Portland State University vs. Washington State

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

 Portland State University Washington State
Location Portland, OR Pullman, WA
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 21,609 27,539
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #730 #386
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pdx.edu wsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Portland State University Washington State
Tuition (In State) $9,000 $10,708
Tuition (Out of State) $27,900 $26,392
Room & Board $14,940 $12,396
Avg Net Price $16,273 $17,911
Avg Grant Aid $9,750 $10,689
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 83%

Admission

 Portland State University Washington State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,926 19,401
Admitted 7,378 16,123
Acceptance Rate 93.1% 83.1%
Enrolled % 22.1% 24.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24 20/26
SAT Range 1000/1250 1020/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 31, 2025

Academics

 Portland State University Washington State
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%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

 Portland State University Washington State
Graduation Rate 38% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,600 $54,400
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,634 $20,429
Median Loan Payment $234 $211

Diversity

 Portland State University Washington State
% Men 42% 46%
% Women 58% 54%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 63%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 12% 13%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 8%
% International 5% 5%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

 Portland State University Washington State
% In-State 78% 83%
% Out-of-State 20% 15%

Campus

 Portland State University Washington State
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

  • Washington State University is larger than than Portland State University based on total student enrollment (27,539 students vs. 21,609 students)

Portland State University vs. Washington State Cost Comparison

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

  • Washington State University is 19% more expensive to attend than Portland State University for in-state tuition ($10,708.00 vs. $9,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.7% higher at Portland State University than Washington State University ($27,900.00 vs. $26,392.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Portland State University than Washington State ($16,273 vs. $17,911)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Washington State University are 20.5% lower than costs at Portland State University ($12,396 vs. $14,940)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Portland State University than Washington State University (86% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington State University students is 9.6% larger than aid received Portland State University ($10,689 vs. $9,750)

Portland State University vs. Washington State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Portland State University (1039) is the same at Washington State (1039)
  • Incoming Washington State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Portland State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Washington State students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Portland State University (3.36)
  • Portland State University has a higher acceptance rate (93.1%) than Washington State (83.1%)

Portland State University vs. Washington State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Washington State is higher than Portland State University (67% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Washington State University earn on average $5,800 more per year than Portland State University graduates after ten years. ($54,400 vs. $48,600)
  • Washington State University students graduate with a $2,205 lower median federal student loan debt than Portland State University graduates. ($20,429 vs. $22,634)
  • Washington State graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Portland State University graduates. ($211 vs. $234)
  • More Washington State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Portland State University students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 55%)

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