Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
OSU University of Portland UW-Seattle Washington State UO EWU Central Washington University OIT Seattle U Gonzaga Boise State UWB| Portland State University | Western Washington University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Portland State University | Western Washington University | ||
| Location | Portland, OR | Bellingham, WA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 20,519 | 14,651 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #689 | #364 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pdx.edu | wwu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Portland State University | Western Washington University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,315 | $7,997 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $28,215 | $26,564 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,728 | $14,915 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,509 | $22,096 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,827 | $7,041 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 84% | 93% |
Admission |
Portland State University | Western Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 8,877 | 14,243 | ||
| Admitted | 8,070 | 13,005 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 90.9% | 91.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.6% | 24.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.36 | 3.46 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/24 | 23/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1000/1250 | 1110/1350 | ||
| 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 | Jan 31, 2026 |
Academics |
Portland State University | Western Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Portland State University | Western Washington University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 38% | 73% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $48,600 | $48,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 55% | 71% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,634 | $19,413 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $234 | $200 |
Diversity |
Portland State University | Western Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 8% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 4% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 6% | 9% | ||
| % International | 5% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
Portland State University | Western Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 83% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 18% | 16% | ||
Campus |
Portland State University | Western 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 Western Washington University based on total student enrollment (20,519 students vs. 14,651 students)
Portland State University vs. Western Washington University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Portland State University or Western Washington University?
- Portland State University is 16.5% more expensive to attend than Western Washington University for in-state tuition ($9,315.00 vs. $7,997.00)
- Out of state tuition is 6.2% higher at Portland State University than Western Washington University ($28,215.00 vs. $26,564.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Portland State University than Western Washington University ($12,509 vs. $22,096)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Portland State University are 8.6% lower than costs at Western Washington University ($13,728 vs. $14,915)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Washington University than Portland State University (93% vs. 84%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Portland State University students is 25.4% larger than aid received Western Washington University ($8,827 vs. $7,041)
Portland State University vs. Western Washington University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Portland State University or Western Washington University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Western Washington University or Portland State University .
- The average SAT score at Western Washington University (1114) is 75 points higher than at Portland State University (1039)
- Incoming Western Washington University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Portland State University (22)
- Accepted freshman Western Washington University students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at Portland State University (3.36)
- Western Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than Portland State University (90.9%)
Portland State University vs. Western Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Portland State University or Western 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 Western Washington University and Portland State University.
- The graduation rate at Western Washington University is higher than Portland State University (73% vs. 38%)
- Graduates from Portland State University earn on average $600 more per year than Western Washington University graduates after ten years. ($48,600 vs. $48,000)
- Western Washington University students graduate with a $3,221 lower median federal student loan debt than Portland State University graduates. ($19,413 vs. $22,634)
- Western Washington University graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than Portland State University graduates. ($200 vs. $234)
- More Western Washington University 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/