WMU vs. Portland State University

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

WMU Portland State University
Location Kalamazoo, MI Portland, OR
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 16,693 20,519
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #631 #689
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wmich.edu pdx.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

WMU Portland State University
Tuition (In State) $15,198 $9,315
Tuition (Out of State) $18,998 $28,215
Room & Board $11,713 $13,728
Avg Net Price $20,183 $12,509
Avg Grant Aid $8,217 $8,827
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 84%

Admission

WMU Portland State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 20,100 8,877
Admitted 17,020 8,070
Acceptance Rate 84.7% 90.9%
Enrolled % 14.5% 19.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.36
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/27 17/24
SAT Range 990/1220 1000/1250
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

WMU Portland State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Engineering (6%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

WMU Portland State University
Graduation Rate 56% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,900 $48,600
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,633 $22,634
Median Loan Payment $275 $234

Diversity

WMU Portland State University
% Men 8% 8%
% Women 14% 14%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 72% 59%
% Black 12% 4%
% Hispanic 5% 12%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 6%
% International 4% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 4%

Students

WMU Portland State University
% In-State 78% 80%
% Out-of-State 21% 18%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Portland State University is larger than than WMU based on total student enrollment (20,519 students vs. 16,693 students)

WMU vs. Portland State University Cost Comparison

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

  • Western Michigan University is 63.2% more expensive to attend than Portland State University for in-state tuition ($15,198.00 vs. $9,315.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 48.5% higher at Portland State University than Western Michigan University ($28,215.00 vs. $18,998.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Portland State University than WMU ($12,509 vs. $20,183)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 17.2% lower than costs at Portland State University ($11,713 vs. $13,728)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Michigan University than Portland State University (91% vs. 84%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Portland State University students is 7.4% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($8,827 vs. $8,217)

WMU vs. Portland State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WMU 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 WMU .

  • The average SAT score at Portland State University (1039) is 9 points higher than at WMU (1030)
  • Incoming WMU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Portland State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman WMU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Portland State University (3.36)
  • Portland State University has a higher acceptance rate (90.9%) than WMU (84.7%)

WMU vs. Portland State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WMU 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 WMU.

  • The graduation rate at WMU is higher than Portland State University (56% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Western Michigan University earn on average $300 more per year than Portland State University graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $48,600)
  • Portland State University students graduate with a $3,999 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($22,634 vs. $26,633)
  • Portland State University graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($234 vs. $275)
  • More Portland State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 54%)

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