Portland Community College vs. Portland State University

Should I go to Portland Community College or Portland State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Portland Community College 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Portland Community College vs. Portland State University comparison
Portland Community College Portland State University College 3 College 4
Portland Community College Portland State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Portland Community College Portland State University
Location Portland, OR Portland, OR
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 19,400 21,609
Type Public 2 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #730
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pcc.edu pdx.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Portland Community College Portland State University
Tuition (In State) $4,428 $9,000
Tuition (Out of State) $9,288 $27,900
Room & Board $13,449 $14,940
Avg Net Price $10,166 $16,273
Avg Grant Aid $6,108 $9,750
% Receiving Grant Aid 69% 86%

Admission

Portland Community College Portland State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 7,926
Admitted - 7,378
Acceptance Rate Open 93.1%
Enrolled % Open 22.1%
Avg High School GPA - 3.36
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24
SAT Range 1000/1250
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

Portland Community College Portland State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (49%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (4%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

Portland Community College Portland State University
Graduation Rate - 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,900 $48,600
Making Student Loan Payments 36% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,792 $22,634
Median Loan Payment $173 $234

Diversity

Portland Community College Portland State University
% Men 43% 42%
% Women 57% 58%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 59% 59%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 11% 12%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 1% 1%
% Two or More Races 6% 6%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 7% 4%

Students

Portland Community College Portland State University
% In-State 94% 78%
% Out-of-State 5% 20%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Portland State University is larger than than Portland Community College based on total student enrollment (21,609 students vs. 19,400 students)

Portland Community College vs. Portland State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Portland Community College or Portland State University?

  • Portland State University is 103.3% more expensive to attend than Portland Community College for in-state tuition ($9,000.00 vs. $4,428.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 200.4% higher at Portland State University than Portland Community College ($27,900.00 vs. $9,288.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Portland Community College than Portland State University ($10,166 vs. $16,273)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Portland Community College are 11.1% lower than costs at Portland State University ($13,449 vs. $14,940)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Portland State University than Portland Community College (86% vs. 69%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Portland State University students is 59.6% larger than aid received Portland Community College ($9,750 vs. $6,108)

Which college is harder to get into, Portland Community College 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 Portland Community College .

Portland Community College vs. Portland State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Portland Community College 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 Portland Community College.

  • Graduates from Portland State University earn on average $8,700 more per year than Portland Community College graduates after ten years. ($48,600 vs. $39,900)
  • Portland Community College students graduate with a $5,842 lower median federal student loan debt than Portland State University graduates. ($16,792 vs. $22,634)
  • Portland Community College graduates are paying $61 less per month on federal student loans than Portland State University graduates. ($173 vs. $234)
  • More Portland State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Portland Community College students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 36%)

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