University of Memphis vs Portland State University

University of Memphis and Portland State University are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Portland State University is more selective with a 90.9% acceptance rate compared to University of Memphis's 93.4%. Average SAT scores are 1051 and 1125 respectively.

Cost: Portland State University offers a lower average net price at $12,932, which is $321 less than University of Memphis ($13,253). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Portland State University earn a median salary of $57,906 ten years after enrollment, which is $9,448 more than University of Memphis graduates ($48,458).

Graduation: Portland State University leads with a 52.9% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 71.2% vs 74.7%.

Campus Size: University of Memphis is the larger campus with 13,645 total students, while Portland State University has 13,619.

Bottom Line: Portland State University stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.