Is it worth going to University of Massachusetts Amherst by paying double instead of Portland State University in areas of Embedded Systems for Masters of Science in ECE?

If you go by the brand name and ranking, University of Massachusetts clearly is our winner. But what about other factors? Let us consider three parameters to choose a better University for you shall we? Job opportunities after graduation Research opportunities Funding Job opportunities: When it comes to job opportunities, PSU has an edge because of its proximity to Intel. But UMass weighs equally if not less because of its brand name and connections it has. Upon that UMass is a huge University which offers you tons of connections globally. So there is a tie between both UMass and PSU. Research: Students at Massachusetts, Amherst usually team up with the University faculties in their ongoing research projects along with pursuing their degree. The department focuses majorly on Computer networking, embedded systems and Computer system security. PSU on the other hand is a great University if you are looking to pursue your career in front end VLSI. It's curriculum aligns perfectly with the technology which Intel is using. Funding: UMass Amherst clearly beats PSU in both internal and external research funding. If your area of focus aligns with that of the university, then well you would just hit a jackpot! While PSU still offers internal research grants upto $5,000 UMass is on par with that. With one tie and two leads, University of Massachusetts Amherst is a clear winner. So yes, the money you pay at UMass is clearly worth it and you can earn a lot more than your investment within a few years of graduation.

I have admits from Portland state university and san jose state university, which should I choose for MS in electrical engineering?

Both Portland and San Jose are good in their own ways. The admission intake for both the schools takes place in the fall season. Here’s a gist of both: San Jose State University The university is good for majors like Engineering, Computer Science and Business. The location of the institute is in Silicon Valley where every semester a job fair is organized. Many big companies participate in this job fair and offer great opportunities which are quite helpful. Apple and Google companies have hired many SJSU students. The weather is very pleasant throughout the year, neither too hot nor too cold. Portland State University The institute is located in a cold, lovely and manageable little city. The people there are quite warm and friendly. The institute has been ranked #801 for engineering by Times Higher Education 2021 (international). San Jose State University Portland State University Tuition fee for the 1st year (international students) $ 16,283 $ 21,105 Acceptance rate 55% 96% International students’ percentage 12% 6% Delivery type Full-time Full-time On looking at the above information about expenses, location of the city, atmosphere of the city, etc. whichever seems suitable for you, you can choose that.

Should I attend San Jose State University or Portland State University for Computer Science if I'll receive cheap tuition at both? Why?

Both of them are equally good and provide comparatively cheaper education in the field of Computer Science. The only difference you will experience is in the living conditions, location, cheaper lifestyle, etc. Some other things you should focus about are the placement opportunities, average salary obtained by the students of that University, living expenses, etc. Students should also look for the social and political life of the institutions. Which school provides you with an atmosphere that will be suitable for you? Both of these have graduates earning between 61,000- 91,000 USD and good placement rate, so you should consider other factors as well. The following table provides some information about both the institutions: San Jose State University Portland State University Tuition fee for the 1st year (international students) $ 17,225 $ 24,530 Acceptance rate 55% 96% International students’ percentage 12% 6% Average starting salary $91,000 $61,000 Financial aids Loans, grants, awards and scholarships Scholarships Whichever school offers you a better lifestyle in all aspects and better future opportunities, you should choose.

Is it difficult to get into Portland State University?

The difficulty level mainly depends on the majors you want to get into. The acceptance rate of the PSU is 96% which means it is not hard to get into. The admission procedure also changes depending on if you’re applying for an undergraduate or graduate course. Some majors are easy to get into while some are hard to get in, usually the in-demand majors have a larger applicant pool so there is that. Completing the program is more difficult as compared to getting in. The best thing about the institution is that the professors want their students to excel and become successful. If you’re an international student, you’ll have to provide many additional things like TOEFL/IELTS scores and some other exam scores depending on your program. The admission requirements are different for freshman admits and transfer admits. The only requirement is to meet the eligibility criteria for the major you are interested in. PhD programs are hard to qualify as they are only admitting the best applicants. You also need to meet the course-specific requirement for your majors like CS, School of Music, etc. For admissions in Music major the applicants should clear the audition round and for CS the applicants should gain minimum grades for mathematics and CS classes and meet GPA requirements. Acceptance rate 96% International students’ percentage 6% Students faculty ratio 21:1 Students retention rate 74% TOEFL 71 IELTS 6.0 PTE 53 SAT 560 DET 110 You can apply to this university and expect to be accepted here as the university is not hard to get in if you meet all requirements.

Portland State University - [Portland State University], Oregon, Portland - Scholarship

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Updated on - Aug 13, 2026

Portland State University offers 40+ scholarships, of which 15+ are open to Indian applicants at UG, Master’s, and PhD levels.

The awards range from small merit stipends of USD 3,000 to full tuition-plus-stipend assistantships worth over USD 40,000 per year. PSU’s Laurels scholarship, ICSP grant, and Maseeh College fellowships cover the biggest slice for Indian admits.

Standard PSU tuition (international): USD 33,012 to USD 36,727 per year (INR 29.05 Lakhs to INR 32.32 Lakhs)
With top merit waiver (Laurels + International Achievement): effective cost drops to USD 20,000 to USD 25,000 (INR 17.60 Lakhs to INR 22.00 Lakhs)
With graduate assistantship + tuition remission: out-of-pocket falls to USD 8,000 to USD 12,000 (INR 7.04 Lakhs to INR 10.56 Lakhs)
Next major deadline: Laurels Undergraduate Scholarship closes February 1, 2026

Currency Note: All INR conversions use the live rate of 1 USD = INR 88 as of August 2026. Tuition remission means the university waives the fee entirely; a stipend is a monthly living allowance paid to the student.

Table of Contents

Portland State University Scholarships for UG Students
Portland State University Scholarships for PG / Master’s Students
India-Specific Scholarships at Portland State University
Portland State University PhD Scholarships
External Government Scholarships
Portland State University Scholarships: Frequently Asked Questions

Portland State University Scholarships for UG Students

Scholarship	Award (USD / INR)	Eligibility	Deadline (IST)
Laurels Undergraduate Scholarship	Up to full tuition, USD 34,599 (INR 30.45 Lakhs) per year	New first-year international, 3.5 GPA equivalent	February 1, 2026
International Achievement Scholarship	USD 8,000 (INR 7.04 Lakhs) per year	New international UG, 3.0 GPA equivalent	Tentative March 1, 2026 (rolling)
International Cultural Service Program (ICSP)	Approx USD 12,000 (INR 10.56 Lakhs) per year	Present home culture on campus, 80 hours per year	February 1, 2026
Presidential Scholarship	Up to USD 10,000 (INR 8.80 Lakhs) per year	Top-band applicants, 3.7 GPA equivalent	Tentative November 1, 2026 (for Fall 2027)
Diversity Scholars Program	USD 3,000 to USD 5,000 (INR 2.64 Lakhs to INR 4.40 Lakhs)	UG applicants with strong community-impact record	February 1, 2026

Undergraduate Indian applicants stack the Laurels award with the ICSP grant to cut tuition roughly in half. The Presidential Scholarship auto-considers applicants who submit the admission file before November 1, so no separate form is needed.

The Laurels award is competitive; PSU reserves it for the top 5-10% of new international admits. A 3.7+ GPA equivalent and SAT above 1300 give the strongest shot for Fall 2026 entry.

Explore More: PSU Admission Process | All PSU Programs

Portland State University Scholarships for PG / Master’s Students

Scholarship	Award (USD / INR)	Eligibility	Deadline (IST)
Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA)	Full tuition remission + USD 18,000 to USD 24,000 stipend (INR 15.84 Lakhs to INR 21.12 Lakhs)	Master’s admit, department nomination, TOEFL Speaking 26+	Tentative February 15, 2026
Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA)	Full tuition remission + USD 18,000 to USD 30,000 stipend (INR 15.84 Lakhs to INR 26.40 Lakhs)	Faculty research match, strong statement of purpose	Rolling; tentative February 15, 2026
Maseeh College Graduate Fellowship	USD 5,000 to USD 15,000 (INR 4.40 Lakhs to INR 13.20 Lakhs)	MS CS, MS ECE, MS ME, MS CE admits, top-tier profiles	Tentative February 15, 2026
Graduate School Recruitment Scholarship	USD 3,000 to USD 5,000 (INR 2.64 Lakhs to INR 4.40 Lakhs)	New graduate international admit, merit-based	Program deadline; tentative March 1, 2026
School of Business Merit Award	USD 5,000 to USD 12,000 (INR 4.40 Lakhs to INR 10.56 Lakhs)	MBA and MS Business admits	Tentative March 15, 2026 (for Fall 2026)

The GTA and GRA carry the heaviest weight because they zero out the USD 23,010 to USD 36,727 tuition and add a monthly stipend. PSU allocates most assistantships department-by-department, so Indian applicants must reach out to specific faculty during application.

Reddit Insight: Indian PSU MS CS admits on r/gradadmissions report that 60-70% of first-year international students land some GA funding by Winter term. Many enter Fall without an offer letter but secure one after their first quarter.

Popular Indian-favoured masters like the MS Engineering and Technology Management sit at USD 25,000 to USD 30,000 in tuition. A partial Maseeh fellowship of USD 10,000 cuts effective cost to INR 17-20 Lakhs.

India-Specific Scholarships at Portland State University

PSU does not run a scholarship reserved only for Indian passport holders. Indian students access all international awards and one country-neutral pool discussed below.

Scholarship	Award (USD / INR)	Eligibility for Indians	Deadline (IST)
International Student Departmental Award (India tier)	USD 2,000 to USD 6,000 (INR 1.76 Lakhs to INR 5.28 Lakhs)	Indian admits nominated by department based on academic file	Tentative March 1, 2026
Global Diversity Scholarship	USD 3,000 to USD 10,000 (INR 2.64 Lakhs to INR 8.80 Lakhs)	Indian students from underrepresented regions or first-generation graduates	February 1, 2026
Alumni Association India Chapter Referral Award	Approx USD 1,500 (INR 1.32 Lakhs)	Indian admits referred by a PSU alum based in India	Rolling; tentative August 15, 2026

The India-tier departmental award is the fastest route because the department nominates you automatically after admission. No extra essay is needed.

Indian students at PSU pair one of these awards with the university-wide International Achievement Scholarship. A common stack for a first-year MS admit lands INR 8-12 Lakhs in total aid.

Portland State University PhD Scholarships

PhD funding at PSU comes almost entirely through department-level assistantships. Indian PhD admits should not self-fund; instead, they should target programs that guarantee 4-5 years of GTA or GRA support.

Scholarship	Award (USD / INR)	Eligibility	Deadline (IST)
PhD Assistantship (GTA or GRA)	Full tuition remission + USD 22,000 to USD 30,000 stipend (INR 19.36 Lakhs to INR 26.40 Lakhs) per year	PhD admission, faculty backing, 4-5 year renewable	December 15, 2025 (Fall 2026); tentative December 15, 2026 (Fall 2027)
Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship	USD 5,000 to USD 8,000 (INR 4.40 Lakhs to INR 7.04 Lakhs)	Advanced PhD candidate at the dissertation-writing stage	Tentative March 1, 2026
Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid (via PSU chapter)	Up to USD 5,000 (INR 4.40 Lakhs)	STEM PhD research proposal, PSU chapter member	Tentative March 15, 2026 and October 1, 2026
Conference Travel Grants (Grad School)	USD 500 to USD 1,500 (INR 44,000 to INR 1.32 Lakhs)	PhD presenting at an accepted conference	Rolling

PhD applicants in PSU Engineering, Computer Science, and Urban Studies report the highest full-funding rates. Environmental Sciences and Systems Science also fund 80%+ of admits.

Reddit Insight: Indian PhD candidates on r/GradSchool note that PSU Urban Studies (top 20 US News) fully funds nearly every cohort. Applying by December 1 rather than December 15 signals seriousness to faculty and raises assistantship odds.

External Government Scholarships

Indian students at PSU commonly stack a university award with one government or foundation grant from India. Fulbright-Nehru and Inlaks are the two heaviest cheques.

Scholarship	Award (INR)	Eligibility	Deadline (IST)
Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship (USIEF)	Full tuition + living stipend + return airfare, approx INR 40 to 50 Lakhs total	Indian citizen, 3+ years work experience, 55% in Bachelor’s	Tentative May 15, 2026 (for 2027 intake)
Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship	Up to USD 100,000 (INR 88 Lakhs)	Indian, under 30, first-class Bachelor’s, admit at a top overseas uni	March 31, 2026
JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship	INR 10 Lakhs (interest-free loan) + INR 7,500 gift	Indian graduate admitted to overseas Master’s or PhD	Tentative April 15, 2026
KC Mahindra Scholarships for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad	INR 8.50 Lakhs (one-time)	Indian, admitted PG at overseas university	March 31, 2026
Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation Scholarship	Interest-free loan up to INR 20 Lakhs	Indian, under 30, admitted PG	April 15, 2026
Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship	50% grant + 50% loan, up to USD 100,000 (INR 88 Lakhs)	Indian, financially needy, admitted PG overseas	Tentative March 31, 2026

Fulbright-Nehru is the single largest cheque and covers tuition, living costs, health insurance, and both-way airfare. It requires the applicant to return to India for two years post-study.

A common stacking strategy for Indian PSU admits:

Round 1 filing: Apply to Inlaks before March 31, 2026 for the largest single grant window
Loan backstop: File JN Tata by April 15, 2026 to cover the tuition gap PSU assistantships miss
Top-up grant: Submit KC Mahindra before March 31, 2026 for a non-repayable INR 8.5 Lakh addition

Indian admits usually pair a JN Tata loan with a KC Mahindra grant to close the shortfall PSU funding leaves. The combined stack lands INR 18 Lakhs in liquid funding, enough for one full year of USD costs.

Reddit Insight: Indian PSU admits on r/IndianStudentsAbroad flag that applying to Inlaks in Round 1 (January-March) improves shortlisting odds. The interview panel meets fresh with a smaller pool, versus the crowded Round 2 field.

Explore More: Portland State University Overview | Portland State University Rankings

Portland State University Scholarships: Frequently Asked Questions

Ques. What is the maximum funding an Indian student can stack at Portland State University?

Ans. An Indian graduate can stack a full GTA (tuition waiver + USD 24,000 stipend, INR 21 Lakhs) with a Fulbright-Nehru fellowship. Combined support crosses USD 60,000 (INR 52 Lakhs) per year. For UG, Laurels + ICSP cuts tuition to under USD 15,000 (INR 13.20 Lakhs).

Ques. When should Indian students apply for Portland State University scholarships for Fall 2026 intake?

Ans. Submit the PSU admission application by November 15, 2025 to be auto-considered for the Presidential and International Achievement awards. The Laurels Undergraduate deadline is February 1, 2026, and graduate assistantship nominations close around February 15, 2026. Fulbright-Nehru opens in April, and Inlaks closes March 31.

Ques. Do Portland State University scholarships need a separate application, or are they automatic?

Ans. Most UG merit awards, including Presidential and International Achievement, are automatic based on the admission file. Laurels, ICSP, and Diversity Scholars require a separate essay and financial-aid form. Graduate assistantships need faculty contact and department nomination, not a central form.

Ques. What GPA does an Indian applicant need for a Portland State University scholarship?

Ans. The floor is a 3.0 GPA equivalent (roughly 75% aggregate or CGPA 7.5) for basic merit awards. The Laurels and Presidential awards demand 3.5 to 3.7 (85-88%). Assistantships care more about research fit and faculty backing than raw GPA.

Ques. Does the Graduate Teaching Assistantship at Portland State University cover living costs in Portland?

Ans. A GTA stipend of USD 18,000 to USD 24,000 covers most costs for a single student sharing an apartment. Portland’s annual student living cost sits at USD 55,089, so a partial gap of USD 25,000 to USD 30,000 remains. Indian GTAs typically close this gap through a summer research role or on-campus job.

Ques. How does the International Cultural Service Program at Portland State University work?

Ans. ICSP awards a USD 12,000 annual grant in exchange for 80 hours of cultural presentations across Portland schools and community groups. Selection is competitive with 12-15 international scholars picked each year. Indian applicants with dance, music, or public speaking experience win at a higher rate.

Scholarships offered

Chuan Ai Lu Engstrom Memorial Scholarship

International Student Eligible: No
Amount: $1,000
Type: Merit-Based
Level of Study: Bachelor
Number of Scholarships: N/A

Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: Variable Amount
Type: College-Specific
Level of Study: Bachelor
Number of Scholarships: N/A

Bharat Petroleum Scholarship

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: Variable Amount
Type: Merit-Based
Level of Study: Master
Number of Scholarships: N/A

Comindware Scholarship

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: $4,000
Type: Merit-Based
Level of Study: Apprenticeship
Number of Scholarships: N/A

Forktip Women’s- Innovation Scholarship

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: Variable Amount
Type: College-Specific
Level of Study: Bachelor
Number of Scholarships: 10

FINCAD Women in Finance Scholarship

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: $20,000
Type: Merit-Based
Level of Study: Master
Number of Scholarships: N/A

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Portland Diaries

Likes

The broad range of curriculum and subjects offered is one of the main reasons why I chose this college.
The computer Science department in Portland State University offers a rich set of subjects students can choose from.
subject that offered in are CS Data Engineering, Computer Sound & Music, Computational Photography and many more.

Dislikes

The college, although having a very rich collection of subjects(talking about just the Computer Science department).
It has a mathematical approach of teaching those subjects.
Having a mathematical approach towards the subject makes it a little tricky to pick up new concepts and their applications.

The broad range of curriculum and subjects offered is one of the main reasons why I chose this college. The computer Science department in Portland State University offers a rich set of subjects students can choose from, including Data Engineering, Computer Sound & Music, Computational Photography and many more.

academic: 9/10

faculty: 9/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 5/10

extracurricular: 8/10

0 0

Emma

Portland State University( Alumna/Alumnus )Post bacMarch 15, 2019

8.7 /10

Wonderful university of oregon

Scholarship

No, I did not use any financial aid so I cannot speak to this. I don't know what else to say about this matter.

Beautiful campus with a very diverse population of people, this school offered the courses I wanted to take as a college student. The faculty was incredible in their teachings and the rec was stunning. The community was very accepting of those who are different because it is a liberal city.

academic: 10/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 8/10

accomodation: 10/10

placement: 4/10

extracurricular: 10/10

0 0

sierra

Portland State University( Alumna/Alumnus )BiologyMarch 8, 2019

7.7 /10

Portland State University is a Great Place to Learn and Find Yourself!

Scholarship

I applied for financial aid online and it was easily granted and then disbursed by the school. I fortunately never had an issue receiving my funds on the disbursement date so that I could pay for classes and books.

The main reason was that I really wanted to be in Portland, Oregon and Portland State University is the only public university in Portland. I really liked their biology program and their sustainability program too. The school also had a relationship with Oregon Health & Science University where I wanted to attend graduate school.

academic: 7/10

faculty: 7/10

infrastructure: 7/10

accomodation: 9/10

placement: 8/10

extracurricular: 8/10

0 0

Pradeep

Portland State UniversityM.S Electrical and Computer EngineeringFebruary 22, 2004

6.7 /10

My truthful view

Scholarship

Less fees and great career opportunities, lot of Indians and I can do internship after 9 months of stay in USA which not many universities allow

academic: 8/10

faculty: 8/10

infrastructure: 7/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 9/10

0 0

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Portland State University Scholarships for UG Students

Portland State University Scholarships for PG / Master’s Students

India-Specific Scholarships at Portland State University

Portland State University PhD Scholarships

External Government Scholarships

Portland State University Scholarships: Frequently Asked Questions

Scholarships offered

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