C of I vs. Portland State University

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

C of I Portland State University
Location Caldwell, ID Portland, OR
Setting Small Suburban Large City
Enrollment 1,076 20,519
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #454 #689
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website collegeofidaho.edu pdx.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

C of I Portland State University
Tuition (In State) $35,180 $9,315
Tuition (Out of State) $35,180 $28,215
Room & Board $11,935 $13,728
Avg Net Price $22,602 $12,509
Avg Grant Aid $25,927 $8,827
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 84%

Admission

C of I Portland State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,553 8,877
Admitted 2,150 8,070
Acceptance Rate 47.2% 90.9%
Enrolled % 13.8% 19.6%
Avg High School GPA - 3.36
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/28 17/24
SAT Range 1080/1270 1000/1250
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 Feb 15, 2026

Academics

C of I Portland State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • History (10%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

C of I Portland State University
Graduation Rate 63% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,700 $48,600
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,995 $22,634
Median Loan Payment $268 $234

Diversity

C of I Portland State University
% Men 1% 8%
% Women 1% 14%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 66% 59%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 14% 12%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 1% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 6%
% International 7% 5%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

C of I Portland State University
% In-State 52% 80%
% Out-of-State 32% 18%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Portland State University is larger than than C of I based on total student enrollment (20,519 students vs. 1,076 students)

C of I vs. Portland State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, C of I or Portland State University?

  • The College of Idaho is 277.7% more expensive to attend than Portland State University for in-state tuition ($35,180.00 vs. $9,315.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 24.7% higher at C of I than Portland State University ($35,180.00 vs. $28,215.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Portland State University than C of I ($12,509 vs. $22,602)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of Idaho are 15% lower than costs at Portland State University ($11,935 vs. $13,728)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The College of Idaho than Portland State University (100% vs. 84%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The College of Idaho students is 193.7% larger than aid received Portland State University ($25,927 vs. $8,827)

C of I vs. Portland State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, C of I 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 C of I .

  • Portland State University has a higher acceptance rate (90.9%) than C of I (47.2%)

C of I vs. Portland State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, C of I 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 C of I.

  • The graduation rate at C of I is higher than Portland State University (63% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Portland State University earn on average $2,900 more per year than C of I graduates after ten years. ($48,600 vs. $45,700)
  • Portland State University students graduate with a $3,361 lower median federal student loan debt than C of I graduates. ($22,634 vs. $25,995)
  • Portland State University graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than C of I graduates. ($234 vs. $268)
  • More C of I 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/