Washington Border Discount Official Policy

The Washington Border Discount (WBD) tuition benefit allows qualifying Washington residents who live in one of 11 approved border counties to attend Portland State University at a discounted tuition rate.

Washington Border Discount students pay a reduced tuition rate equal to 110% of standard resident tuition. Admitted undergraduate first year, transfer, post-baccalaureate, and graduate applicants are automatically considered for the WBD. No separate application is required.

The Washington Border Discount applies only to standard (base) tuition. Students majoring in programs in The School of Business, Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science, College of the Arts, College of Education, College of Urban and Public Affairs and the University Honors College pay differential tuition for some programs. Differential tuition and fees are assessed separately for certain academic programs and students are responsible for covering those additional charges. Washington Border Discount does not cover course fees, the one-time matriculation fee, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, personal expenses, or other non-mandatory fees.

Deadlines

To be considered for the WBD students must submit their application on or before the application deadline for their intended start term and degree level (and program for graduate applicants).

Undergraduate and Postbaccalaureate Application Deadlines >>

Graduate deadlines vary by program. Check with the graduate program for deadlines.

Eligibility

New Applicants

To qualify for the WBD, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Be a resident of one of the following counties in Washington State: Asotin, Benton, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Garfield, Klickitat, Pacific, Skamania, Wahkiakum, and Walla Walla.
   1. Applicants may be asked to verify their physical presence at an eligible address for at least 90 days prior to the start of their first term. This documentation includes, but is not limited to, a Washington driver’s license, copies of voter registration, a rental or lease agreement, utility or phone bill.
      1. Applicants whose place of residence changes after being admitted, but prior to course registration, must notify the Office of Admissions of their address change to ensure consideration for the WBD. Applicants are still expected to have lived in an eligible county for at least 90 days prior to enrollment.
   2. Moving to a non-eligible county in Washington, or to another state such as Oregon, will not automatically disqualify you from receiving the WBD.
   3. Students may not accrue time toward establishing Oregon residency while receiving this benefit. Failure to notify or adhere to the rules listed here may impact your future residency reclassification.
   4. International applicants studying on F and J visas, as well as dependents of F and J visa holders, are not eligible for the Washington Border Discount.
   5. Carpe Diem, CCJO, and Tuition Equity recipients are not eligible for the WBD.

The Washington Border Discount cannot be combined with or used concurrently, or in alternating fashion, with the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or the Out-of-State Opportunity Scholarship.

This benefit will be terminated upon receiving a degree. It may be reapplied if an applicant becomes eligible with admission to a new student level.

Re-Enrolling Students

If you have been away from Portland State University for over a year, and are now a bona fide resident of an eligible county, you may qualify for the Washington Border Discount. To qualify upon re-enrollment you must:

1. Live in an eligible county for 90 days prior to the start of term you wish to re-enroll.
2. Show a minimum of 1 year of no educational activity since last attendance at PSU.

Awarding Process

Admitted applicants are automatically considered for the WBD and will be asked to reaffirm their Permanent Address on a form located in their PSU application portal. The WBD will not be awarded until an applicant has reaffirmed that their Permanent Address is located in a qualifying county. Applicants are notified of their initial eligibility via email and/or in their financial aid offer letter. Initial awarding is based on information provided by applicants in their application for admission.

Receiving the Washington Border Discount

Washington Border Discount eligibility is finalized upon submission of all required admission documents. Documents must be received by the corresponding term’s deadline to submit documents. Once an applicant qualifies for the WBD they do not need to accept the tuition benefit. It is automatically applied to the student's PSU Account on myPSU.

Maintaining the Washington Border Discount

The WBD is automatically applied to student accounts prior to the beginning of each term so long as students maintain their status as nonresident undergraduate, postbaccalaureate, or graduate students. If circumstances require an enrolled student to be away from PSU for a term or more, and they continue to meet WBD eligibility criteria, they will retain their ability to receive the WBD tuition benefit upon re-enrollment.