The Vanport Extension Center opened its doors the summer of 1946 to 220 students, offering the first two years of college study.The institution survived a devastating flood in 1948 and was moved three times, ultimately residing at its current location in downtown Portland, Oregon, on the iconic South Park Blocks in 1952.
PSU’s 10 schools and colleges are the urban laboratory where you challenge what is with what could be. You’ll develop your expertise and connect with leaders in your field in our groundbreaking institutes, centers and research labs. And you can go all the way through a doctorate in our top national graduate programs.
Nearly two decades ago, Portland State University embraced a new approach to education — one that made the community an active partner in the classroom. Students and faculty put theory to practice and work with businesses, nonprofits, civic groups, and government agencies to solve real problems facing our region.Today, we are harnessing the strengths of community engagement to establish PSU as a leading urban research university. Through strong alliances with industry, government agencies, and other universities, we serve as a catalyst for innovation and prosperity for the region.
Career Center
A good education is more than a degree. Start a career that builds on your experience at Portland State. Do you need to work part-time while attending Portland State? Find student employment opportunities both on and off campus to help finance your education.The Office of International Student and Scholar Services is proud to have our students refer to us as their home away from home. We provide immigration advising, life advising, programming and support for more than 2000 international students from nearly 100 different countries.
We provide housing options for Portland State students while providing a unique living experience in Portland's urban environment through actively engaged residential communities that promote student success.
Portland State University and the University Housing Office are committed to reasonably accommodating people with disabilities in compliance with applicable state and federal laws. Requests for accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies. PSU policies that apply to accommodations in housing.
Portland State University Library seeks to align its mission and values with those of the University while also articulating a unique vision for the Library’s future. Our mission is to advance the intellectual vitality, knowledge, and creativity of the Portland State University community. We are committed to the University motto, Let Knowledge Serve the City.
A range of software can be installed on PSU-owned computers using the Self Service Software tool. You can find a list of available software at Free Software for PSU-Owned Computers. This tool cannot be accessed from lab computers.
We are a community-based health care organization that provides high quality, accessible mental health, physical health, dental services, and testing services targeted to the needs of the PSU student population.
Portland State's 49-acre downtown campus is located in the heart of one of America's most vibrant centers of culture, business and technology.
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
By TopUniversities
The university hasn’t moved up or down in the rankings over the past year.
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 1201 | 1201 | 1201 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By U.S. News & World Report
Dropped 167 places compared to 2026
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 1153 | 1171 | 1338 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By Times Higher Education
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2027 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 801 | 801 | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Based on 50 reviews
The education offered by Portland State University is dynamic and demanding. Since PSU surpasses all of my expectations for a school, it is actually the best choice I could have made. Nearly every day brings something new to learn! There are also a lot of amiable people! Diversity and inclusion are major concerns for the professors. My ultimate objective is to graduate from this fantastic university with a bachelor's degree. Students build relationships with their lecturers and receive guidance throughout their academic careers. My objective is to gain experience in my field and learn as much as I can.
Even though Portland State University has established itself as one of the best universities, success is achievable here with sufficient dedication and time. Over the past few years, I've learned a lot and made a lot of friends. Because of the college's notable diversity and smaller class sizes, there are many opportunities. Portland State University ensures that all students have an equal chance to progress in their chosen fields and secure employment through its Career Development Services. Both the instructors and the office staff are friendly and eager to assist students. The campus is also smaller than other universities, making it simpler to move around and arrive at class on time.
The education offered by Portland State University is dynamic and demanding. Since PSU surpasses all of my expectations for a school, it is actually the best choice I could have made. You can learn something new practically every day! There are also a lot of amiable people! Diversity and inclusion are major concerns for the professors. In this instance, my ultimate objective is to graduate from this fantastic university with a bachelor's degree. Building relationships with their students and guiding them through their academic careers are the lecturers' goals. My objective is to gain experience in my field and learn as much as I can.
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2025. Universities with a score above 4.0 (out of 5) in any of the 7 award categories, receive Badges of Excellence. Congratulations!
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