Welcome to PSU: Portland State named a top university for transfer students

Portland State, long a destination for Oregon's transfer students, was honored for its exceptional work to create pathways that help community college transfer students earn bachelor's degrees, securing a spot on the Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Honor Roll.

The honor comes as PSU is working more closely than ever with local community college partners to ensure that students seeking a four-year degree have a straightforward path to success that leads to Portland State.

Last year, PSU signed a memorandum of understanding with Portland Community College (PCC) to reduce barriers for students, align academic programs and enhance support services to help more students successfully transfer and graduate.

PSU also runs the Access, Connect, Complete, Engage (ACCE) program in partnership with PCC, Mt. Hood Community College and Clackamas Community College which offers academic coaching and other wraparound services in addition to financial incentives and access to emergency aid to students who want to transfer to PSU. More than 800 students have been served by the program so far and Transfer Success Coaches have been deployed at all three colleges.

"Receiving this honor is a tremendous validation of our hard work and dedication to ensuring that every student who wishes to transfer to Portland State will find a clear pathway to achieve their educational goals," said PSU President Ann Cudd.

PSU, along with Eastern Oregon University, is one of only two Oregon universities to be honored by the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society for leadership in transfer student success.

Rather than measuring a single outcome, the Transfer Honor Roll is based on how well institutions support transfer students from admission through graduation. Colleges are assessed across five dimensions shown to influence transfer success:

• Transfer student success outcomes
• Credit mobility and degree applicability
• Financial support for transfer students
• Recruitment and admissions practices
• Campus engagement and support for transfer students

"This recognition is about much more than transfer agreements," said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. "Successful transfer happens when institutions intentionally design policies, practices, and campus cultures that help students thrive after they arrive. These colleges have demonstrated that transfer student success is not accidental. It is a
strategic priority."