Portland is renowned for its cutting-edge research in community health, so majors in healthcare and nursing are extremely popular.
The city also offers top-class programs in areas like business, psychology, marketing, graphic design, and painting.
Key facts
- Summer/winter temperature69/41°F
- Population2.1 million
- Universities21
- CountryUSA
Why study in Portland?
Despite being the US state of Oregon’s largest city, Portland maintains a community feel. It balances natural beauty and the great outdoors with busy city life, meaning you can enjoy the best of both worlds.
With many breweries located in the city, beer is big business in Portland. You can also enjoy great street food for a small price.
It’s easy to travel by bike or public transport around Portland. The city has its own international airport, with flights to Tokyo, London, and Reykjavik, as well as domestic flights across the US. Just a short drive from the city are some renowned hiking trails.
Universities in Portland
Portland is home to over 15 higher education institutions. As well as boasting some of the nation’s most up-and-coming universities, the city also features several community colleges and specialist schools.
What to study in Portland
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What is the cost of study in Portland?
Your academic fees will depend on where you study and the credits you select. However, the cost of undergraduate tuition usually ranges from $25,000 to $48,000 per year. Postgraduate tuition fees can reach up to $50,000 per year.
Most students find that an annual budget of $10,000-$15,000 covers the cost of their housing, groceries, and other living expenses.
How to study in Portland
Every Portland institution has a different admissions process, so you’ll need to make an individual application to each university. Make sure you finish your secondary school education and meet the program entry requirements before applying.
If English isn’t your first language, you might be asked to demonstrate your proficiency with a TOEFL or IELTS language test before being offered a place.
After receiving confirmation of your enrollment, it’s time to start applying for a US student visa.
Student reviews for Portland
Valentina Castellanos Ramirez
Studied Civil Engineering at Portland Community College
Tell us about Portland
Portland for me represents city and rural vibes. Since I came here, I have felt safe walking on the street, taking the bus or max -which I think are great resources in Oregon in general due to the time management, space, and safety-. Nowadays due to some personal experiences, I have felt quite unsafe when taking the max at night from Portland to Beaverton or Gresham because there has been an increase of homeless people. That is all I have to say as an unpleasant feeling. On the other hand, I feel welcome in Portland. I feel that I belong even though I am not from here. I see diversity in food, culture, beliefs, identity, and more. Due to the location where I live, I can find different shops near me such as grocery stores, banks, postal offices, restaurants/bars, a mall, cinemas, pharmacies and more. Before COVID, there used to be a lot more events happening at day and night. There are still some, and if you are over 21 you will find different night clubs, karaoke bars, and events that you can join. And if you are under 21, you can also find music and dance events limited for a period of time that are still great to be part of.
Diana Petrmichlova
Studied Environmental Studies at Portland Community College
Tell us about Portland
Portland is my only favorite big city. I'm not interested in living in a big city, but Portland's layout and size it actually pretty nice. I try to go to the areas with low crime, but it is getting harder and harder because theft is becoming one of the biggest crimes in this area. Shops, stores, and restaurants are absolutely amazing here.
Wilson Cumbi
Studied Mechanical Engineering at Portland Community College
Tell us about Portland
I feel safe living in Portland, Oregon. Public transportation is good. The school also has transportation. There lots of restaurants and shops.
Cuong Nguyen
Studied Multimedia at Portland Community College
Tell us about Portland
I am now living in Portland city of Oregon. It is a beautiful city with a lot of trees and nice people. I feel pretty safe to live here. Everybody here is very welcoming, they are super nice to other people. To people I used to encounter and meet, they patiently help me with directions, and regulations, and transportations even when my English at that time was pretty bad. The public transportation is easy to get and use, and spread equally around the city. Since Portland is still a developing and a diverse city, students can find their home country cuisine and culture within the city if they feel homesick.
Wajd Al Ghazali
Studied Supply Chain Management at Portland State University
Tell us about Portland
Portland city is a nice & safe city, with excellent transportation and food & coffee options however it is small and boring to my liking. I feel home sick very often & it’s super expensive. But it’s retail tax free