Pacific vs. Portland State University

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

Pacific Portland State University
Location Forest Grove, OR Portland, OR
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 3,559 21,609
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #354 #730
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pacificu.edu pdx.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Pacific Portland State University
Tuition (In State) $50,884 $9,000
Tuition (Out of State) $50,884 $27,900
Room & Board $14,408 $14,940
Avg Net Price $33,472 $16,273
Avg Grant Aid $33,340 $9,750
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 86%

Admission

Pacific Portland State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,759 7,926
Admitted 2,546 7,378
Acceptance Rate 92.3% 93.1%
Enrolled % 15.4% 22.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.36
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/26 17/24
SAT Range 1010/1350 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 Aug 25, 2025

Academics

Pacific Portland State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Biology (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

Pacific Portland State University
Graduation Rate 61% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,800 $48,600
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,156 $22,634
Median Loan Payment $270 $234

Diversity

Pacific Portland State University
% Men 32% 42%
% Women 68% 58%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 52% 59%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 13% 12%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 3% 1%
% Two or More Races 12% 6%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

Pacific Portland State University
% In-State 38% 78%
% Out-of-State 61% 20%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Portland State University is larger than than Pacific based on total student enrollment (21,609 students vs. 3,559 students)

Pacific vs. Portland State University Cost Comparison

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

  • Pacific University is 465.4% more expensive to attend than Portland State University for in-state tuition ($50,884.00 vs. $9,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 82.4% higher at Pacific than Portland State University ($50,884.00 vs. $27,900.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Portland State University than Pacific ($16,273 vs. $33,472)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific University are 3.7% lower than costs at Portland State University ($14,408 vs. $14,940)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific University than Portland State University (98% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific University students is 241.9% larger than aid received Portland State University ($33,340 vs. $9,750)

Pacific vs. Portland State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pacific 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 Pacific .

  • The average SAT score at Pacific University (1090) is 51 points higher than at Portland State University (1039)
  • Incoming Pacific students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Portland State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Pacific students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Portland State University (3.36)
  • Portland State University has a higher acceptance rate (93.1%) than Pacific (92.3%)

Pacific vs. Portland State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Pacific 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 Pacific.

  • The graduation rate at Pacific is higher than Portland State University (61% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Portland State University earn on average $1,800 more per year than Pacific graduates after ten years. ($48,600 vs. $46,800)
  • Portland State University students graduate with a $3,522 lower median federal student loan debt than Pacific graduates. ($22,634 vs. $26,156)
  • Portland State University graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Pacific graduates. ($234 vs. $270)
  • More Pacific graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Portland State University students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 55%)

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