Understanding Portland State University Undergraduate Tuition and Fees
Navigating the costs associated with higher education can be complex. This article aims to provide a comprehensive breakdown of Portland State University's (PSU) undergraduate tuition and fees, offering clarity for prospective and current students.
Cost of Attendance: A Comprehensive Overview
The cost of attendance reflects the amount of money a typical student is projected to need for school-related expenses during the academic year based on residency, housing arrangements, and degree program. The Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships publishes estimated costs of tuition and fees, food and housing, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. However, it's crucial to recognize that actual expenses can vary depending on a number of factors, including but not limited to: number of credits being taken, degree program, housing arrangements, residency, and lifestyle choices. For actual tuition and fee charges review the fee schedule for the appropriate academic year or contact Student Financial Services.
Base Tuition
Portland State University's tuition is $10,263 for in-state and $26,463 for out-of-state students. Compared with the national average cost of in-state tuition of $12,436, Portland State University is cheaper. For students coming from out of state, the tuition is cheaper than the national average cost of out-of-state tuition of $29,815. These figures include both tuition and fees, also referred to as the sticker price. Fees differ by institution and may fund library services, student gym facilities, student centers, technology resources and campus health centers.
As you’re comparing costs of different institutions, also consider the total cost and the net price. The total cost is the sticker price, plus the cost of food and housing, books and supplies, and transportation and personal expenses. At Portland State University, the total cost is $26,439 for in-state students and $41,883 for out-of-state students.
To give a more detailed view, here's a breakdown of the base tuition per term for the 2020-2021 academic year and Summer 2021:
Read also: Education Jobs in Portland
| Credits | Resident Undergraduate | Resident Graduate | Nonresident Undergraduate | Nonresident Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $188.25 | $444.00 | $608.00 | $671.00 |
| 2 | $376.50 | $888.00 | $1,216.00 | $1,342.00 |
| 3 | $564.75 | $1,332.00 | $1,824.00 | $2,013.00 |
| 4 | $753.00 | $1,776.00 | $2,432.00 | $2,684.00 |
| 5 | $941.25 | $2,220.00 | $3,040.00 | $3,355.00 |
| 6 | $1,129.50 | $2,664.00 | $3,648.00 | $4,026.00 |
| 7 | $1,317.75 | $3,108.00 | $4,256.00 | $4,697.00 |
| 8 | $1,506.00 | $3,552.00 | $4,864.00 | $5,368.00 |
| 9 | $1,694.25 | $3,996.00 | $5,472.00 | $6,039.00 |
| 10 | $1,882.50 | $4,440.00 | $6,080.00 | $6,710.00 |
| 11 | $2,070.75 | $4,884.00 | $6,688.00 | $7,381.00 |
| 12 | $2,259.00 | $5,328.00 | $7,296.00 | $8,052.00 |
| 13 | $2,447.25 | $5,638.00 | $7,904.00 | $8,694.00 |
| 14 | $2,635.50 | $5,948.00 | $8,512.00 | $9,336.00 |
| 15 | $2,823.75 | $6,258.00 | $9,120.00 | $9,978.00 |
| 16 | $3,012.00 | $6,568.00 | $9,728.00 | $10,620.00 |
| 17 | $3,200.25 | $6,878.00 | $10,336.00 | $11,262.00 |
| 18 | $3,388.50 | $7,188.00 | $10,944.00 | $11,904.00 |
| Each additional credit hour | $188.25 | $310.00 | $608.00 | $642.00 |
Mandatory Fees
Beyond tuition, mandatory fees contribute to various campus services and facilities. The table below outlines the mandatory fees charged for undergraduate and graduate students per term based on the number of credits in which a student is enrolled. Learn more about each fee and get more details about tuition. The Health Service Fee includes services offered through the Student Health Center, counseling, dental, and testing. It does not include the health insurance premium of $935.00 per term; however, students have the option to waive the health insurance premium with proof of insurance. Fully online courses have an additional fee of $35 a credit. The table below does not include one-time matriculation fee of $350 for all new students.
| Credits | Building | Incidental | Health Services | Academic Student Recreation Center | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $20.00 | $132.00 | - | $44.00 | $196.00 |
| 2 | $22.00 | $155.00 | - | $44.00 | $221.00 |
| 3 | $24.00 | $178.00 | - | $44.00 | $246.00 |
| 4 | $26.00 | $201.00 | - | $44.00 | $271.00 |
| 5 | $30.00 | $224.00 | $168.00 | $44.00 | $464.00 |
| 6 | $32.00 | $247.00 | $168.00 | $44.00 | $489.00 |
| 7 | $39.00 | $270.00 | $168.00 | $44.00 | $514.00 |
| 8 | $39.00 | $296.00 | $168.00 | $44.00 | $547.00 |
| 9 | $39.00 | $296.00 | $168.00 | $44.00 | $547.00 |
| 10 | $39.00 | $296.00 | $168.00 | $44.00 | $547.00 |
| 11 | $39.00 | $296.00 | $168.00 | $44.00 | $547.00 |
| 12 or more | $39.00 | $296.00 | $168.00 | $44.00 | $547.00 |
Differential Tuition
Certain programs at PSU have a differential tuition rate, meaning students in these programs pay a higher rate per credit. This additional cost supports the specific resources and faculty expertise required for these specialized fields. If a student is admitted to a school or college with a program differential and also admitted to the University Honors College, both the program differential and Honors differential will be assessed. If a student is admitted to more than one school or college with a program differential, the student's primary major code will take precedence and will determine the differential tuition rate to be assessed.
Here's a glimpse into differential tuition rates for the College of the Arts:
| Credits | Resident Undergraduate | Resident Graduate | Nonresident Undergraduate | Nonresident Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $199.65 | $491.00 | $654.00 | $722.00 |
| 2 | $399.30 | $982.00 | $1,308.20 | $1,444.00 |
| 3 | $598.95 | $1,473.00 | $1,962.00 | $2,166.00 |
| 4 | $798.60 | $1,964.00 | $2,616.00 | $2,888.00 |
| 5 | $998.25 | $2,455.00 | $3,270.00 | $3,610.00 |
| 6 | $1,197.90 | $2,946.00 | $3,924.00 | $4,332.00 |
| 7 | $1,397.55 | $3,437.00 | $4,578.00 | $5,054.00 |
| 8 | $1,597.20 | $3,928.00 | $5,232.00 | $5,776.00 |
| 9 | $1,796.85 | $4,419.00 | $5,886.00 | $6,498.00 |
| 10 | $1,996.50 | $4,928.00 | $6,540.00 | $7,220.00 |
| 11 | $2,196.15 | $5,401.00 | $7,194.00 | $7,942.00 |
| 12 | $2,395.80 | $5,892.00 | $7,848.00 | $8,664.00 |
| 13 | $2,595.45 | $6,249.00 | $8,502.00 | $9,357.00 |
| 14 | $2,795.10 | $6,606.00 | $9,156.00 | $10,050.00 |
| 15 | $2,994.75 | $6,963.00 | $9,810.00 | $10,743.00 |
| 16 | $3,194.40 | $7,320.00 | $10,464.00 | $11,436.00 |
| 17 | $3,394.05 | $7,677.00 | $11,118.00 | $12,129.00 |
| 18 | $3,593.70 | $8,034.00 | $11,772.00 | $12,822.00 |
| Each additional credit hour | $199.65 | $357.00 | $654.00 | $693.00 |
Other examples of programs with differential tuition include the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science, and the School of Business.
Tuition-Free Degree
This program ensures that standard tuition, differential tuition, and mandatory fees are covered through federal, state, and PSU grants and scholarships. The program will cover the cost of tuition and most mandatory fees after the Federal Pell Grant and Oregon Opportunity Grant are applied. The program fills the financial gap between what the university charges for most courses and the amount of grants a student receives.
Read also: Exploring the University of Portland
Covers 6-16 credit hours per term. Students must take at least 6 credits per term to maintain eligibility. You can take more than 16 credits per term and maintain eligibility; however, tuition and mandatory fees are only covered up to 16 credits.
Only applies to fall, winter, and spring terms and does not include summer term. Federal and state grants are applied to tuition and fees first and then PSU grants and select scholarships are applied. PSU funding is provided to cover any remaining amount of tuition and mandatory fees that might exist.
Additional Expenses to Consider
Beyond tuition and fees, students should budget for other expenses, including:
- Books and Supplies: This is an estimate for materials you’ll need for your classes including textbooks, lab materials, art supplies, software, notebooks and pens and pencils. You can save money by using the PSU library, renting books and supplies, or finding deals on books and supplies, which could decrease this total. Note: this is only an average amount.
- Housing and Meals: This will vary based on whether you live on campus, off campus or at home. If you live on campus, costs can vary by room type and meal plan. If you are considering living off campus, be sure to take into account the cost of utilities, internet, and lease requirements. The range for housing and meals we provide is based on the cost to live on campus depending on the housing and meal plan you choose.
- Transportation: Your transportation costs will vary depending on whether you live at home, on campus, or off campus. This total is an estimate that can include the cost of public transportation to get to and from campus, to get around Portland, and on-campus parking.
Tuition for Specific Programs
Criminology and Criminal Justice Online (CCJO) Program Tuition
Students completing the Criminology and Criminal Justice Online (CCJO) program pay a flat tuition rate of $291 per credit, plus a $38 per credit technology and services fee, and an additional fee of $44 per term. In-state/out-of-state tuition does not apply to CCJ Online program courses. CCJO are not charged any additional PSU fees.
College of Education Restricted Differential
The following programs have been approved for in-state tuition regardless of student's state of residence. These programs follow the established in-state costs for tuition and fees.
Read also: Navigating PCC Job Postings
Early Intervention Special Education master's degree or graduate certificate
Infant-Toddler Mental Health graduate certificate
Service-Learning & Community-Based Learning graduate certificate
Curriculum and Instruction master's degree
Early Childhood: Inclusive Education master's degree
ReadOregon endorsement
STEM Educator
Visually Impaired Learner (VIL) master's degree or graduate certificate
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) graduate certificate
Understanding Mandatory Fees for the 2025-2026 Academic Year
The costs listed below are estimated based on full-time enrollment (12 or more credits per term for undergraduates and 9 or more credits per term for graduate students). Your costs could vary depending on how many credits you take each term.
| Fee | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building | This fee is allocated to pay debt service associated with past construction and renovation projects on the PSU campus. Any additional funds collected are put into a reserve or used for small construction projects. The amount varies depending on the number of credits a student is enrolled in. The Student Fee Committee is responsible for recommending the amount and allocation of the building fee to ASPSU and the President. | $45.00 |
| Incidental | This fee funds services such as Student Activities & Leadership Programs, resource centers, childcare services, and athletic activities. The amount varies depending on the number of credits a student is enrolled in. The Student Fee Committee is responsible for recommending the amount and allocation of the incidental fee to ASPSU and the President. | $374.00 |
| Health Service | The Student Health Center Fee is a mandatory fee assessed to all students taking 5 or more in-load, non-Restricted Differential Tuition credit hours. The fee is in place to support all of the services offered by the Center for Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) both remote and in-person. Review the full list of services covered by the Student Health Center Fee. | $214.00 |
| Academic Student Recreation Center | A fee assessed each term to fund the construction, maintenance, and operation costs, and to purchase and maintain equipment, for the Academic and Student Recreation Center Building. | $52.00 |
Online courses have an additional fee of $22 per credit. Matriculation fee of $475 for all new students is billed at the beginning of the first term. A one‐time fee charged to newly admitted, degree‐seeking undergraduate and graduate students to cover costs associated with admissions, student orientation, transcripts, information technology and other services related to the enrollment of new students. PSU health insurance premium of $1,189.00 per term; however, students have the option to waive the health insurance premium with proof of insurance.
tags: #portland #state #university #undergraduate #tuition #and
