Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Portland State University #134 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Portland State University sits in the 75.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $4,850 more than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Portland State University #124 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Portland State University's composite ranking reflects a balance of access, mobility, and earnings outcomes that positions it competitively among nonprofit four-year institutions in the Azimuth coverage set. Graduates earn about $4,850 more than similar students at comparable institutions, and the university's mobility standing underscores its role as a pathway institution for students across a wide range of economic backgrounds in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.
Azimuth ranks Portland State University #134 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Portland, OR, Portland State University enrolls roughly 13,182 undergraduates. Retention stands at 76.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 52.7% — figures that reflect the realities of a large, urban, transfer-heavy institution serving a nontraditional student population. The composite is anchored by mobility and access. Portland State University sits in the 91.6 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by strong outcomes for low-income graduates relative to the broad-access student body the university serves. 41.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 39.1% are first-generation college students, and the university admits about 90.9% of applicants — a posture that keeps the door open for students across income levels and academic backgrounds. Access sits in the 87.1 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Return on investment is the lower-ranked pillar in the composite. Azimuth ranks Portland State University #666 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 55.1 percentile. Graduates earn about $4,850 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Portland State University in the 75.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Median earnings four years after enrollment are $62,060, below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions. The earnings figures reflect OR's regional labor market and a student population whose post-graduation outcomes represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree-equivalent baseline of $33,492, even where they fall below selective-peer averages. Affordability sits in the 89.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Business is the dominant program family by degree output.
Portland State University's published cost of attendance is $21,590, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $7,655 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $8,981, and higher-income families pay approximately $19,112. Azimuth ranks Portland State University #155 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Portland State participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and Oregon's robust state grant landscape — including the Oregon Opportunity Grant — provides meaningful additional support for qualifying residents. The gap between published cost and what most students actually pay reflects a combination of Pell Grants, state aid, and institutional scholarships, particularly for lower-income families. Families weighing sticker price against actual cost should review the net price illusion before drawing conclusions from the headline figure. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,859; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $62,060, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Portland State University is a strong fit for students drawn to business, public administration, and applied professional fields who want an urban public university experience in Portland, OR, with direct access to the Pacific Northwest labor market. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $62,060, placing Portland State University in the 52.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — and Portland State University sits in the 75.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, meaning graduates earn about $4,850 more than similar students at comparable institutions relative to similar students at comparable institutions. Portland State University enrolls a broad and diverse student body — 41.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 39.1% are first-generation college students — and the institution delivers completion and earnings outcomes that make it a meaningful option for cost-sensitive and first-generation families seeking a public university path in OR. Low-income graduates sit in the 70.4 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure, a signal that access translates into real post-graduation progress for this cohort. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Portland State University's program mix is concentrated in Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, and students who need to borrow should weigh median debt of $20,500 against the earnings trajectory for their intended major before committing.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Portland State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Portland State University's published cost of attendance is $21,590, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $7,655 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $8,981, and higher-income families pay approximately $19,112.
Azimuth ranks Portland State University #155 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Portland State participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and Oregon's robust state grant landscape — including the Oregon Opportunity Grant — provides meaningful additional support for qualifying residents. The gap between published cost and what most students actually pay reflects a combination of Pell Grants, state aid, and institutional scholarships, particularly for lower-income families.
Families weighing sticker price against actual cost should review the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) before drawing conclusions from the headline figure. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,859; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $62,060, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Portland State University earn median earnings of $62,060 four years after enrollment, placing Portland State University in the 52.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $4,850 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 75.6 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures still represent lifetime returns relative to OR's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $33,492 — the state median earnings of working adults in their late twenties and early thirties with only a high school credential.
Business is the dominant program family at Portland State University, accounting for 21% of degrees awarded, followed by Social Sciences at 12% and Arts at 6%. Business Administration combines the largest cohort scale with strong earnings, making it a key contributor to the institution's overall return profile.
Azimuth ranks Psychology, General #230 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 365 graduates earning median earnings of $49,063. The Business Administration program graduates 275 students with median earnings of $71,621, and Azimuth ranks Social Sciences #15 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 247 graduates earning median earnings of $52,562.
General Studies and Digital Marketing round out the top programs, with median earnings of $50,949 and $61,499 respectively.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Massachusetts-Lowell Similar quality tier (#4273 ranked) | MA | 83% | $64,874 | #4273 | Compare |
Illinois State University Similar quality tier (#4275 ranked) | IL | 88% | $62,117 | #4275 | Compare |
University Of Massachusetts-Amherst Similar quality tier (#4277 ranked) | MA | 60% | $71,631 | #4277 | Compare |
Farmingdale State College Similar quality tier (#4278 ranked) | NY | 63% | $69,781 | #4278 | Compare |
University Of California-Merced Similar quality tier in West (#4279 ranked) | CA | 91% | $64,368 | #4279 | Compare |
Computer Science
168 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
58 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
113 graduates
Physics
15 graduates
Civil Engineering
71 graduates
Portland State University's program mix is anchored in Business, with additional depth in social sciences, health, and liberal arts — a portfolio shaped by the university's urban public mission in Portland. Business accounts for 21% of graduates, followed by Social Sciences at 12% and Arts at 6%.
Across 60 programs serving roughly 4,650 students annually, 49 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold — a broad base that reflects the institution's comprehensive degree offerings. Business Administration is the program that combines the largest cohort scale with strong earnings, making it a central driver of Portland State University's overall financial profile.
Among the largest programs, Psychology, General program graduates 365 students with median earnings of $49,063 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #230 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Business Administration program graduates 275 students earning $71,621, while The Social Sciences program graduates 247 students earning $52,562.
The earnings spread across these popular programs illustrates how outcomes vary meaningfully by field of study, even within a single institution. The strongest early-career earnings come from Computer Science, where graduates earn $113,889 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks this program #89 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Accounting follows at $77,226, and Business Administration graduates earn $71,621. Several of these high-earning fields — particularly in business and applied technology — are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) in Portland's regional economy and beyond.
Programs in social sciences and liberal arts, by contrast, often serve as foundations for graduate study, where four-year earnings undercount the longer-term trajectory for students who continue to advanced degrees. ```
