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CU Boulder Colorado State DU OSU University of Portland Metropolitan State College of Denver UCCS Washington State UO OIT Regis Texas Tech| University of Colorado Denver | Portland State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CU Denver | Portland State University | ||
| Location | Denver, CO | Portland, OR | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 23,409 | 20,519 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #391 | #689 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ucdenver.edu | pdx.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CU Denver | Portland State University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,096 | $9,315 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,288 | $28,215 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,920 | $13,728 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,303 | $12,509 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,079 | $8,827 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 86% | 84% |
Admission |
CU Denver | Portland State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 14,569 | 8,877 | ||
| Admitted | 11,336 | 8,070 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77.8% | 90.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.4% | 19.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.46 | 3.36 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 17/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1220 | 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 | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
CU Denver | Portland State University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CU Denver | Portland State University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 40% | 38% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $68,200 | $48,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 55% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,190 | $22,634 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $219 | $234 |
Diversity |
CU Denver | Portland State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 14% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 26% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 51% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 19% | 12% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 6% | ||
| % International | 8% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 4% |
Students |
CU Denver | Portland State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 85% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 18% | ||
Campus |
CU Denver | Portland State University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Colorado Denver is larger than than Portland State University based on total student enrollment (23,409 students vs. 20,519 students)
CU Denver vs. Portland State University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CU Denver or Portland State University?
- Portland State University is 2.4% more expensive to attend than CU Denver for in-state tuition ($9,315.00 vs. $9,096.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3.4% higher at Portland State University than University of Colorado Denver ($28,215.00 vs. $27,288.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Portland State University than CU Denver ($12,509 vs. $15,303)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Portland State University are 8.7% lower than costs at University of Colorado Denver ($13,728 vs. $14,920)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Colorado Denver than Portland State University (86% vs. 84%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Portland State University students is 9.3% larger than aid received University of Colorado Denver ($8,827 vs. $8,079)
CU Denver vs. Portland State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CU Denver 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 CU Denver .
- The average SAT score at University of Colorado Denver (1055) is 16 points higher than at Portland State University (1039)
- Incoming CU Denver students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Portland State University (22)
- Accepted freshman CU Denver 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 (90.9%) than CU Denver (77.8%)
CU Denver vs. Portland State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CU Denver 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 CU Denver.
- The graduation rate at CU Denver is higher than Portland State University (40% vs. 38%)
- Graduates from University of Colorado Denver earn on average $19,600 more per year than Portland State University graduates after ten years. ($68,200 vs. $48,600)
- University of Colorado Denver students graduate with a $1,444 lower median federal student loan debt than Portland State University graduates. ($21,190 vs. $22,634)
- CU Denver graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Portland State University graduates. ($219 vs. $234)
- More CU Denver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Portland State University students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 55%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/