PSU College (Portland: public school, universities, salary)

[krieger00]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

We are full-up with psychology, social worker, urban planning graduates. I suggest you find a major that prepares you for a job with a career path.

This

One other thing if you wanted to move to Portland I would do this. I would work all you can for two years save money build up a nest egg up . Do some volunteer work in that field if you can . Also volunteer places and jobs that interest you. Then in a few years you have some money saved hopefully 10k or more if you live at home you will know what you want to do with the rest of your life.

Originally Posted by bler144

The OP posted this thread in the main Oregon forum as well, but I'll repeat my point that out-of-state public is amongst your most expensive, lowest ROI options.

This. It makes sense if you're going to Berkeley or UCLA or some place that is on par with elite private institutions. But to take on that sort of debt to get a very common degree from a second rate school is nothing short of madness.

[Minervah]

I would only be willing to pay the high cost of out of state tuition if the school I was going to offered the best curriculum in the subject I wanted to take. PSU might shine in some academics but psychology isn't one of them.

[urbanlife78]

Originally Posted by Minervah

I would only be willing to pay the high cost of out of state tuition if the school I was going to offered the best curriculum in the subject I wanted to take. PSU might shine in some academics but psychology isn't one of them.

That sounds about right, PSU is a great option for instate, but too costly when it comes to out of state tuition. I did the whole move to Portland for a year going to PSU part time until I became a resident. Though today you can't even do that, you have to live in Oregon for a year before enrolling.

[VTHokieFan]

Portland State isn't a good school and it certainly isn't worth out of state money to attend.

I'll elaborate:

Its SIX year graduation rate is 39%.

It's not even ranked by US News because it's so low.

It's a commuter school.

Poor alumni involvement and zero student pride.

Poor employment prospects in a city with, well, poor employment prospects.

Do not go $80k into debt to attend this school.

Poor Salary prospects for paying so much out of state. Portland State University (PSU) School Salary, Average Salaries | PayScale




Recommendations:

-Attend community college at home to get your general education classes out of the way first of all.
-If Portland State still beckons, you'll hopefully have transferable credits and the most debt damage done is probably around $40k in debt at graduation.
-Attend the University of Washington in Seattle if your heart is set on the Northwest and you want a good nationally renowned education.

[oldtintype]

Portland State Inside PSU | Rankings recognize PSU's rise

Some of PSU's programs are actually very well respected in rankings across the US, so it really depends on the program.

[VTHokieFan]

Originally Posted by oldtintype

Portland State Inside PSU | Rankings recognize PSU's rise

Some of PSU's programs are actually very well respected in rankings across the US, so it really depends on the program.

I'm sure there are one or two bright spots.

[urbanlife78]

Originally Posted by VTHokieFan

I'm sure there are one or two bright spots.

There are more than one or two bright spots, it is actually a good college that is getting better and has a number of great programs. Plus with the current president, the college is moving further away from its commuter days and functioning like a real university.

Though if I were to do out of state tuition, it wouldn't be my school of choice which is why I went around that rule to get in state tuition and save myself some money.

[VTHokieFan]

Originally Posted by urbanlife78

There are more than one or two bright spots, it is actually a good college that is getting better and has a number of great programs. Plus with the current president, the college is moving further away from its commuter days and functioning like a real university.

Though if I were to do out of state tuition, it wouldn't be my school of choice which is why I went around that rule to get in state tuition and save myself some money.

I'm sure you had a wonderful time at PSU, but it's not even worth the in state tuition. I'm sure you can get a great education there, but the reputation just isn't there. Oregon public universities just aren't that good or well known academically. I'm sure "there are some good programs." Which can be said for any school, but at the end of the day, if you want to live in the NW and go public, it's UDub or bust.

[oldtintype]

Udub is about $25,000--out of reach for most. There is a need for urban collages like PSU--not everyone goes to college at age 18 and not everyone can move far away to attend college. No one is suggesting PSU Is Harvard but there are not "one or two bright spots."

In an ideal world everyone would have access to the Ivy League but most don't.