Marketing at Portland State University

Portland, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
61 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
62
Optimistic
61
Base Case
55
Pessimistic
Earnings $41,395/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (54% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (204,300 openings/yr)
ROI 13.7x earnings multiple (5.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #162 of 502 Marketing programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Marketing graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $631K $614K $549K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.0x 13.7x 12.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.2x 5.1x 4.6x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 62 61 55

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,952
Out-of-state: $120,552 (5.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,728
-15% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,000
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$67,800
64% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $41,395/yr, Marketing graduates from Portland State University land near the $45,450 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 13.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 54% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $18,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #162 out of 502 programs, Portland State University's Marketing offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $41,395 to $67,800 over five years (64% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Portland State University

With 91% of applicants admitted, Portland State University prioritizes broad access, serving 13,619 students in Portland, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Portland State University →

Top Career Paths

Marketing managers $161,030/yr
Sales managers $138,060/yr
Advertising and promotions managers $126,960/yr
View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Marketing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Portland State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Portland State University's Marketing program score?
This program scores 61/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Marketing graduates.
How vulnerable is Marketing to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Marketing careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 54% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →