San Jose State vs. Portland State University

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

San Jose State Portland State University
Location San Jose, CA Portland, OR
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 35,751 21,609
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #558 #730
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sjsu.edu pdx.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

San Jose State Portland State University
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $9,000
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $27,900
Room & Board $18,568 $14,940
Avg Net Price $14,219 $16,273
Avg Grant Aid $9,210 $9,750
% Receiving Grant Aid 59% 86%

Admission

San Jose State Portland State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 34,002 7,926
Admitted 26,083 7,378
Acceptance Rate 76.7% 93.1%
Enrolled % 15.5% 22.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.35 3.36
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26 17/24
SAT Range 1010/1240 1000/1250
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Dec 15, 2024

Academics

San Jose State Portland State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (30%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

San Jose State Portland State University
Graduation Rate 46% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,900 $48,600
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $15,000 $22,634
Median Loan Payment $155 $234

Diversity

San Jose State Portland State University
% Men 48% 42%
% Women 52% 58%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 19% 59%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 26% 12%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 5% 6%
% International 6% 5%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

San Jose State Portland State University
% In-State 96% 78%
% Out-of-State 1% 20%

Campus

San Jose State Portland State 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

  • San Jose State University is larger than than Portland State University based on total student enrollment (35,751 students vs. 21,609 students)

San Jose State vs. Portland State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Jose State or Portland State University?

  • Portland State University is 56.7% more expensive to attend than San Jose State for in-state tuition ($9,000.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 58.3% higher at Portland State University than San Jose State University ($27,900.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at San Jose State University than Portland State University ($14,219 vs. $16,273)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Portland State University are 24.3% lower than costs at San Jose State University ($14,940 vs. $18,568)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Portland State University than San Jose State University (86% vs. 59%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Portland State University students is 5.9% larger than aid received San Jose State University ($9,750 vs. $9,210)

San Jose State vs. Portland State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at San Jose State University (1055) is 16 points higher than at Portland State University (1039)
  • Incoming San Jose State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Portland State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Portland State University students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at San Jose State (3.35)
  • Portland State University has a higher acceptance rate (93.1%) than San Jose State (76.7%)

San Jose State vs. Portland State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, San Jose State or Portland State 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 Portland State University and San Jose State.

  • The graduation rate at San Jose State is higher than Portland State University (46% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from San Jose State University earn on average $11,300 more per year than Portland State University graduates after ten years. ($59,900 vs. $48,600)
  • San Jose State University students graduate with a $7,634 lower median federal student loan debt than Portland State University graduates. ($15,000 vs. $22,634)
  • San Jose State graduates are paying $79 less per month on federal student loans than Portland State University graduates. ($155 vs. $234)
  • More San Jose State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Portland State University students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 55%)

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