24,741
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #730 #559
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pdx.edu wvu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Portland State University WVU
Tuition (In State) $9,000 $9,360
Tuition (Out of State) $27,900 $26,568
Room & Board $14,940 $11,618
Avg Net Price $16,273 $12,202
Avg Grant Aid $9,750 $11,685
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 94%

Admission

Portland State University WVU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,926 18,206
Admitted 7,378 16,091
Acceptance Rate 93.1% 88.4%
Enrolled % 22.1% 28.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.45
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24 20/26
SAT Range 1000/1250 1000/1220
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

Academics

Portland State University WVU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)

Outcomes

Portland State University WVU
Graduation Rate 38% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,600 $50,600
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,634 $24,001
Median Loan Payment $234 $248

Diversity

Portland State University WVU
% Men 42% 47%
% Women 58% 53%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 81%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 12% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 3%
% International 5% 6%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

Portland State University WVU
% In-State 78% 42%
% Out-of-State 20% 57%

Campus

Portland State University WVU
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

  • West Virginia University is larger than than Portland State University based on total student enrollment (24,741 students vs. 21,609 students)

Portland State University vs. WVU Cost Comparison

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

  • West Virginia University is 4% more expensive to attend than Portland State University for in-state tuition ($9,360.00 vs. $9,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5% higher at Portland State University than West Virginia University ($27,900.00 vs. $26,568.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Virginia University than Portland State University ($12,202 vs. $16,273)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Virginia University are 28.6% lower than costs at Portland State University ($11,618 vs. $14,940)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at West Virginia University than Portland State University (94% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by West Virginia University students is 19.8% larger than aid received Portland State University ($11,685 vs. $9,750)

Portland State University vs. WVU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at West Virginia University (1078) is 39 points higher than at Portland State University (1039)
  • Incoming WVU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Portland State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman WVU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Portland State University (3.36)
  • Portland State University has a higher acceptance rate (93.1%) than WVU (88.4%)

Portland State University vs. WVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at WVU is higher than Portland State University (57% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from West Virginia University earn on average $2,000 more per year than Portland State University graduates after ten years. ($50,600 vs. $48,600)
  • Portland State University students graduate with a $1,367 lower median federal student loan debt than WVU graduates. ($22,634 vs. $24,001)
  • Portland State University graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than WVU graduates. ($234 vs. $248)
  • More WVU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Portland State University students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 55%)

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