Portland State University (PSU) is a public, nonprofit, coeducational research university located in the southwest University District of downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Originally founded in 1946 as post-secondary educational institution for World War II veterans, it evolved into a four-year college over the following two decades, and was granted university status in 1969. It is the only public urban university in the state of Oregon that is located in a major metropolitan city, and is governed by a board of trustees.