Online Rankings and Accreditation

PSU students socializing in the Park Blocks

Rankings

Our online programs have achieved recognition as some of the nation's best online degrees.

U.S. News & World Report and other publications have listed many of our online degrees among the best online programs in the country. This signifies Portland State's commitment to innovation in academics and student life—including our top-ranked online programs.

Here is a list of the Portland State programs that have earned their place among the best online degrees in the nation.

Nationally Ranked Online Undergraduate Programs at Portland State

Best Online Bachelor's Programs - U.S. News & World Report 2024-25
No. 68 Best Online Bachelor's in Business Programs - U.S. News & World Report 2024-25
No. 17 Best Online Public Health Bachelor's Programs - Universityhq.org
No. 8 The 20 Best Online Bachelor in Social Science Degree Programs - The Best Schools.org
No. 9 Best Online Bachelor's in Criminology Degree Programs - Intelligent.com 2024
No. 9 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Criminal Justice Degree Programs - Intelligent.com 2024

Portland State Top Online Graduate School Rankings

No. 63 Best Online Master's in Education Programs - U.S. News & World Report 2024-25
No. 73 Business Online Degree Programs (non-MBA) - U.S. News & World Report 2023-24
No. 32 Best Online Master's in Business Programs for Veterans - U.S. News & World Report 2023-24
No. 2 Best Online Master's in Supply Chain Management Degree Programs - Intelligent.com 2024
No. 3 Best Online Master's in Early Childhood Education Degree Programs - Intelligent.com 2024

Other National Rankings for Portland State

Top 50 Most Innovative Schools - U.S. News & World Report 2023-24
Top Performers on Social Mobility - U.S. News & World Report 2024-25
No. 17 Service Learning Programs that Lead to Student Success - U.S. News & World Report 2024-25
Best 300 National Universities - U.S. News & World Report 2023-24
Top Public Schools - U.S. News & World Report 2023-24
Best 390 Colleges - The Princeton Review 2025
Best Western Colleges - The Princeton Review 2025
America's Best Colleges - The Wall Street Journal 2025
Top 100 America's Best College Buys -Institutional Research & Evaluation
Best Colleges for Women in Tech - Online Colleges Database
Top Green Colleges The Princeton Review 2023-24
Top 50 Green Schools - Online Schools Center

bike parked in front of Simon Benson House

Portland State Accreditation

As an accredited public university, Portland State meets the highest academic standards.

Our accreditation covers Portland State's online degree programs. All of our online degrees adhere to the same levels of academic quality as our on-campus programs.
Portland State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). In addition, numerous individual colleges and programs within the University hold special accreditation from agencies within their own disciplines.
The undergraduate and graduate business programs and the accounting program of The School of Business are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB).
The College of Education educator preparation programs are accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). Counselor education programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
The School of Social Work programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CWSE).
In the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science, the undergraduate engineering and computer science degrees are accredited as follows:
- Bachelor of Science (Civil Engineering) - accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Program Criteria.
- Bachelor of Science (Environmental Engineering) – accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Environmental Engineering and Similarly Named Engineering Program Criteria.
- Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) – accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Computer Science and Similarly Named Computing Program Criteria.
- Bachelor of Science (Electrical Engineering) – accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Electrical, Computer, Communications, Telecommunication(s) and Similarly Named Engineering Program Criteria.
- Bachelor of Science (Computer Engineering) – accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commissions of ABET, https://www.abet.org under the General Criteria and the Electrical, Computer, Communications, Telecommunication(s) and Similarly Named Engineering Program Criteria.
- Bachelor of Science (Mechanical Engineering) – accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org under the General Criteria and the Mechanical and Similarly Named Engineering Program Criteria.
In the College of Liberal Arts, the graduate program in speech-language pathology is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA); the programs in chemistry are accredited by the American Chemical Society (ACS).
In the College of Urban and Public Affairs, the graduate program in urban and regional planning is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB). The graduate programs in public administration are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). Additionally, the Master of Public Administration: Health Administration degree is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).
The OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Additionally, the MPH in Health Management and Policy is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).
In the College of the Arts, music programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM); theater programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theater (NAST); and the Master of Architecture program is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

State of Oregon Authorization for PSU

The State of Oregon is a member of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) and PSU is an Approved SARA Institution. As such, we adhere to an established common set of standards for offering postsecondary distance education among member states, districts and territories. This participation is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. Find more Information About SARA.

While we do monitor the laws in each state, authorization of distance education is a dynamic environment and prospective students should check this site often for updates.

Portland State University is currently authorized, licensed, registered, exempt or not subject to approval in all states.