First Year

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 a first year student applicant.

• 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/Language Arts: 4 units
  • Science: 3 units (one year of lab science is recommended) effective 2012
  • Social Studies: 3 units
  • Second Language: 2 units of the same language (This applies to Oregon high school graduates only. Oregon residents who earn a GED are not held to the second language requirement.)
  • Math: Students interested in attending a state of Oregon public higher education institution should take at least three years of high school math. The third year could be satisfied by any math course with a primary focus on concepts in algebra, calculus, data science, discrete mathematics, geometry, mathematical analysis, probability, or statistics. 
    • Prospective students are encouraged to take a fourth math course in their senior year of high school.
    • Those intending to study a STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) major or another field for which calculus is required are strongly encouraged to take pre-calculus and, if possible, calculus in high school.

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

Summer Scholars

First year applicants for fall term with a 2.99 cumulative high school GPA or lower are required to participate in Summer Scholars, a FREE two-course program held over three weeks prior to the start of fall semester. Students earn up to four credits for free for completion of the program. Learn more about Summer Scholars.

Admission for Students with Non-Standard High School Backgrounds

Admission for Students Who Did Not Graduate From High School

Steps to Apply

Admission for Students with Non-Standard High School Backgrounds

Students who attended high school at non-accredited or non-standard high schools or were homeschooled can be considered for admission through one of the two 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 admissions@pdx.edu 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 of the following options:

Option 1: General Education Development (GED), ACT®, HiSET®, SAT® or TASC®

PSU accepts five 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.
• ACT®: Minimum composite score of 22.
• 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.
• SAT®: Minimum score of 1120 across the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math sections.
• 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: 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.

Option 2: Apply As a Transfer Student

Review the admission requirements for transfer students.