Portland State University Graduate Admissions

Last Updated on December 23, 2022

Do you want to go to school to study computer science but are intimidated by the large amounts of work involved? Are you worried about paying for your degree? Have you searched for information on Portland State’s graduate admission program and thought it would be too difficult?

The article below sheds more light on Portland State University Graduate Admissions and more. Read on to get the best & latest information on Portland State University graduate programs, Portland State University graduate application deadline fall 2021, Portland State University graduate admission requirements, Portland State University application deadline 2021 & Portland State University graduate acceptance rate. You will also see related posts on Portland State University graduate application fees on Collegelearners.

New Students - SUNY Cortland

portland state university graduate admission requirements

Students from accredited public or private high schools will be reviewed for admission as first-year student applicants, including students who have earned college credit while in high school (e.g. Running Start). Transfer students who have completed less than 30 transferable quarter credits (20 semester credits) at the point of application will be reviewed as first-year student applicants.

  • Graduate from high school and meet the following cumulative unweighted grade point average (GPA) requirements:
    • 2.5 or higher = automatic admission if college prep coursework requirement met
    • 2.49 or lower (or coursework requirement not met) = further admission review
  • Complete 15 units* of college preparatory coursework with grades of C- or better in the following areas:
    • English: 4 units
    • Math: coursework culminating in at least the completion of Algebra II
    • Science: 3 units (one year of lab science is recommended) effective 2012
    • Social Studies: 3 units
    • Second Language: 2 units of the same language*

*Oregon high school graduates only (Oregon residents who earn a GED are not held to the second language requirement.)

Optional: Take the SAT or ACT and have scores sent directly to Portland State University

  • SAT School Code is 4610
  • ACT School Code is 3492
PSU Admissions | Apply to College

Submit Official Transcripts

Official transcripts are required from all the schools you’ve attended, see our official records policy for details.

Electronic Submission: Transcripts may be submitted via a secure transcript delivery service (such as Parchment) or sent directly from a school official to [email protected].

Mail Submission: Submit official transcripts in their original sealed envelopes from all schools attended and mail them to PSU at the address below.

Portland State University
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
PO Box 751
Portland OR 97207-0751

Optional: Submit Test Scores

Submission of test scores is optional, and not required to receive an admission decision. PSU accepts the SAT and ACT tests. 

Submit via testing agency using PSU’s School Code:

  • SAT Code: 4610
  • ACT Code: 3492

Test scores may also be reported on an official high school transcript. Notify your admissions counselor if you intend to submit test scores on your transcript.

Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Submission of the FAFSA is not required to receive an admission decision. We encourage students to submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1.SUBMIT FAFSA

Check Your Application Status

If you have submitted an application to Portland State University, you can log in to PSU’s application portal to review the status of your application. You will be notified via email for each document you submit and your admission decision.

If you are not receiving email communications from Portland State University, be sure to check your @pdx.edu email account. Once you set up your student account all communications will be sent to that email address. If you are not receiving information from us in any email inboxes, please contact us at [email protected] APPLICATION STATUS

portland state university graduate application fee

STEPS TO APPLY

Submit Your Application and $60 Application Fee

Go to Portland State University’s online application system and select Create Account. If you have already started an application or created one for a past term, select login.

Undergraduate applicants may be eligible for a waiver of their $60 admission application fee. Based on the information you provide in your application, we will determine if you are eligible for a fee waiver.


ADMISSION FOR STUDENTS WITH NON-STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL BACKGROUNDS

Student who attended high school at non-accredited or non-standard high schools or were homeschooled can be considered for admission through one of the three options below.

Applicants who attended an accredited high school that does not confer traditional letter grades may require holistic review for admission. To be considered, students must request communication be sent directly from their Registrar to [email protected] stating an official cumulative GPA. Transcripts containing “keys” to calculate an official GPA are insufficient; the conferring institution must communicate a student’s official GPA directly to PSU. It is the applicant’s responsibility to request this communication. Portland State’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions will review all submitted coursework and notify students of their admissibility. 

Students who did not graduate from high school can be considered for admission through either Option 1 or Option 3 below.

OPTION 1: GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT (GED), HISET®, OR TASC®

PSU accepts three nationally recognized High School Equivalency exams that show college and career readiness to allow for admission without a standard high school diploma. Below are the minimum scores required for admission for each exam. 

  • General Education Development (GED)
    • Taken after January 1, 2014: Minimum overall average score of 170 AND minimum score of 150 on each subject test.
    • Taken between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2013: Minimum overall average score of 580 AND minimum score of 410 on each subject test.
    • Taken before January 1, 2002: Minimum overall average score of 46 AND minimum score of 40 on each subject test.
  • HiSET®: Minimum score of 15 on each subject test area AND at least 4/6 on the essay component of the Language Arts-Writing subject test.
  • TASC®: Minimum score of 580 on Language Arts-Reading; 560 on Mathematics, 560 on Language Arts-Writing; AND at least 6/8 on the Language Arts-Writing essay.

OPTION 2: APTITUDE TESTS

  • Earn a minimum combined score of 1120 or higher on the SAT Reasoning Test’s Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing sections OR 22 composite on the ACT, AND
  • Take two SAT subject tests (Math level I or IIC and another test of the student’s choice in an area other than math), earning a minimum score of 470 on each subject test. We recommend that the subject test other than math be in a second language to fulfill the second language requirement.

OPTION 3: APPLY AS A TRANSFER STUDENT

Review the admission requirements for transfer students. 

PSU does not accept the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHPSE). A student must present GED, HiSET, or TASC scores.


ADMISSION FOR STUDENTS WHO DID NOT GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL

Applicants who did not graduate from high school may also be considered for admission.

OPTION 1: GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT (GED), HISET®, OR TASC®

PSU accepts three nationally recognized High School Equivalency exams that show college and career readiness to allow for admission without a standard high school diploma. Below are the minimum scores required for admission for each exam. 

  • General Education Development (GED)
    • Taken after January 1, 2014: Minimum overall average score of 170 AND minimum score of 150 on each subject test.
    • Taken between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2013: Minimum overall average score of 580 AND minimum score of 410 on each subject test.
    • Taken before January 1, 2002: Minimum overall average score of 46 AND minimum score of 40 on each subject test.
  • HiSET: Minimum score of 15 on each subject test area AND at least 4/6 on the essay component of the Language Arts-Writing subject test.
  • TASC®: Minimum score of 580 on Language Arts-Reading; 560 on Mathematics, 560 on Language Arts-Writing; AND at least 6/8 on the Language Arts-Writing essay.

Students with 30 or more transferable college quarter credits (20 semester credits) will be reviewed for admission as transfer applicants.

Students earning college credit while in high school, such as Early College and Running Start, are considered first years for admission purposes so long as they apply to start at PSU within five months of high school graduation.

  • Completion of 30 or more transferable college quarter credits (20 semester credits)
  • Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.25, or 2.00 if you present a transferable associate degree or an Oregon Transfer Module (OTM)
  • Completion of WR121 or equivalent with a grade of C- or better. WR121 equivalencies are determined by PSU’s Office of Admissions and may include higher level courses for which WR121 (or its approved equivalent) is a prerequisite. This requirement is specific to the application process and is separate from academic advising and course registration at PSU.
  • Meet Second Language Admissions Requirement (Oregon High School graduates only)

Transfer applicants are not required to submit test scores (SAT or ACT).

Students who do not meet the minimum GPA will be reviewed for admission through a holistic process.


portland state university international graduate admissions requirements

Submit Transcripts from All Schools Attended

You are required to submit individual transcripts from each college or university where you registered for any coursework. Failure to submit individual transcripts from each college or university attended may result in a delayed admission decision. Official transcripts are required from all the schools you’ve attended, see our official records policy for details.

Failure to disclose all colleges is a violation of Portland State University’s student code of conduct.

Electronic Submission: Transcripts may be submitted via a secure transcript delivery service (such as Parchment) or sent directly from a school official to [email protected].

Mail Submission: Submit official transcripts in their original sealed envelopes from all schools attended and mail them to PSU at the address below.

Portland State University
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
PO Box 751
Portland OR 97207-0751

Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Submission of the FAFSA is not required to receive an admission decision. We encourage students to submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1.SUBMIT FAFSA

Check Your Application Status

If you have submitted an application to Portland State University, you can log in to PSU’s application portal to review the status of your application. You will be notified via email for each document you submit and your admission decision.

INTERNATIONAL FIRST YEARS ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

To enroll as a first year student, you must have completed secondary school or high school. Your education must be equivalent to United States secondary school or high school education.  

  • You must have a cumulative (overall) grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 when converted to the U.S. 4.0 grading scale.
  • Meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement. You may be admitted to Portland State University and an Intensive English Language Program (IELP) pathway if you do not meet PSU’s English Language Proficiency Requirement. Learn more about PSU’s English language programs.

Review the Minimum Academic Requirements by Country for detailed information about what documentation PSU will accept.

Portland State University | PSU | The College Board

portland state university graduate admissions office

STEPS TO APPLY

Submit Your Application and $60 Application Fee

Go to Portland State University’s online application system and select Create Account. If you have already started an application, or created one for a past term, select Log In.

Submit Academic Records

You are required to submit complete academic records. We accept high school transcripts, grades and other relevant academic records along with your graduation certificate, diploma or exam results or certificates. If you have taken any college or university classes, submit transcripts from all colleges or universities attended. You can submit unofficial transcripts from non-U.S. institutions for review of your application and to receive an admission decision. Official transcripts are required for enrollment, see our official records policy for details.

Electronic Submission: Transcripts may be submitted via Parchment or sent directly from a school official to [email protected].

In Person Submission: You can bring these directly to our office upon arrival to Portland State.

Mail Submission: Submit official transcripts in their original sealed envelopes from all schools attended and mail them to PSU at the address below.

Portland State University
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
PO Box 751
Portland OR 97207-0751

Submit Evidence of English Language Proficiency

Request official test results to be sent directly to Portland State University by ETS (TOEFL), PTE, or IELTS. Students who meet the academic requirements for admission to PSU, but have not yet met English proficiency requirements, will be admitted to PSU and placed into one of our ESL programs. Review PSU’s English Language Proficiency Requirements for more details.

  • TOEFL Code: 4610, department code 00
  • SAT Code: 4610

Check Your Application Status

If you have submitted an application to Portland State University, you can log in to PSU’s application portal to review the status of your application. You will be notified via email for each document you submit and your admission decision.

If you are not receiving email communications from Portland State University, be sure to check your @pdx.edu email account. Once you set up your student account all communications will be sent to that email address. If you are not receiving information from us in any email inboxes, please contact us at [email protected]. CHECK APPLICATION STATUS

ONCE YOU COMPLETE THE STEPS ABOVE YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE REVIEWED FOR ADMISSION

Submit Documents to Obtain Your Student Visa

Most international students who wish to study full-time in the United States must apply for either an F-1 or J-1 (Student) visa through a U.S. Consulate. If you are currently in the U.S. and studying on an F1 or J1 visa you will transfer your SEVIS record from your current U.S. school to Portland State University. This documentation is not required to make an admission decision. However, if you submit financial documentation with your other application materials it will greatly reduce the processing time of your application and I-20 issuance.

Portland State University Admissions | Dorothy Howard

About the author

Study on Scholarship Today -- Check your eligibility for up to 100% scholarship.

Leave a Comment