Portland State University is a public research university in downtown Portland, Oregon, and its strongest global signal in 2026 is a Times Higher Education Education Studies subject rank of #251-300, ahead of every other subject the university is ranked in. Its overall position is #1201-1400 in QS World University Rankings 2027 and #550 in the Collegedunia Study Abroad rank for the same year.

  • QS World University Rankings 2027: #1201-1400 globally, #103 in the USA
  • Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026: #550 globally, #268 in the USA
  • THE World University Rankings 2026: #801-1000 globally, #59 in the USA
  • US News Best Global Universities 2026-2027: #1338 globally

Read More: Portland State University Admissions 2026

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Reading the rank pattern: Portland State University’s THE world band (#801-1000) is 200-600 positions ahead of its QS rank (#1201-1400), a sign that teaching scores and citation output read stronger here than the academic-employer reputation survey. Its Collegedunia Study Abroad rank of #550 is more favourable than its QS or US News positions, reflecting CD’s India-applicant signal weighting. For Indian applicants targeting an MS in Education, Urban Policy or Computer Science, the standout single number on this page is the Education Studies subject rank at #251-300 globally.


Portland State University Overall Rankings 2026

Across five tracked ranking bodies, Portland State University’s positions split cleanly along methodology lines: THE and Collegedunia rank it in the upper-mid global tier, while QS and US News place it lower in the global pool.

Ranking Body (Edition) Rank
QS World University Rankings 2027 #1201-1400 globally
Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 #550 globally; #268 in USA
THE World University Rankings 2026 #801-1000 globally
US News Best Global Universities 2026-2027 #1338 globally

The 200-to-600 position gap between THE (#801-1000) and QS (#1201-1400) is the widest cross-body divergence on this list. For a US public research university, the divergence signals that research output and teaching scores hold up better here than academic-reputation surveys. 

Key insight: Portland State University’s THE world band sits 200-600 positions ahead of its QS band, and 200-300 positions ahead of its US News Best Global rank, the largest gap among any single ranking body it features in.


Portland State University Rankings: Bottom Line for Indian Students

For an Indian applicant deciding between Portland State University and a flagship Indian institute, the QS gap is wide, but the practical-value gap is narrower than the raw ranks suggest.

Signal Portland State University Position What it means for Indian applicants
QS World 2027 rank #1201-1400 globally Below IIT tier; the value here is US in-country work pathway, not rank prestige
THE Education Studies 2026 #251-300 globally Strongest single subject rank; MS in Education and Urban Policy read more credibly than the overall band
Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 #550 globally Mid-tier global position; closer to QS Top 500 cut-off than QS itself signals
Indian comparator: IIT Bombay (QS 2026) #134 globally An IIT MS carries higher academic prestige; PSU adds STEM-OPT and US H-1B funnel access post-graduation

The 1,000-position QS gap to IIT Bombay is not the deciding metric for an Indian applicant choosing between the two paths. An IIT MS keeps you in the Indian job market, while a Portland State MS opens the 12-month US OPT and 24-month STEM-OPT funnel. 

Key India Signals

  • Subject pick beats overall pick: Education Studies sits roughly 550 positions above PSU’s overall THE band, the biggest subject-vs-overall gap here.
  • CD vs QS gap: Collegedunia rates Portland State at #550, around 650 positions higher than the QS band mid-point.
  • Specialist-master pathway: US News Urban Policy #16, Service Learning #17, Rehabilitation Counseling #33, and Social Work #36 are the four strongest US news graduate signals for Indian applicants.

Portland State University QS World University Rankings 2026

Portland State University ranks #1201-1400 in QS World University Rankings 2027, with a USA position of #103 out of 189 ranked US universities. QS, which ranks universities on academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, citations, and international metrics, has placed Portland State in this same band for four straight editions.

Year Portland State University QS World Rank
2027 #1201-1400
2026 #1201-1400
2025 #1201-1400
2024 #1201-1400
2023 #1201-1400

Read More: Portland State University Courses and Fees 2026 for Indian Students


Collegedunia Study Abroad Rankings of Portland State University

Portland State University holds three Collegedunia Study Abroad ranks in 2026, and its overall global CD position sits well above its QS or US News global ranks for the same year.

Category Portland State University Collegedunia Study Abroad Rank 2026
Overall (Global) #550 out of 824
Overall (USA) #268 out of 357
Engineering (Global) #363 out of 370
Engineering (USA) #140 out of 145
Computer Science (Global) #378 out of 392
Computer Science (USA) #133 out of 143

The Collegedunia overall rank of #550 globally is roughly 650 positions higher than the QS #1201-1400 midpoint, the widest single rank gap among the bodies tracked here. Collegedunia weights signals visible to Indian applicants (admit yield, cost, program scope, and reputation among Indian students), so the gap is consistent with Portland State’s pull factor for an MS applicant who is not chasing a flagship rank.

India-relevance: The Collegedunia overall USA rank of #268 out of 357 places Portland State in the bottom-mid third of CD-tracked US universities, a more useful cut than its global position for an Indian applicant short-listing US-only options.


Portland State University Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings 2026

Portland State University is ranked #801-1000 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, with a USA position of #59 out of 172 US universities in the THE list. THE, which scores teaching, research environment, research quality, industry income, and international outlook, has placed Portland State in this band for four of the last five editions.

Year Portland State University THE World Rank
2026 #801-1000
2025 #801-1000
2024 #801-1000
2023 #1001-1200
2022 #801-1000

The single-year dip to #1001-1200 in 2023 returned to the #801-1000 band the next year and has held since. For Indian applicants, a degree that earns its rank from teaching scores and research environment (rather than pure publication count) tends to read consistently to US employers across hiring years.

Trend signal: Across the 2022-2026 window, Portland State University’s THE band held steady in four out of five editions, a stability score that the QS band does not match cleanly with its 2022-2023 slip baked in.


Portland State University THE Subject Rankings 2026

Portland State University is ranked across nine THE subject lists for 2026, with Education Studies the highest-placed at #251-300 globally. The subject distribution shows the university’s strength clusters in social science, education, and applied business disciplines rather than pure engineering or physical science.

Subject Rank Highlights for Indian Students

  • Education Studies #251-300: Roughly 550-position bands above the overall THE band; the standout subject signal for MS Education and Curriculum & Instruction applicants from India.
  • Psychology #301-400: Second-highest subject rank; useful for MS Applied Psychology and Clinical Mental Health Counseling pathways.
  • Business and Economics #401-500: Top-tier rank within PSU; tracks the same direction as US News graduate Public Affairs (#61).
  • Computer Science and Engineering #801-1000: Both fall in line with the overall THE band; not a subject premium for STEM MS applicants from India.
Subject Portland State University THE Subject Rank 2026
Education Studies #251-300
Psychology #301-400
Business and Economics #401-500
Arts and Humanities #601-800
Medical and Health #601-800
Social Sciences #601-800
Computer Science #801-1000
Engineering #801-1000
Physical Sciences #801-1000

Portland State University Education Studies Subject Insight

Education Studies is Portland State’s flagship subject signal. The #251-300 THE rank lines up with the university’s separately listed US News graduate Education school rank of #114 in the USA and US News graduate education online program rank of #63. For Indian applicants applying to the College of Education’s MS in Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership, or Special Education, this is the single strongest cross-body subject signal on the page.


Portland State University Computer Science Subject Insight

Computer Science at Portland State is ranked #801-1000 globally in THE 2026 and #378 globally, #133 in USA in the Collegedunia Study Abroad subject rank. The two reads sit on opposite ends of the cross-body comparison: THE puts the discipline in the same band as the overall university, while CD ranks it noticeably above its global CD position. Indian MS Computer Science applicants should weigh CD’s India-applicant signal alongside the THE band when shortlisting.


Portland State University US News Rankings

Portland State University ranks #1338 in US News Best Global Universities 2026-2027 and #222 in US News Best National Universities 2026. The university’s strongest US News positions are in its specialised graduate program lists, where four programs sit inside the US top 40.

US News List Portland State University Position
Best Global Universities 2026-2027 #1338 globally
Best National Universities 2026 #222 in USA

What it signals: Portland State University’s US News story is not its global rank (#1171) or its national rank (#222): it is the four-program cluster inside the US top 40 for Urban Policy, Service Learning, Rehabilitation Counseling and Social Work.


Portland State University Other Global Rankings

Portland State University also appears in ARWU (Shanghai) and the THE Impact Rankings. Both bodies have fewer than three years of continuous public data for this university, so they are tracked here as point-in-time snapshots rather than full trends.

Ranking (Edition) Portland State University Position
ARWU (Shanghai) Overall 2022 #901-1000 globally; #48 in USA
ARWU Subject: Geography 2022 #151 globally; #12 in USA
THE Impact Rankings Overall 2022 #401-600 globally
THE Impact: Zero Hunger (SDG 2) 2022 #90 globally
THE Impact: Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6) 2022 #101-200 globally
THE Impact: Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) 2022 #101-200 globally
THE Impact: Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10) 2022 #201-300 globally
THE Impact: Climate Action (SDG 13) 2022 #201-300 globally

The THE Impact Zero Hunger rank of #90 is Portland State’s highest single global position across every ranking it features in, with ARWU Geography at #151, the second. Indian applicants tracking sustainability-mission credentials for an MS in Urban Planning, Environmental Science, or Sustainable Food Systems will find this the strongest single signal across the page, beating even the THE Education Studies subject rank of #251-300.


Portland State University Rankings: Indian Student Outlook

For Indian applicants, Portland State University’s rank pattern reads differently depending on the program. The QS band sits low (#1201-1400), but four US News graduate program ranks land inside the US top 40, and three THE subject ranks sit at least 200 positions above the overall band.

Portland State University Popular Programs for Indian Students

  • MS Computer Science: The most-applied PG program from India; supported by CD’s Computer Science USA rank of #133 and the THE Computer Science band of #801-1000
  • MS Electrical and Computer Engineering: Standard Indian-student STEM pathway; tracks the THE Engineering band of #801-1000
  • MS Mechanical Engineering: Mid-cost engineering MS option; uses the same Engineering subject signal
  • MS Civil and Environmental Engineering: Aligned to THE Impact Sustainable Cities position of #101-200; useful subject-mission signal
  • MBA: Tracks THE Business and Economics rank of #401-500; reasonable for Indian working professionals targeting a US OPT pathway
Indian-Applicant Signal Portland State University Position
Strongest subject signal for Indian applicants Education Studies #251-300 (THE 2026)
Strongest specialised graduate rank Urban Policy #16 USA (US News 2025-26)
Strongest single global position Zero Hunger #90 (THE Impact 2022)
Collegedunia Study Abroad rank vs QS gap CD #550 vs QS #1201-1400 (650-position lift)
QS movement 2022 to 2026 One-band slip, then four flat editions

The cross-body pattern points one way for Indian applicants: pick by subject and program list, not by overall rank. Verified Portland State University student reviews from Indian alumni reinforce the curriculum-breadth and faculty-access signal that the THE subject and US News graduate ranks already point to.

Portland State University India Signals at a Glance

  • Subject lift: Education Studies sits 550-position bands above the overall THE band; the biggest internal lift Portland State offers.
  • Specialist masters cluster: Four US news graduate lists place Portland State in the US top 40, all in applied-policy or applied-social-science.
  • Sustainability credential: THE Impact Zero Hunger #90 is the highest single global position on this page, useful for MS in Urban Planning or Sustainable Food Systems.
  • CD-vs-global signal: Collegedunia Study Abroad #550 reads roughly 650 positions higher than the QS band mid-point.
  • Rank stability: Both QS and THE bands have held steady for four of the last five editions, a low-volatility profile useful for 2027 and 2028 graduates.

Portland State University’s value for an Indian applicant is in its subject and specialised-program ranks, not in its overall QS or US News global positions: Education Studies #251-300, Urban Policy #16 USA, Zero Hunger #90 and Rehabilitation Counseling #33 USA are the four numbers that do the work. Stable QS and THE bands across four consecutive editions back the alumni-brand consistency for graduates in 2027 and 2028.


FAQs

Ques. What is the Portland State University ranking in QS World University Rankings 2026?

Ans. Portland State University is ranked #1201-1400 in QS World University Rankings 2026, with a USA position of #103 out of 189 US universities. The university has held this same QS band for four consecutive editions from 2023 to 2026.

Ques. What is the Portland State University Times Higher Education ranking for 2026?

Ans. Portland State University is ranked #801-1000 in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, with a USA position of #59 out of 172 US universities listed by THE. The university has held the same band in four of the last five editions, with a one-year dip to #1001-1200 in 2023.

Ques. Where does Portland State University rank in US News Best Global Universities?

Ans. Portland State University is ranked #1171 in US News Best Global Universities 2026-2027. The university is separately ranked #222 in US News Best National Universities 2026 for the United States, and inside the US top 40 across four specialised graduate lists.

Ques. What is the Collegedunia Study Abroad ranking of Portland State University?

Ans. Portland State University ranks #550 globally and #268 in the USA in the Collegedunia Study Abroad rank for 2026. Its subject CD ranks are #363 globally for Engineering and #378 globally for Computer Science. The CD overall position sits roughly 650 positions higher than the QS #1201-1400 band mid-point.

Ques. What is Portland State University’s best-ranked subject globally?

Ans. Education Studies is Portland State University’s best-ranked subject at #251-300 in Times Higher Education Subject Rankings 2026. Psychology follows at #301-400 and Business and Economics at #401-500. Within US News graduate lists, Urban Policy is the strongest specialised rank at #16 in USA.

Ques. How does Portland State University rank for Computer Science and Engineering?

Ans. Portland State University ranks #801-1000 globally for both Computer Science and Engineering in Times Higher Education Subject Rankings 2026. The Collegedunia Study Abroad subject rank for Computer Science is #378 globally and #133 in the USA, while Engineering CD ranks are #363 globally and #140 in the USA.

Ques. Is Portland State University a top 500 global university?

Ans. Portland State University is not in the top 500 in QS or US News overall lists, but the Times Higher Education World band of #801-1000 places it inside the global top 1,000 and the USA top 60. For Indian applicants tracking subject signals, the Education Studies #251-300 rank places that single discipline inside the global top 300.