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Portland State University
Portland, OR 13,619 Undergrads 56.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$22,449
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,932
After Aid
Median Earnings
$57,906
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$12,932
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$57,906
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate56.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients45.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time75.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS71.9%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
90.9%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: -57575th: -
SAT Math
25th: -55075th: -
ACT Composite
25th: -2175th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$500k
+$104k
+$16k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$454k
+$57k
-$30k
Full Cost$22k/yr
+$420k
+$23k
-$65k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
49
∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-65%
Full Cost$22k/yr
Never
-80%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-43%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-58%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$74,599
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$17,937
Earnings (5yr)
$43,474
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,730
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$22,221
Earnings (2yr)
$30,409
Lifetime Value Added
-$235k
Biological and Physical Sciences
BachCIP: 3001
Median Debt
$21,720
Earnings (5yr)
$65,769
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (5yr)
$53,504
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$19,901
Earnings (5yr)
$76,365
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
BachCIP: 5299
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$64,305
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$84,800
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$22,470
Earnings (5yr)
$87,595
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$20,499
Earnings (5yr)
$55,465
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$21,480
Earnings (5yr)
$61,116
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Community Organization and Advocacy
BachCIP: 4402
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,265
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$126,086
Lifetime Value Added
+$491k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$22,630
Earnings (5yr)
$54,626
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$23,100
Earnings (5yr)
$63,970
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$29,399
Earnings (5yr)
$42,373
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$61,635
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$23,875
Earnings (5yr)
$104,747
Lifetime Value Added
+$333k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$19,513
Earnings (5yr)
$47,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$24,506
Earnings (5yr)
$55,563
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$44,469
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$16,444
Earnings (5yr)
$80,287
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$26,296
Earnings (5yr)
$33,420
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
BachCIP: 5218
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$21,771
Earnings (5yr)
$45,964
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$21,253
Earnings (5yr)
$58,152
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$24,423
Earnings (5yr)
$45,602
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (5yr)
$49,354
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$18,791
Earnings (5yr)
$73,873
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$21,666
Earnings (5yr)
$36,229
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$22,604
Earnings (5yr)
$43,029
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$23,499
Earnings (5yr)
$38,552
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$67,800
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$20,834
Earnings (5yr)
$68,456
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$88,755
Lifetime Value Added
+$213k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$16,476
Earnings (5yr)
$57,275
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$20,098
Lifetime Value Added
-$340k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$18,822
Earnings (5yr)
$38,776
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$22,358
Earnings (5yr)
$84,248
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$19,083
Earnings (5yr)
$50,807
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,655
Earnings (5yr)
$48,227
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$54,207
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$39,211
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$21,914
Earnings (5yr)
$49,355
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,234
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$18,376
Earnings (5yr)
$46,213
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Accounting and Related Services
PB-CertCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$83,720
Lifetime Value Added
+$356k
Master's Degrees
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,836
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$39,595
Earnings (5yr)
$129,008
Lifetime Value Added
+$663k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
$39,229
Earnings (5yr)
$79,384
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$92,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$351k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$54,661
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$52,500
Earnings (5yr)
$69,096
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$25,750
Earnings (5yr)
$69,569
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$33,391
Earnings (5yr)
$61,870
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$30,833
Earnings (5yr)
$61,367
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$24,428
Earnings (5yr)
$127,704
Lifetime Value Added
+$652k
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$111,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$512k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,391
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$89,636
Lifetime Value Added
+$327k
International Business
MastCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$56,776
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$82,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$308k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,593
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
MastCIP: 3005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,068
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$94,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$367k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,144
Lifetime Value Added
+$219k
Real Estate
MastCIP: 5215
Median Debt
$39,144
Earnings (2yr)
$65,238
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$47,784
Earnings (5yr)
$68,416
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$40,595
Earnings (5yr)
$63,038
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$61,197
Earnings (5yr)
$60,177
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$40,495
Earnings (5yr)
$61,828
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
MastCIP: 1314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,195
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Graduate Certificates
Geography and Cartography
Gr-CertCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,229
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.