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Portland State University, USA: Ranking, Programs, Application Deadlines, Admission 2022, Fees, Scholarships

Portland, OregonLocation

UniversitySchool type

Estd1946established year

26693enrollment

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Public

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7.7/10

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Portland State University boasts its cultural diversity with nearly 4.9% international students from 50 states and 78 countries, India is one of the top countries represented. It is one of the most diverse universities to study in USA according to Niche. In terms of diversity, Portland State is among the top 10 most LGBTQ-friendly campuses in the U.S. as per the Campus Pride Index.

Portland State University offers over 200 programs at undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels through 10 schools and colleges. More than 100 programs are provided by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Over 40 programs are offered at the College of Education which is Oregon’s most comprehensive school of education. All students of the university complete hands-on community projects before graduation and therefore ranks no. 5 in the U.S. for service learning. It has been named one of the most innovative universities in the country in the U.S. News. Portland State has a good reputation among institutions of the U.S. education system.

Portland State University Rankings

#288 in National Universities (tie) by US News 2022
#29 in Most Innovative Schools (tie) by US News 2022
#51 in Top Performers on Social Mobility by US News 2022
#1001-1200 in QS World Rankings 2022

Highlights

University Type	Public
Establishment Year	1946
Location	Portland, Oregon
Campus Setting	Urban
Endowment	77 Million USD
Mode of Program	Full-time/ part-time
Total no. of programs	203
Student-faculty ratio	21:1
Campus Housing Capacity	60%
Student Retention Rate	74%
Admission Helpdesk	503-725-3000

Portland State University Campus

Portland State University campus is built across a 50-acre land section in southwest downtown Portland.
The campus of the university is situated against the beautiful site of West Hills.
The university’s central buildings are located across the SW Broadway to provide the students a pathway and exempt them from walking through the streets.
There are 50 buildings on the campus of PSU and 10 residential properties for student accommodation.
There are more than 150 student-run clubs and organizations that encourage student participation on campus.
The university is known to be strategically located in the University District and is among the safest college campuses.
The university participates in 15 NCAA Division I intercollegiate sports and is a member of the Big Sky Conference.

Portland State University Residence

Both undergraduate and graduate students at Portland State University are eligible for on-campus housing facilities offered by the university.
The University has in total eight housing halls located on campus and furnished with all utilities and facilities.
As a matter of fact, students who live on campus graduate within 4 years and with higher grades than those who stay off-campus.
Freshmen students are assigned a place in Broadway and Ondine Studios.
It is essential for all first-year students to attach a meal plan to their housing contract.
Rooms have basic furniture that include XL twin bed, dresser, desk and chair.
The on-campus accommodation provides lounges on every floor, computer labs and classrooms, laundry facilities, high speed internet, small refrigerator, etc.
However due to Covid-19, the on-campus housing is temporarily closed for Portland State University.
Students who do not wish to live on campus, can choose off campus housing in the US near the premises of the university.

Portland State University Courses

Over 200 degree programs are offered at Portland State University with a choice of 111 bachelor’s, 76 masters, and 24 doctoral degrees.
Some of the most popular undergraduate majors at the university include Psychology, Biology, Computer Science, Accounting, and Marketing.
Among the top graduate, majors are Social Work, Education, Computer Science, Education Leadership and Policy, Electrical and Computer Engineering, etc.
The Graduate School of the university is well-known for its programs in social work, urban policy, public affairs, business, and healthcare management.
OHSU-PSU School of Public Health is a result of the collaboration of 2 of the top universities, Oregon Health & Science University and Portland State University.

Portland State University Application Process

The acceptance rate of Portland State University was 96% in the Fall of 2019 which makes it easier to get selected and the applicant only needs to be eligible for the program they are applying for. International applicants must carefully go through all the requirements for admission to the Portland State University to be eligible. The process and requirements for international student admissions are discussed below:
Application Portal: Portland State University Online Application system
Application Fee: 52 USD
Admission Requirements:

Official high school/ college transcripts
Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on 4.0
Personal Essay
Letter of Recommendation
Standardized test scores to study in the U.S.
Resume
Writing sample
Portfolio
Bank statement

English Language Proficiency Score Requirements

The minimum score requirements are given in the table below:

Test	Minimum Requirements
TOEFL	71
IELTS	6.0
PTE	53
SAT	560
DET	110

Portland State University Cost of Attendance

The expenses for studying in the U.S. constitute tuition fees as well as other costs of books and supplies, food, housing, transportation and personal expenses. The cost of attendance for international students at Portland State University is given in the table below:

Expense	UG Amount (in USD)	PG Amount (in USD)
Tuition fee	29,286	676 (Base Tuition)
Books and Supplies	1,200	1,200
Meals and Housing	12,144	12,144
Personal Expenses	1,500	1,500
Transportation	1,350	1,350

Portland State University Scholarships/Financial Aid

Portland State University also offers various scholarships to students who portray excellent academic records.
65% of the students receive financial aid in some form.
On average a student receives 11,377 USD through various financial aid options.
Portland State University offers more than 400 scholarships to admitted students on the basis of their academic performance.
The University will provide financial aid to those admitted students who are in need due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation.
The University will be accepting applications from August 2020 for the students who are seeking financial aid whereas the scholarship applications are accepted from October to February each year.
Some scholarships commonly awarded to international students are given in the table below:

Name of Scholarship	Eligibility Criteria	Amount Awarded
International Achievement Scholarship	Applicants are automatically considered for this scholarship; Eligible candidates usually have a GPA of 3.5 on 4.0	4,500 USD annually
University Honors College Scholarship	Awarded to new as well as transfer students on the basis of academic merit; Applicants are automatically considered on the basis of admission application.	3,000 USD annually
Out-of-State Opportunity Scholarship	Incoming freshmen and transfer applicants are eligible for this award; the amount of scholarship is determined on the basis of residency status, academic merit and supporting documents submitted along with the application.	10,000 USD annually

International students can use external scholarships for studying in the U.S. for which resources can be found through Fastweb scholarship database, scholarship.com, scholarship America, UNCF, etc.

Portland State University Alumni Network

The Portland State University has a strong network of more than 178,600 active alumni members across the world. Alumni get several benefits from their membership in the association. Some of these include:

AAA membership at a discount
Invitation to shop at Adidas Employee Store and Columbia Sportswear Employee Store at least twice every year
PSU alumni insurance program at a discount
Discounts on Dell computers and accessories
Travel discounts and savings from Local Hospitality
Invitation to shop at Nike company store
Free admission to 5th Avenue Cinema
Membership to Rec Center at a discount
Membership to PSU bike club
Access to university library

Some notable alumni of the university include:

Phil Knight, Co-Founder and Chairman of Nike
Francisco Laguna Correa, Writer
John Sibley Williams, Poet
David James Duncan, Novelist
Jill Mikucki, Antarctic Researcher
Rob Simonson, Film Composer

Portland State University Placements

Some of the top employers of Portland State graduates are Intel, Nike, Amazon, Apple, Google, Adidas, Daimler Trucks, Columbia Sportswear, OHSU, etc. The median salary of university graduates is estimated to be 51,000 USD within one year after graduation.

Job Title	Average Salary Package (USD)
Software Engineer	88,560
Graphic Designer	45,402
Human Resources (HR) Manager	71,388
Mechanical Engineer	68,887

Graduates have access to the Handshake portal where various on-campus positions, internships and jobs in the U.S. are posted throughout the year. The Career Services at the university offers a range of services to students and alumni such as help with writing resumes, CV and cover letters, job search resources, interview preparation, advice for writing personal statements, help in choosing the right graduate school, and applying for admission, etc.

FAQs

Ques. What GPA is required for admission to Portland State University?

Ans. The average high school GPA of 3.47 is required for admission to Portland State University.

Ques. What is Portland State University known for?

Ans. Portland State University is known as one of most innovative universities in the U.S. according to the U.S. News and World Report 2022. It is also one of the most diverse institutions and an affordable research university.

Ques. What are the requirements for admission into undergraduate courses?

Ans. TOEFL scores, Secondary school records like transcripts, Secondary School GPA are required for undergraduate admissions.

Ques. Is Portland State University test-optional?

Ans. Yes, Portland State University is test-optional. SAT or ACT scores are not required for admission decisions.

Ques. How much is the tuition fee at Portland State University?

Ans. The tuition fee for international undergraduates is 29,001 USD and for graduates it is 25,797 USD.

Ques. What percent of international students are enrolled in Portland State University?

Ans. Around 5% of the total student population at Portland State University is international.

Ques. Are there any financial aid options for international students at Portland State University?

Ans. Yes. International students are subjected to financial aid provided that they fulfil the eligibility of scholarships, International students also get financial aid in form of grants. Almost 65% students studying in Portland State University get financial aid out of which 42% get grants or scholarships.

Ques. What is the application fee for undergraduate students applying to Portland State University?

Ans. Application fee for International Students is USD 50. It has been waived for Undergraduate students through 15 June.

Ques. How can students apply for admission to Portland State University?

Ans. Applicants can apply through https://www.pdx.edu/admissions/apply-psu

Find A Program

Top streams:

Sciences Engineering Computer Science and Engineering Arts Business Social Studies Humanities Environmental Studies Natural Sciences PhysicsView All

Top degrees:

Master of Arts [M.A] Economics

STEM Course

2 years

On Campus

Full Time

Exam Scores: TOEFL80|IELTS6.5|PTE60

Master of Science [M.S] Mechanical Engineering

STEM Course

1 year

On Campus

English

Full Time

Exam Scores: TOEFL80|IELTS6.5|PTE60

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Computer Science and Engineering Business Analytics Natural Sciences Health Care Technology Marketing Civil Engineering+3 More Streams

M.S B.S B.A M.B.A M.Sc M.A Diploma M.Eng Ph.D B.A/B.S Graduate Certificate

Portland State University Student Profiles

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Portland State University Ratings

Based on 3 Students Rating

7.7 out of 10

8.3/10Academic

9.0/10Accommodation

8.3/10Faculty

7.3/10Infrastructure

7.0/10Placement

9.0/10Social Life

Portland State University Reviews

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(1)

Wonderful university of oregon

Overview

Beautiful campus with a very diverse population of people, this school offered the courses I wanted to take as a college student. The faculty was incredible in their teachings and the rec was stunning. The community was very accepting of those who are different because it is a liberal city.

Fees

Tuition fees and Greek life fees, there are fees for club sports and then you must pay for your own groceries and living expenses. Living in the dorms is actually very expensive and you can find cheaper housing elsewhere.

academic: 10/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 8/10

accomodation: 10/10

placement: 4/10

extracurricular: 10/10

0 0

sierra

Portland State University( Alumna/Alumnus )BiologyMarch 8, 2019

7.7 /10

Portland State University is a Great Place to Learn and Find Yourself!

Overview

The main reason was that I really wanted to be in Portland, Oregon and Portland State University is the only public university in Portland. I really liked their biology program and their sustainability program too. The school also had a relationship with Oregon Health & Science University where I wanted to attend graduate school.

Fees

We paid for courses based on the number of credits we were enrolled in. We didn't have to pay for tuition in full at the beginning of the semester in order to stay in the class but we did have to enroll in the schools' payment plan. The payment plan was very reasonable and was helpful to me when paying for classes. We would have a student health fee, facility fees, course-specific fees, etc. The student health insurance plan was around $800 per trimester but students could opt out by signing a waiver showing insurance coverage at the beginning of the term.

academic: 7/10

faculty: 7/10

infrastructure: 7/10

accomodation: 9/10

placement: 8/10

extracurricular: 8/10

0 0

Pradeep

Portland State UniversityM.S Electrical and Computer EngineeringFebruary 22, 2004

6.7 /10

My truthful view

Overview

Less fees and great career opportunities, lot of Indians and I can do internship after 9 months of stay in USA which not many universities allow

Fees

$42,000

academic: 8/10

faculty: 8/10

infrastructure: 7/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 9/10

0 0

Name	Scholarship Per Student	Level of Study	Type
QS Leadership Scholarship	Scholarship per student$10,000	Level Of StudyMaster	TypeMerit-Based	View Details
Chuan Ai Lu Engstrom Memorial Scholarship	Scholarship per student$1,000	Level Of StudyBachelor	TypeMerit-Based	View Details
KC Mahindra Scholarship	Scholarship per student$5,542	Level Of StudyMaster	TypeMerit-Based	View Details
ASID Foundation Legacy Scholarships	Scholarship per student$4,000	Level Of StudyBachelor	TypeMerit-Based	View Details
Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program	Scholarship per studentVariable Amount	Level Of StudyMaster	TypeMerit-Based	View Details
Microsoft Scholarships	Scholarship per studentVariable Amount	Level Of StudyBachelor	TypeMerit-Based	View Details

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FAQs

Ques. I have admits from Portland state university and san jose state university, which should I choose for MS in electrical engineering?

● Top Answer By Jocelyn Moore on 03 Feb 21

Ans. Both Portland and San Jose are good in their own ways. The admission intake for both the schools takes place in the fall season. Here’s a gist of both: San Jose State University The university is good for majors like Engineering, Computer Science and Business. The location of the institute is in Silicon Valley where every semester a job fair is organized. Many big companies participate in this job fair and offer great opportunities which are quite helpful. Apple and Google companies have hired many SJSU students. The weather is very pleasant throughout the year, neither too hot nor too cold. Portland State University The institute is located in a cold, lovely and manageable little city. The people there are quite warm and friendly. The institute has been ranked #801 for engineering by Times Higher Education 2021 (international). San Jose State University Portland State University Tuition fee for the 1st year (international students) $ 16,283 $ 21,105 Acceptance rate 55% 96% International students’ percentage 12% 6% Delivery type Full-time Full-time On looking at the above information about expenses, location of the city, atmosphere of the city, etc. whichever seems suitable for you, you can choose that.Read more

1 Answer

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Ques. Is it difficult to get into Portland State University?

● Top Answer By Kim Tan on 03 Feb 21

Ans. The difficulty level mainly depends on the majors you want to get into. The acceptance rate of the PSU is 96% which means it is not hard to get into. The admission procedure also changes depending on if you’re applying for an undergraduate or graduate course. Some majors are easy to get into while some are hard to get in, usually the in-demand majors have a larger applicant pool so there is that. Completing the program is more difficult as compared to getting in. The best thing about the institution is that the professors want their students to excel and become successful. If you’re an international student, you’ll have to provide many additional things like TOEFL/IELTS scores and some other exam scores depending on your program. The admission requirements are different for freshman admits and transfer admits. The only requirement is to meet the eligibility criteria for the major you are interested in. PhD programs are hard to qualify as they are only admitting the best applicants. You also need to meet the course-specific requirement for your majors like CS, School of Music, etc. For admissions in Music major the applicants should clear the audition round and for CS the applicants should gain minimum grades for mathematics and CS classes and meet GPA requirements. Acceptance rate 96% International students’ percentage 6% Students faculty ratio 21:1 Students retention rate 74% TOEFL 71 IELTS 6.0 PTE 53 SAT 560 DET 110 You can apply to this university and expect to be accepted here as the university is not hard to get in if you meet all requirements.Read more

1 Answer

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Ques. Is it worth going to University of Massachusetts Amherst by paying double instead of Portland State University in areas of Embedded Systems for Masters of Science in ECE?

● Top Answer By Jay Shete on 04 Feb 21

Ans. If you go by the brand name and ranking, University of Massachusetts clearly is our winner. But what about other factors? Let us consider three parameters to choose a better University for you shall we? Job opportunities after graduation Research opportunities Funding Job opportunities: When it comes to job opportunities, PSU has an edge because of its proximity to Intel. But UMass weighs equally if not less because of its brand name and connections it has. Upon that UMass is a huge University which offers you tons of connections globally. So there is a tie between both UMass and PSU. Research: Students at Massachusetts, Amherst usually team up with the University faculties in their ongoing research projects along with pursuing their degree. The department focuses majorly on Computer networking, embedded systems and Computer system security. PSU on the other hand is a great University if you are looking to pursue your career in front end VLSI. It's curriculum aligns perfectly with the technology which Intel is using. Funding: UMass Amherst clearly beats PSU in both internal and external research funding. If your area of focus aligns with that of the university, then well you would just hit a jackpot! While PSU still offers internal research grants upto $5,000 UMass is on par with that. With one tie and two leads, University of Massachusetts Amherst is a clear winner. So yes, the money you pay at UMass is clearly worth it and you can earn a lot more than your investment within a few years of graduation.Read more

1 Answer

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Ques. Should I attend San Jose State University or Portland State University for Computer Science if I'll receive cheap tuition at both? Why?

● Top Answer By Goeun Young on 03 Feb 21

Ans. Both of them are equally good and provide comparatively cheaper education in the field of Computer Science. The only difference you will experience is in the living conditions, location, cheaper lifestyle, etc. Some other things you should focus about are the placement opportunities, average salary obtained by the students of that University, living expenses, etc. Students should also look for the social and political life of the institutions. Which school provides you with an atmosphere that will be suitable for you? Both of these have graduates earning between 61,000- 91,000 USD and good placement rate, so you should consider other factors as well. The following table provides some information about both the institutions: San Jose State University Portland State University Tuition fee for the 1st year (international students) $ 17,225 $ 24,530 Acceptance rate 55% 96% International students’ percentage 12% 6% Average starting salary $91,000 $61,000 Financial aids Loans, grants, awards and scholarships Scholarships Whichever school offers you a better lifestyle in all aspects and better future opportunities, you should choose.Read more

1 Answer

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Portland State University Admissions

Application Portal: https://www.pdx.edu/admissions/apply-to-psu

Early Action Deadlines
Important Date: November1 (Application deadline)
Important Date: April1 (Application results)
Regular Decision Deadlines
Important Date: January15 (Application deadline)
Important Date: April1 (Application results)

Portland State University Exam Scores

Exams	Avg. Score	Min Score	Max. Score	%Submitted'
Language Proficiency
TOEFL	-	80	-	-
IELTS	-	6.5	-	-
Undergraduate
SAT	1105	990	1220	41
Check Detailed Score
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing	560	500	620	-
Mathematics	545	490	600	-
ACT	22	19	25	45
Check Detailed Score
English	22	18	25	-
Mathematics	22	18	25	-

Attendance Cost

$24,530

attendance cost

The table shows average yearly cost of attendance for international students. Amount may vary with the course opted, nature of accommodation, and personal spending habits of a candidate.Check Program wise Fees

Tuition fees

Undergraduate Programs

$24,530 / Year

Post Graduate Program

$21,105 / Year

On Campus

Books & Supplies

$1,263 / Year

Off Campus

Off campus (not with family), Room & Board

$12,831 / Year

Off campus (not with family), Other Expenses