Portland State University vs. Central Washington University

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

Portland State University Central Washington University
Location Portland, OR Ellensburg, WA
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 21,609 9,257
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #730 #610
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pdx.edu cwu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Portland State University Central Washington University
Tuition (In State) $9,000 $6,816
Tuition (Out of State) $27,900 $23,881
Room & Board $14,940 $13,645
Avg Net Price $16,273 $15,864
Avg Grant Aid $9,750 $9,294
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 73%

Admission

Portland State University Central Washington University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,926 6,409
Admitted 7,378 5,992
Acceptance Rate 93.1% 93.5%
Enrolled % 22.1% 23.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.08
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24 17/24
SAT Range 1000/1250 930/1150
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Mar 1, 2025

Academics

Portland State University Central Washington University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (29%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)

Outcomes

Portland State University Central Washington University
Graduation Rate 38% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,600 $47,800
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,634 $20,737
Median Loan Payment $234 $214

Diversity

Portland State University Central Washington University
% Men 42% 47%
% Women 58% 53%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 59% 59%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 12% 14%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 1% 1%
% Two or More Races 6% 7%
% International 5% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 9%

Students

Portland State University Central Washington University
% In-State 78% 95%
% Out-of-State 20% 5%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Portland State University is larger than than Central Washington University based on total student enrollment (21,609 students vs. 9,257 students)

Portland State University vs. Central Washington University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Portland State University or Central Washington University?

  • Portland State University is 32% more expensive to attend than Central Washington University for in-state tuition ($9,000.00 vs. $6,816.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.8% higher at Portland State University than Central Washington University ($27,900.00 vs. $23,881.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Washington University than Portland State University ($15,864 vs. $16,273)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Washington University are 9.5% lower than costs at Portland State University ($13,645 vs. $14,940)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Portland State University than Central Washington University (86% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Portland State University students is 4.9% larger than aid received Central Washington University ($9,750 vs. $9,294)

Portland State University vs. Central Washington University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Portland State University or Central Washington University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Central Washington University or Portland State University .

  • The average SAT score at Portland State University (1039) is 61 points higher than at Central Washington University (978)
  • Incoming Portland State University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Central Washington University (21)
  • Accepted freshman Portland State University students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Central Washington University (3.08)
  • Central Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (93.5%) than Portland State University (93.1%)

Portland State University vs. Central Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Portland State University or Central Washington 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 Central Washington University and Portland State University.

  • The graduation rate at Central Washington University is higher than Portland State University (56% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Portland State University earn on average $800 more per year than Central Washington University graduates after ten years. ($48,600 vs. $47,800)
  • Central Washington University students graduate with a $1,897 lower median federal student loan debt than Portland State University graduates. ($20,737 vs. $22,634)
  • Central Washington University graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than Portland State University graduates. ($214 vs. $234)
  • More Central Washington University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Portland State University students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 55%)

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