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Is Portland State University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Portland State, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Workable
Portland State lands in the workable band for a typical family. Median debt of $20,500 can be carried by median long-run earnings of $57,906, but the margin is not huge. For context, Portland State's net price is about 5% below the typical 4-year, public school. This is the kind of school where your actual aid offer can move the answer meaningfully.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$12,509
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $646 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $3,000 in savings.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$9,552
Median earnings 10 years out
$57,906
Median debt at graduation
$20,500
Graduation rate
53%
At Portland State, a typical graduate carries about $20,500 in student debt and earns roughly $57,906 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $233 per month, or 5% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Portland State is a public four year school in Portland, OR. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR
Worth-It Score: 72/100
Median net price: $15,706
Public 4-year
Southern Oregon
Ashland, OR
Worth-It Score: 54/100
Median net price: $16,732
Public 4-year
Eastern Oregon
La Grande, OR
Worth-It Score: 53/100
Median net price: $17,148
Public 4-year
Western Oregon
Monmouth, OR
Worth-It Score: 56/100
Median net price: $17,237
Public 4-year
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, MI
Worth-It Score: 70/100
Median net price: $9,492
Common questions about Portland State
The median net price at Portland State is $9,552 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in Oregon? See the most affordable public universities in Oregon →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →