Head-to-head comparison
Portland State University vs Oregon State University-Cascades Campus: which has better ROI?
Option A Portland, OR
Portland State University
- Net price / year
- $9,552
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,906
- Payback
- 4 yrs
Option B Bend, OR
Oregon State University-Cascades Campus
- Net price / year
- $18,048
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,010
- Payback
- 4.6 yrs
Portland State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $38,208 in 4 years versus 4.6 years at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus, on median earnings of $57,906 vs $64,010 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Portland State University | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,552 | $18,048 |
| Total net cost | $38,208 | $72,192 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,906 | $64,010 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $21,221 |
| Payback | 4 yrs | 4.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $152,712 | $240,808 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Portland State University or Oregon State University-Cascades Campus?
Portland State University, at $9,552 a year after aid versus $18,048 — a gap of $8,496 a year, or $33,984 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Portland State University or Oregon State University-Cascades Campus graduates earn more?
Oregon State University-Cascades Campus graduates report a median $64,010 ten years after entry, $6,104 more than the $57,906 at Portland State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Portland State University or Oregon State University-Cascades Campus?
Portland State University: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $21,221 at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus, a difference of $721. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
56% of students finish at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus, against 53% at Portland State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.