Visiting scholars at PSU have a variety of options available for housing in Portland. Finding housing that is right for you – location, lifestyle, safety, and budget - is an important part of making a smooth transition and a good start to your stay.
Unfortunately, PSU has very limited on-campus housing. Full-time enrolled students at the university are given priority and campus housing is usually filled. Therefore we regret that we are unable to offer campus housing to our visiting scholars.
Temporary Housing / Hotel Options
It can be difficult to find an apartment from abroad before you arrive. Therefore, you may need to plan temporary housing for when you arrive and then search for permanent housing while you are in Portland. You may need stay in a local hotel or motel for several nights.
Portland State University operates its own private hotel called University Place. Reservations can be made by calling (866) 845-4647, or through the web at www.uplacehotel.com. It is recommended you reserve a room with the hotel prior to your arrival.
Other hotels in the downtown area near the PSU campus include:
Home Share Housing
Apartments and Other Housing
Preparation
Before you arrive in Portland, spend some time researching locations, types of housing and the typical costs so you are prepared with a search plan and a budget. Here are some helpful web sites with general information about Portland and housing:
Budget
It is important to plan your housing budget carefully and to be prepared for some additional expenses. When selecting a place to live, you should consider the cost of renting a furnished apartment vs. purchasing furniture, distance and commute/transportation costs, and the convenience of the apartment and location. The list of sample rent price below are an average of the larger Portland area. Housing closer to downtown near PSU will generally be more expensive and housing away from downtown less expensive. You will also need to budget for utilities (electricity, gas, water, internet/cable, etc.) unless they are included in apartment rent. See our Living Expenses page for estimated living expenses.
Average Monthly Rental Prices in Portland/Vancouver Metro Area:*
- Studio Apartment: $1,283
- 1 bedroom, 1 bath: $1,490
- 2 bedroom, 1 bath: $1,519
- 2 bedroom, 2 bath: $1,857
- 2 bedroom townhouse: $1,723
- 3 bedroom, 1 bath: $1,691
- 3 bedroom, 2 bath: $2,044
* Apartment Report, Spring 2023, Multifamily NW
Renting or Leasing – Legal Issues
Negotiating and signing a housing contract can be confusing or difficult – especially if English is not your first language. The PSU Student Legal Services (SLS) office has excellent information about housing agreements and contracts, landlord disputes and tenant rights, and other legal issues. We highly recommend reading the SLS “Renter's Handbook” (https://www.pdx.edu/student-legal-services/renters-rights-handbook) before you rent your off-campus housing.
Websites & Resources
Several websites you might find helpful for off-campus housing information are:
LiveLovely.com – https://livelovely.com/
The Oregonian - http://realestate.oregonlive.com/for-rent
ApartmentGuide: - https://www.apartmentguide.com/
Apartments.com: - http://www.apartments.com
ForRent: - https://www.forrent.com/
Rent.com: - https://www.rent.com/
Home Forward (Housing Authority of Portland) - www.hapdx.org
Hot Pads - www.hotpads.com
Roommates - www.roommates.com
Craigslist: http://portland.craigslist.org Craigslist is a free, public online bulletin board with a very active Portland community. You can search for apartments and house rentals by clicking on "apts / housing" as well as roommates and room-shares by clicking "rooms / shared." Try posting your own ad in the "housing wanted" section.
Information is current as of Summer 2023.
Disclaimer: This housing information is meant to provide assistance in locating off-campus housing. Inclusion of any property or rental unit on this website does not constitute, and shall not be construed or reported as an endorsement or approval by the University Housing Office or Portland State University of the landlord, its properties, or its business practices. The University Housing Office or Portland State University expressly disclaim any and all responsibility for any problems that may arise with regard to such property or rental units or with regard to disputes between landlords and tenants concerning such property or rental units. All prospective tenants are encouraged to exercise their own good judgment when evaluating a prospective rental unit or landlord.