Portland State University vs. WCU

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

 Portland State University WCU
Location Portland, OR West Chester, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 21,609 17,275
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #730 #496
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pdx.edu wcupa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Portland State University WCU
Tuition (In State) $9,000 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $27,900 $19,290
Room & Board $14,940 $14,228
Avg Net Price $16,273 $22,973
Avg Grant Aid $9,750 $5,443
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 64%

Admission

 Portland State University WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,926 14,778
Admitted 7,378 12,982
Acceptance Rate 93.1% 87.8%
Enrolled % 22.1% 23.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.43
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24 23/30
SAT Range 1000/1250 1080/1260
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

Academics

 Portland State University WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)

Outcomes

 Portland State University WCU
Graduation Rate 38% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,600 $49,000
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,634 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $234 $242

Diversity

 Portland State University WCU
% Men 42% 39%
% Women 58% 61%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 78%
% Black 4% 11%
% Hispanic 12% 5%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 3%
% International 5% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

 Portland State University WCU
% In-State 78% 87%
% Out-of-State 20% 12%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Portland State University is larger than than WCU based on total student enrollment (21,609 students vs. 17,275 students)

Portland State University vs. WCU Cost Comparison

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

  • Portland State University is 16.6% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($9,000.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 44.6% higher at Portland State University than West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($27,900.00 vs. $19,290.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Portland State University than WCU ($16,273 vs. $22,973)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania are 5% lower than costs at Portland State University ($14,228 vs. $14,940)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Portland State University than West Chester University of Pennsylvania (86% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Portland State University students is 79.1% larger than aid received West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($9,750 vs. $5,443)

Portland State University vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (1072) is 33 points higher than at Portland State University (1039)
  • Incoming WCU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Portland State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at Portland State University (3.36)
  • Portland State University has a higher acceptance rate (93.1%) than WCU (87.8%)

Portland State University vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Portland State University (68% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from West Chester University of Pennsylvania earn on average $400 more per year than Portland State University graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $48,600)
  • Portland State University students graduate with a $866 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($22,634 vs. $23,500)
  • Portland State University graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than WCU graduates. ($234 vs. $242)
  • More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Portland State University students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 55%)

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