Portland Community College vs Portland State University: which has better ROI?
Portland State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $38,208 in 4 years versus not at all at Portland Community College, on median earnings of $57,906 vs $44,592 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Portland Community College | Portland State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,405 | $9,552 |
| Total net cost | $20,810 | $38,208 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,592 | $57,906 |
| Median debt | $12,999 | $20,500 |
| Payback | — | 4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$96,170 | $152,712 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Portland Community College or Portland State University?
Portland State University, at $9,552 a year after aid versus $10,405 — a gap of $853 a year, or $17,398 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Portland Community College or Portland State University graduates earn more?
Portland State University graduates report a median $57,906 ten years after entry, $13,314 more than the $44,592 at Portland Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Portland Community College or Portland State University?
Portland Community College: its completers carry a median $12,999 in federal loans versus $20,500 at Portland State University, a difference of $7,501. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
53% of students finish at Portland State University, against 18% at Portland Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.