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10/28/2025 - Northern Marianas College students planning to continue their education at Portland State University are now eligible for in-state tuition rates, thanks to a partnership between the two institutions aimed at easing transfer pathways and reducing financial barriers.
Portland State University Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management, Eki Yandall’s presented about potential opportunities last Thursday at the NMC library in As Terlaje.
Following his presentation, Yandall shared with Marianas Press that the agreement was the result of years of collaboration between NMC and PSU faculty and advisors who sought to streamline the transfer process and support student success. “Over the course of the last several years, we’ve realized that there’s a lot of opportunities for us to make the process of transferring from Northern Marianas College to Portland State simpler for students,” said Yandall. “We worked hard to figure out what some of the pain points are so that we can eliminate them and help students transfer and graduate as quickly as possible with as little debt as possible.”
Under the partnership, NMC students who are admitted to PSU will automatically qualify for the Oregon resident tuition rate of $12,420—a significant reduction from the out-of-state cost of $33,012.
“Based off of the relationship and the success that we’ve seen of NMC students, we collectively made a decision to propose and offer a tuition benefit that would make it such that NMC transfer students who are admissible to PSU are automatically offered the Oregon resident tuition rate,” Yandall explained. “This helps students focus on their academic success as opposed to how to finance their education.”
“All they have to do is be admissible to Portland State. And so long as they are admissible, they will be qualified for this tuition benefit. And the big thing for us isn't so much making sure they're admissible. It's making sure that we understand where they are in their academic journey so that we can, again, focus on making sure that they are able to graduate as quickly as possible.”
Yandall said the tuition benefit will apply for up to four years, allowing flexibility for students who may need to retake courses or change majors without facing higher costs.
“We don’t want them to be punished and have to pay full tuition because they realize their passion lies elsewhere,” said Yandall. “Giving them up to four years after they’ve transferred helps students in that particular situation.”
The new agreement will officially take effect in Fall 2026, following the signing of documents between NMC and PSU this past October 22nd.
Yandall said one of the key next steps is aligning course equivalencies between the two colleges, ensuring that credits earned at NMC transfer smoothly to PSU degree programs.
“That’s the area that needs the most time and attention,” he said. “We’ve put a lot of work into degree plans for engineering, social work, liberal studies, and natural resources management—but this tuition benefit will apply to all admissible NMC transfers, regardless of major.”
Beyond the financial and academic advantages, Yandall emphasized that partnerships like this are especially meaningful for institutions with shared commitments to serving culturally diverse student populations.
“Both NMC and Portland State are AANAPISI (Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions) Institutions,” he said. “We have a responsibility to support students who come from cultural backgrounds that shape the way they approach education. Many of these students are navigating a system that doesn’t always align with their cultural norms or family priorities.”
He added that the ultimate goal is to help students gain the education and confidence to make meaningful choices—whether that means staying to serve their communities or returning home with new knowledge and skills.
“Institutions with this designation have a responsibility to make sure students are as successful as possible,” Yandall said. “So that upon graduation, they have the choice to either stay and serve our community or return to theirs and share what we’ve been able to teach them.”
Speaking on their partnership with PSU, NMC Department Chair of Social Sciences and Fine Arts and Principal Investigator of Proa Pathway Partnership, Kaelani Demapan added “One of the ways NMC has strengthened its partnership with PSU is through the Proa Pathways transfer program, which supports NMC graduates in their transition to a four-year university. Over the years, this collaboration has fostered strong connections with PSU administrators, faculty, and staff who continue to guide and assist our transfer scholars once they arrive in Oregon.”
She said “One of the greatest challenges our scholars face is financing their education, including tuition, housing, and food expenses.” She shared that Proa Pathways will work closely with students and assist them secure the necessary financial resources before leaving the island. “Fortunately, PSU has committed to awarding in-state tuition rates for up to four years to all admissible NMC transfer students outside of Business, Education, and Nursing.”
To learn more on how to avail the deal, NMC students are encouraged to contact Proa Pathways.
Report by Chrystal Marino
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