Portland State University is Oregon's largest public university, on a downtown campus in Portland. It is best known for engineering, computer science, business, urban planning, social work and environmental science, with Intel, Nike and Portland's tech sector as nearby employers and a strong sustainability focus. Choose it for an affordable city-centre degree in the Pacific Northwest.
Portland, United States
Official website: pdx.edu
#1201
R2 — high research activity
A top-ranked graduate programme in a city known for planning
Around 21,000 students — Oregon's largest university
$26,000 – $32,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$16,000 – $20,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on pdx.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan, Mar
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Electrical and Computer Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan, Mar
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MBA (School of Business)
Masters DegreeDuration
21 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
Master of Urban and Regional Planning
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Systems Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan, Mar
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan, Mar
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
Downtown campus — 50 city blocks in Portland's South Park Blocks with a light-rail line through it.
Maseeh College of Engineering — links to Intel, the largest employer in Oregon.
Urban planning and sustainability — a well-known programme in a city famous for both.
Quarter system — three entry points a year for many programmes.
Graduates join Intel, Nike, Daimler Truck, Providence Health and Portland's software and clean-tech firms.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Urban planning alumni work for city governments, transit agencies and consultancies across the US.
Computer science graduates report median starting salaries around USD 75,000-85,000.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The campus runs along the South Park Blocks in downtown Portland, with the Smith Memorial Student Union and Millar Library at its centre, the engineering building nearby and a streetcar and MAX light-rail stop on campus.
Portland is a city of about 650,000 known for coffee, food carts, bikes and the outdoors, with Mount Hood and the coast about 90 minutes away. Rent is high for the region but below Seattle and San Francisco.
Form I-20 issued by Portland State
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate admission is rolling, with a 1 December 2026 priority date for fall 2027 scholarships; international applicants should apply by June to leave time for the visa. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most engineering and computing master's closing between 1 February and 1 June for fall.
Portland State runs on quarters. Undergraduates can start in fall (late September), winter (January), spring (April) or summer. Computer science, electrical and computer engineering and systems engineering master's admit for fall, winter and spring, while the MBA and urban planning master's are fall only. Check your programme's page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. International Student and Scholar Services issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, electrical and computer engineering, the MBA, urban and regional planning and systems engineering attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5; the GRE and GMAT are optional for most programmes. Undergraduate admission is based mainly on grades.
Yes. Portland State offers international achievement scholarships that reduce tuition for undergraduates with strong grades, considered automatically when you apply by the priority date; need-based aid is not available. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, which are common in engineering, computing and the sciences.
