by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Portland State University retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 76% students making it past their freshmen year, Portland State University has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Oregon, the average is 67.48%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Portland State University | 76% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Oregon | 67.48% |
How many of the estimated 3575 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 45% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 56% of the students had graduated and after eight years 58% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical Portland State University graduation rate 56%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2865 | 45% |
| Six Years | 3575 | 56% |
| Eight Years | 123 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2651 | 42% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 2651 students or 42% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2651 students who did not complete their degree?
22 are still enrolled.
1317 transferred to another institution.
Portland State University lost contact with the remaining 1255 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 1317 | 49.7% |
| Dropped Out | 1255 | 47.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 43% |
| Asian | 63% |
| Black / African-American | 46% |
| Hawaiian | 42% |
| Hispanic | 51% |
| International | 75% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 48% |
| Unknown | 67% |
| White | 52% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
A meaningful share of students at Portland State University are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Portland State University represent 27.06% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Portland State University graduation rate was 52%, and by the eight year mark, 54% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | Portland State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 52% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 47.82% |
782 first-time / full-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
26 are still enrolled.
469 transferred to another institution.
Portland State University lost contact with the remaining 287 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 26 | 3.32% |
| Transferred | 469 | 59.97% |
| Dropped Out | 287 | 36.70% |
First-time / part-time students at Portland State University represent 2.36% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Portland State University graduation rate was 24%, and by the eight year mark, 31% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | Portland State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 11% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 24% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 23.72% |
104 first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
74 transferred to another institution.
Portland State University lost contact with the remaining 28 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.92% |
| Transferred | 74 | 71.15% |
| Dropped Out | 28 | 26.92% |
Returning / full-time students at Portland State University represent 47.27% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Portland State University graduation rate was 68%, and by the eight year mark, 69% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Portland State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 68% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 55.07% |
932 non first-time / part-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
28 are still enrolled.
382 transferred to another institution.
Portland State University lost contact with the remaining 522 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 28 | 3.00% |
| Transferred | 382 | 40.99% |
| Dropped Out | 522 | 56.01% |
Returning / part-time students at Portland State University represent 23.31% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Portland State University graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 44% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | Portland State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 42% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 37.80% |
833 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
23 are still enrolled.
392 transferred to another institution.
Portland State University lost contact with the remaining 418 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 23 | 2.76% |
| Transferred | 392 | 47.06% |
| Dropped Out | 418 | 50.18% |
