Portland State University (PSU) is a public urban university founded in 1946. Originally established to answer the higher education needs of returning World War II veterans, PSU has grown to comprise of various schools including the School of Business Administration, Graduate School of Education, School of Fine and Performing Arts, School of Social Work, College of Urban and Public Affairs, Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science, and the College of Liberal Arts and Science. It enjoyed a 4th tier ranking as a research university in 2007 as per U.S. News and World Report. PSU is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission in Colleges and Universities.
The university offers various programs in hybrid online and fully online format. While the former entails minimal campus residency requirements, the latter does not require any campus residency and can be completed in the comfort of one’s home or office. Online programs offered by PSU include Continuing Education courses and certificate programs through the Graduate School of Education, bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies through the Extended Campus, Personal and Workforce Development courses and Independent Study for high school and college credit.
PSU’s Office of Student Financial Aid assists current and prospective students to obtain financial aid through grants, loans, work study and scholarships. The Admissions Office can provide information as to admission requirements as well as the wide range of online courses offered. These courses have at least six (6) start and end dates during the year to allow students to take them when they are ready. Departments within a school may have individual registration procedures that need to be observed.
Students can obtain tuition rate information from the Students Accounts Office. Taking an online course requires a certain amount of technical experience and skill for success. These courses are comparable to their on-site counterparts but have been made more accessible to more students.
