Online Education Experience

PSU student studying in front of donut shop

Our Student-Friendly Approach Makes it Easy to Earn Your College Degree Online

If you're new to online education, it's natural to have questions about how online college courses work.

We designed our online degree programs to combine the convenience of distance education with the fulfillment that comes from building relationships with talented faculty and classmates. You'll work independently, but you won't be on your own. Our online course platform invites you into one of the nation's most dynamic college communities.

How Our Students Experience It

Garima Gautam (’15) shares her experience in the online Master of Science in Global Supply Chain Management program. Garima now serves as a global commodity manager at Intel. The Manufacturing Institute honored Garima with a 2019 STEP Ahead Award for her success and leadership in the manufacturing industry.

How Do Online College Programs Work at Portland State? You’ll Find it Easy to:

Use Our Online Platform

All of our online courses and degree programs use familiar technologies. You won't have to install a lot of new software or learn cumbersome programs. Everything is simple and straightforward, whether you're watching a video, turning in an assignment, working on a team project or taking a quiz. Learn more about the Technical Requirements Needed For Our Online Programs.

Make Steady Progress in Your Online Classes

Our online classes unfold the same way as our classroom-based courses, with internal milestones, benchmarks and course syllabi that help you move forward step by step. You'll have plenty of support and reinforcement to keep you on track.

Interact With Faculty and Classmates

If you want to build relationships and make professional connections, Portland State's online degree programs offer exceptional opportunities. You’ll have ongoing communication via e-mail, chat threads, phone calls and other means, including real-time videoconferencing, in some of our programs.

Get Help When You Need It

As an online student, you'll have easy access to all the support services we provide to our on-campus students. If you have needs related to financial aid, academic planning, tutoring, career development or any number of other issues, we're here for you. Find out more about the Student Resources included in Portland State's online degree experience.