Portland State University

What are the graduation rates for students at Portland State University?

Portland State University exhibits overall graduation rates that suggest challenges in student completion within traditional timelines. The general graduation rate stands at 53%, placing the institution in the lower half nationally. Specifically, just 35% of students graduate within four years, indicating that a significant portion of undergraduates require additional time to earn their degrees. The six-year graduation rate improves to 53%, reflecting longer-term persistence among enrollees.

When disaggregated by gender, graduation rates vary modestly. Men graduate at a rate of 49%, slightly below the overall average, while women have a higher completion rate of 56%. Both figures remain in the bottom 45% to 40% range nationally, pointing to consistent room for improvement across genders. Retention also aligns near the median, with 75% of students continuing after their first year, suggesting moderate effectiveness in student support and engagement strategies.

What is the earning potential for graduates at Portland State University?

Graduates of Portland State University demonstrate a wide range of earning potential depending on their field of study. Among the highest-paid alumni are those who pursued degrees in engineering and computer-related disciplines. For instance, graduates with a degree in Computer Engineering earn approximately $81,059 on average, followed closely by Computer Science majors with around $76,452. Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering also offers strong earnings, with an average of $72,696.

Other engineering fields such as Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering provide solid returns as well, with median earnings of $62,670 and $61,483 respectively. Environmental and Environmental Health Engineering degree holders report average earnings of $55,612, reflecting respectable income in specialized technical roles.

Business-related degrees at Portland State University also yield competitive earnings. Finance and Financial Management graduates earn about $49,432, accounting graduates approximately $47,209, and Business Administration, Management, and Operations graduates around $46,148. Marketing majors report average earnings near $36,870, while general business and management support areas earn roughly $39,501.

STEM fields outside engineering maintain notable earning potential. Chemistry graduates make on average $44,198 while Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology reach about $39,299. Mathematics and Geological and Earth Sciences graduates earn close to $35,768 and $35,657 respectively.

Degrees in Communication and Media Studies offer earnings around $36,472, and those in Criminal Justice and Corrections can expect about $36,250. Social science areas such as Economics and Political Science provide reasonable incomes, respectively at $32,245 and $31,308.

Graduates from Biological disciplines such as Biology and related sciences earn in the low $30,000s, with averages between $30,441 and $32,021. Human Development and Family Studies fetch an average income of $30,216, similar to the field of Social Work at $29,548.

Areas in the liberal arts and humanities tend towards more modest earnings, though still providing meaningful career opportunities. For example, students with degrees in Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities average about $31,991, while History majors earn roughly $29,076. Degrees in linguistic studies range from about $25,916 to $33,771 depending on the language focus.