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Compare Portland State University vs Western Oregon University

Portland, OR · Monmouth, OR

Portland State UniversityWestern Oregon University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$9,552/yr$17,237/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$7,655/yr$15,575/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$20,500$20,609
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$7,752/yr$14,585/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$8,981/yr$16,151/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$12,993/yr$17,974/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$19,112/yr$20,243/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$217/mo$218/mo
Room & board (on campus)$13,728/yr$12,528/yr
Room & board (off campus)$13,728/yr$12,528/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$732/yr$1,125/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$2,250/yr$2,676/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$21,590/yr$25,062/yr
Tuition (in-state)$11,679/yr$11,879/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$31,074/yr$32,534/yr
Students with Pell Grants42%41%
Students taking federal loans32%74%
Getting in
Students who get accepted91%98%
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received8,8772,898
Students accepted8,0702,860
Students who enrolled1,580649
Accepted students who enroll20%23%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores1%3%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores0%1%
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
Recommendation lettersNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
Class rankNot consideredNot considered
College-prep programRequiredOptional (considered if sent)
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredNot considered
Work experienceNot consideredNot considered
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredNot consideredNot considered
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate53%47%
Freshmen who come back76%73%
Typical earnings 10 years in$57,906/yr$51,815/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$33,117–$85,203$33,582–$71,166
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)58%55%
White students graduating51%48%
Black students graduating54%17%
Hispanic students graduating50%51%
Asian students graduating68%55%
Typical earnings 6 years in$46,937/yr$42,537/yr
Earn more than a HS grad73%70%
Graduate on time34%29%
Pell students who graduate53%43%
First-gen students who finish48%42%
Low-income students who finish46%40%
Students who transfer out24%No data reported
Typical earnings 8 years in$52,927/yr$46,467/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 18% · Social Sciences 11% · Psychology 9%Education 19% · Psychology 12% · Business, Management & Marketing 10%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 18% of degreesEducation — 19% of degrees
2nd most popular programSocial Sciences — 11% of degreesPsychology — 12% of degrees
3rd most popular programPsychology — 9% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 10% of degrees
4th most popular programHealth Professions — 7% of degreesMulti/Interdisciplinary Studies — 9% of degrees
5th most popular programVisual & Performing Arts — 7% of degreesParks, Recreation & Fitness — 7% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Computer Science — $105,287/yrSpecial Education and Teaching — $61,018/yr
Degrees in STEM18%10%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment13,1823,103
Students per professor17 : 113 : 1
Graduate students4,537555
Average professor pay$11,893/mo$7,388/mo
Full-time professors57%74%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byNorthwest Commission on Colleges and UniversitiesNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Median family income$25,986$41,710
SettingCity (large)Town (fringe)
LocationPortland, ORMonmouth, OR
RegionFar WestFar West
Founded19461856
Public or privatePublicPublic
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationDoctoral Universities: High Research ActivityMaster's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students2.6%0.6%
Men44%36%
Women56%64%
White students47%55%
Black students5.7%3.1%
Hispanic or Latino students23%27%
Asian students10%2.6%
Two or more races8.5%6.9%
Other / not reported3.5%4.1%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students39%42%
Part-time students24%14%
Students age 25+33%17%
Spent on teaching per student$13,280/yr$9,229/yr
Endowment$123.2M$26.9M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing2,0321,300
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$7,785/yr$9,360/yr
Meal plan charge$5,355/yr$3,150/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by weekVaries by week
Academic calendarQuarterQuarter
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchNoYes
ROTCYes — ArmyYes — Army, Air Force
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceYesYes
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
Weekend & evening classesNoYes
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careYesYes
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationYesYes
Tuition payment planYesNo
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FCSNCAA Division II with football
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams1514
Student athletes350407
Athletic scholarships$5.4M$1.4M
Athletics budget$19.2M$9.0M
Athletics revenue$19.2M$9.0M
Recruiting spend$268,498$79,820

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.