Portland State University vs. UWT

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

Portland State University UWT
Location Portland, OR Tacoma, WA
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 21,609 4,794
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #730
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pdx.edu washington.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Portland State University UWT
Tuition (In State) $9,000 $11,189
Tuition (Out of State) $27,900 $39,687
Room & Board $14,940 $14,220
Avg Net Price $16,273 $10,680
Avg Grant Aid $9,750 $12,961
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 68%

Admission

Portland State University UWT
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,926 1,974
Admitted 7,378 1,744
Acceptance Rate 93.1% 88.3%
Enrolled % 22.1% 35.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.41
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24 16/24
SAT Range 1000/1250 960/1180
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jun 30, 2025

Academics

Portland State University UWT
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • General Studies (48%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (10%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

Portland State University UWT
Graduation Rate 38% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,600 $65,800
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,634 $15,000
Median Loan Payment $234 $155

Diversity

Portland State University UWT
% Men 42% 50%
% Women 58% 50%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 59% 43%
% Black 4% 7%
% Hispanic 12% 12%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 1% 2%
% Two or More Races 6% 8%
% International 5% 5%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

Portland State University UWT
% In-State 78% 96%
% Out-of-State 20% 2%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Portland State University is larger than than UWT based on total student enrollment (21,609 students vs. 4,794 students)

Portland State University vs. UWT Cost Comparison

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

  • University of Washington Tacoma Campus is 24.3% more expensive to attend than Portland State University for in-state tuition ($11,189.00 vs. $9,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 42.2% higher at UWT than Portland State University ($39,687.00 vs. $27,900.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Washington Tacoma Campus than Portland State University ($10,680 vs. $16,273)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Washington Tacoma Campus are 5.1% lower than costs at Portland State University ($14,220 vs. $14,940)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Portland State University than University of Washington Tacoma Campus (86% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Washington Tacoma Campus students is 32.9% larger than aid received Portland State University ($12,961 vs. $9,750)

Portland State University vs. UWT Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Portland State University (1039) is 73 points higher than at UWT (966)
  • Incoming Portland State University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at UWT (19)
  • Accepted freshman UWT students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Portland State University (3.36)
  • Portland State University has a higher acceptance rate (93.1%) than UWT (88.3%)

Portland State University vs. UWT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Portland State University or UWT? 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 UWT and Portland State University.

  • Graduates from University of Washington Tacoma Campus earn on average $17,200 more per year than Portland State University graduates after ten years. ($65,800 vs. $48,600)
  • University of Washington Tacoma Campus students graduate with a $7,634 lower median federal student loan debt than Portland State University graduates. ($15,000 vs. $22,634)
  • UWT graduates are paying $79 less per month on federal student loans than Portland State University graduates. ($155 vs. $234)
  • More UWT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Portland State University students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 55%)

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