Key Takeaways:
- PSU also offers over 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including the School of Business Administration, the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science, and the Graduate School of Education.
- Portland State University (PSU) has a student-faculty ratio of 17:1, and 49.2% of classes have fewer than 20 students. 76% of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.
- The graduation rate at PSU is 62.1%, and its acceptance rate is 93%.
Degree Programs Available at Portland State University
Portland State University appears in our ranking of the 30 Best Colleges for Young Democrats.
There is research that indicates a college degree can increase salaries by $25,000 per year and each year the gap between salaries for those with just a high school diploma compared to those with a college degree grows larger. Not only do positions that require a college degree offer higher salaries, but they also provide additional benefits for your family, including health insurance, retirement, and even travel options. Portland State University offers several unique degree programs that prepare individuals for leadership roles in their chosen field of study.
Featured Programs
The Bachelor of Arts in International and Global Studies draws on approaches from multiple fields including sociology, economics, history, and communications. Students develop strong communication and critical thinking skills as well as intercultural competence. They are able to show an appreciation of and respect for cultural diversity. Students are able to integrate frameworks from various disciplines to analyze issues while also acquiring skills to put topics into context. Students gain the ability to evaluate information and contexts under which the data is created, disseminated and acquired. They may concentrate their studies in the following areas:
- Global Studies
- International Development Studies
- Regional Studies: Africa
- Regional Studies: East Asia
- Regional Studies: Europe
- Regional Studies: Latin America
- Regional Studies: Middle East
The program is available on campus, online or in a hybrid format. Courses may include Topics in Asian Thought, Globalization and Identity, Commodity Chains in Latin America, The United States and the World, as well as Cities and Third World Development.
The Bachelor of Science in Business with a focus on Supply & Logistics Management provides the technical skill and strategic knowledge necessary to procure resources, distribute products and perform supply chain management on a global scale. Students gain hands-on experience which allows them to apply classroom learning to real-world problems. The program is one of only three in the country that holds ISM certification. The program is available online, on campus, or in a hybrid version. Some of the courses required for the program include Project Management, Transportation and Logistics Management, Supply Chain Analysis, Craft Beverages Operations Management and Introduction to Enterprise Resource Planning Systems.
Master of Urban and Regional Planning
The Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree at Portland State University is designed for those who are working as professional planners. The program provides an understanding of the history and theory of planning as a field a well as plan implementation, analytical methods, GIS and the dynamics of metropolitan development. During the last two quarters of the program, students work in groups on community-based, client-focused workshop projects. Students are able to form teams to work on projects for community clients and produce a finished product by the end of the term. Students must also complete 400 hours of internship. Some of the courses required for the program include Dynamics of Planning Practice, Participatory Planning, Negotiation in the Public Sector and Economic Applications to Urban Studies.
About Portland State University
Portland State University began as the Vanport Extension Center with the goal of education soldiers returning from World War II. The school was first located in Vanport, a city located along the Columbia River which was built to house shipyard workers during the war. The school opened in 1946 and moved three times before settling in its current location in downtown Portland in 1952.
In 1955, the school became Portland State College in recognition of its four-year college status. The school gained university status in 1969. Today, the school has an enrollment of 29,000. For four years in a row, US News & World Report has ranked the school one of the country’s most innovative schools. Colleges of Distinction includes the University in its rankings and it was ranked one of the 382 best colleges by The Princeton Review. The City Management and Urban Policy graduate degree program was ranked among the top 50 graduate programs by US News & World Report.
Portland State University Accreditation Details
Portland State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Accreditation indicates that the University meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality as determined through a peer-review process. It also means the University has the resources necessary to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs and that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. In addition to regional accreditation, the University holds the following program accreditations:
- American Chemical Society
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- College of Urban and Public Affairs
- Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
- Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
- Council on Academic Accreditation of the American-Speech-Language Hearing Association
- Council on Education for Public Health
- Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET
- National Architectural Accrediting Board
- National Association of Schools of Music
- National Association of Schools of Theater
- Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration
- Planning Accreditation Board
Portland State University Admission Requirements
Applicants for undergraduate programs at Portland State University must provide official high school diplomas and must have graduated with a 3.0 or higher. They must also provide official SAT or ACT scores. Transfer applicants must submit transcripts from all colleges and universities attended and have a GPA of 2.25 or higher.
Graduate applicants must submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended and must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university. They must provide a personal essay, letters of recommendation and current resume. Some programs require a writing sample, portfolio or official GRE or GMAT scores.
Portland State University Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergraduate tuition at Portland State University is $983.70 per credit hour for Oregon residents and $2,182.50 for non-residents. Graduate tuition is $1,672.50 per credit hour for residents and $2,320.50 for non-residents.
Financial aid is available and 72 percent of all students who attend Portland State University receive financial assistance. The average award is $11,377 with 42 percent of aid given in loans, 42 percent in grants and scholarships. The Portland State University Foundation has awarded $2.4 million in scholarships. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to qualify for assistance.
Portland State University leads the way to a sustainable future through academic excellence, engagement and an opportunity for all students. Portland State University serves a vibrant urban region and is dedicated to collaborative learning, innovative research and community engagement.