Portland State University vs. Western Washington University

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

Portland State University Western Washington University
Location Portland, OR Bellingham, WA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 21,609 14,747
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #730 #378
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pdx.edu wwu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Portland State University Western Washington University
Tuition (In State) $9,000 $7,760
Tuition (Out of State) $27,900 $25,666
Room & Board $14,940 $14,691
Avg Net Price $16,273 $21,105
Avg Grant Aid $9,750 $6,522
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 91%

Admission

Portland State University Western Washington University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,926 11,864
Admitted 7,378 10,997
Acceptance Rate 93.1% 92.7%
Enrolled % 22.1% 29.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.46
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24 25/30
SAT Range 1000/1250 1130/1340
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, 2025

Academics

Portland State University Western Washington University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)

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 42% 42%
% Women 58% 58%
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 78% 83%
% Out-of-State 20% 17%

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 (21,609 students vs. 14,747 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% more expensive to attend than Western Washington University for in-state tuition ($9,000.00 vs. $7,760.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.7% higher at Portland State University than Western Washington University ($27,900.00 vs. $25,666.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Portland State University than Western Washington University ($16,273 vs. $21,105)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Washington University are 1.7% lower than costs at Portland State University ($14,691 vs. $14,940)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Washington University than Portland State University (91% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Portland State University students is 49.5% larger than aid received Western Washington University ($9,750 vs. $6,522)

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)
  • Portland State University has a higher acceptance rate (93.1%) than Western Washington University (92.7%)

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/