Boise State vs. Portland State University

Should I go to Boise State University or Portland State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Boise State 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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Boise State University vs. Portland State University comparison
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Boise State University Portland State University
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Overview

Boise State Portland State University
Location Boise, ID Portland, OR
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 26,670 20,519
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #886 #689
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website boisestate.edu pdx.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Boise State Portland State University
Tuition (In State) $5,941 $9,315
Tuition (Out of State) $24,135 $28,215
Room & Board $16,610 $13,728
Avg Net Price $19,037 $12,509
Avg Grant Aid $8,167 $8,827
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 84%

Admission

Boise State Portland State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,949 8,877
Admitted 13,391 8,070
Acceptance Rate 84% 90.9%
Enrolled % 23% 19.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.37 3.36
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/26 17/24
SAT Range 1030/1210 1000/1250
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

Boise State Portland State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

Boise State Portland State University
Graduation Rate 29% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $48,600
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,929 $22,634
Median Loan Payment $237 $234

Diversity

Boise State Portland State University
% Men 4% 8%
% Women 8% 14%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 74% 59%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 11% 12%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 4% 6%
% International 5% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 4%

Students

Boise State Portland State University
% In-State 65% 80%
% Out-of-State 35% 18%

Campus

Boise State 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

  • Boise State University is larger than than Portland State University based on total student enrollment (26,670 students vs. 20,519 students)

Boise State vs. Portland State University Cost Comparison

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

  • Portland State University is 56.8% more expensive to attend than Boise State for in-state tuition ($9,315.00 vs. $5,941.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.9% higher at Portland State University than Boise State University ($28,215.00 vs. $24,135.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Portland State University than Boise State ($12,509 vs. $19,037)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Portland State University are 21% lower than costs at Boise State University ($13,728 vs. $16,610)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Portland State University than Boise State University (84% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Portland State University students is 8.1% larger than aid received Boise State University ($8,827 vs. $8,167)

Boise State vs. Portland State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Boise State 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 Boise State .

  • The average SAT score at Boise State University (1046) is 7 points higher than at Portland State University (1039)
  • Incoming Boise State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Portland State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Boise State students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Portland State University (3.36)
  • Portland State University has a higher acceptance rate (90.9%) than Boise State (84%)

Boise State vs. Portland State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Boise State 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 Boise State.

  • The graduation rate at Portland State University is higher than Boise State University (38% vs. 29%)
  • Graduates from Portland State University earn on average $7,000 more per year than Boise State graduates after ten years. ($48,600 vs. $41,600)
  • Portland State University students graduate with a $295 lower median federal student loan debt than Boise State graduates. ($22,634 vs. $22,929)
  • Portland State University graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Boise State graduates. ($234 vs. $237)
  • More Portland State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Boise State 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/