Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Portland State University graduates demonstrate consistent earnings growth throughout their careers. Median earnings rise from $46,937 six years after enrollment to $52,927 at eight years and $57,906 at ten years, representing 23.4% growth from the six-year mark.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings align with peer institutions — outcomes are in line with similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Healthy debt burden. Most graduates can manage $20,500 in debt with typical earnings.
Student debt levels at Portland State University remain manageable despite serving a high-need population. Median debt reaches $20,500, comparable to the peer median of $20,000, indicating typical borrowing patterns for public institutions.
Portland State University achieves typical return on investment performance, ranking at the 41.1st percentile nationally. While graduates earn $2,637 less than the peer median of $60,543, they also carry debt levels comparable to peers at $20,500 versus the peer median of $20,000.
Approximately 23.3% of Portland State University graduates continue to graduate or professional study, with high confidence in this estimate based on ...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Program-level earnings demonstrate Portland State University's strength in technology and business fields. Computer Science leads with graduates earning $109,690, followed by Mechanical Engineering at $82,358, both substantially above the institutional median.
Business programs cluster around $64,000-$65,000 annually, including Business Administration, Digital Marketing, and Banking/Financial Services, reflecting strong demand in Portland's diverse economy. Liberal arts and social science programs typically produce earnings in the $40,000-$46,000 range, supporting the institution's diverse mission while requiring careful financial planning for graduates.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings distribution shows meaningful variation in career outcomes. The spread from $33,117 at the 25th percentile to $85,203 at the 75th percentile reflects differences in program choice, career paths, and individual achievement.
