For Parents and Families

Discover Oregon State

Oregon State University was founded more than 150 years ago as a land grant institution, building on the idea that everybody deserves access to an education that transforms their lives.

We're proud to be one of only three land, sea, space and sun grant universities in the United States. This honor reflects our deep connection to the natural world and all who depend on it.

Supporting the Admissions Journey

Contact an Advisor at Any Time

Our admissions advisors are available to help you during your journey to Oregon State.

Live Chat with OSU Admissions
Available Monday - Friday, 8:30am-4:45pm (Pacific)

Preparing to Apply

Applying

You can apply now and choose to use the OSU-specific application or the Common Application, which makes it easier to apply to multiple universities. Access the Common App FAQ for extra guidance. Transfer students follow a different set of application steps.

As we process your application you can check your admission status.

After Admission

Congratulations! After admission, there are a few next steps on your path to Oregon State enrollment.

Costs and Financial Support

Costs and Calculators

2022-2023 Student Expenses

  • Tuition and Fees
    • Resident:  $12,444
    • WUE-eligible Non-resident: $18,666
    • Non-resident:  $33,063
  • On-Campus Food and Housing:  $13,860
  • Books and Supplies:  $600
  • Personal Expenses: $2,178
  • Transportation: $576

More Information

WUE Program Benefits

Oregon State is a participating institution in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program. With the WUE Scholarship, residents from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Palau, and the North Mariana Islands may be eligible for tuition at 150% of resident tuition (renewable for 4 years). 

New incoming students are considered for WUE based on the information they provide in the admissions process.  Awards are competitive and not all students from these participating states and territories are chosen to receive WUE rates. Read detailed WUE Program Information.

Scholarships

Starting November 1st each year, students may use OSU ScholarDollars to apply for the almost $15 million in donor-funded scholarships. By applying, they will be considered for over 2,000 OSU scholarship opportunities!

Oregon State University announces new policy to grant in-state tuition rates for students who are enrolled members of the 574 Federally Recognized Indian Tribes.

Academic and Career Support

 

Admissions, Retention and Employment

Academic Reporting

  • Average GPA of bachelors graduates: 3.36
  • Fall 2021 undergraduate enrollment in Honors College: 5.62%
  • 2020 Cohort 1-Year retention rate: 86.8%
  • 2015 Cohort 6-Year graduate rate: 68.2%
  • College of Business reported job placement rate: 85%
  • Fall 2021 Admissions Profile (mid-50%)

A Smart Investment

Oregon State University students receive an excellent value from their hard work, and it pays off. According to PayScale, Oregon State graduates earn a median early career salary of $57,700 and $104,500 at mid-career.

Academic Support 

Academic advisors are assigned to all students to help navigate university policies and connect students with opportunities that enrich their undergraduate program. More on undergraduate advising.

The Academic Success Center provides services including tutoring, study centers, the writing center and academic coaching. Academic coaching is designed to enhance student well-being, improve academic performance, and improve study strategies. More information on the ACS.

Career Support

The Career Development Center is expanding its Beyond OSU program, the university-wide approach to ensure that all Oregon State students graduate equipped for the future. Our university's commitment to student success after graduation remains strong as it builds on an already extensive support system offered by the career center. More from the Career Development Center.

 

Beyond the Coursework

The time to complete an undergraduate degree can vary by student and program. Factors such as research projects. internships, declaring a second major or spending a year abroad can add time to the undergraduate experience.

It's also possible to accomplish more than you expect in four years. Oregon State Ecampus programs and courses offer flexibility and convenience through a variety of online courses.

Campus and Student Life

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Posing with Benny was popular with students during the CONNECT Picnic. photo: Theresa Hogue

Representing Oregon and the World

Oregon State draws students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. 

Total students in fall 2021:  34,108

  • 28,607 Undergraduates
  • 4,339 First-year students

First-year student residency in fall 2021:

  1. Oregon (64.46%)
  2. California (11.68%)
  3. Washington (6.22%)
  4. Hawaii (2.51%)
  5. Colorado (2.73%)

A vibrant, welcoming community:

 

Life in Corvallis

Location is one of the most important factors affecting your decision to attend Oregon State. Corvallis is consistently ranked among the top 10 college towns in the nation and is known for innovation, education, entertainment, sustainability, and overall livability. Corvallis embodies the spirit of the Northwest, with beautiful landscapes, friendly citizens, and an outstanding quality of life.

The city is about 50 miles northwest of Eugene, 90 miles south of Portland, and has a population of about 58,000. Small, local businesses surround the Oregon State campus, and major national retail stores are only a short drive away.

  • No. 1 Safest College (ADT Security Systems, 2018)
  • No. 2 Friendliest College Town in America (Great College Deals, 2016)
  • No. 3 Top 100 Best Places to Live (Livability, 2018)
  • No. 17 Best Small Place for Business and Careers (Forbes, 2020)
  • No. 5 Most Beautiful College Town in America (Travelers Today, 2017)
  • No. 4 Best College Town in America (Forbes, 2014)

Learn more about Corvallis. (Corvallis on Google Maps)

 

New Facilities and Construction

Oregon State is actively updating and expanding its academic and campus resources.

One University with Thousands of Stories

The student experience at Oregon State is as unique as the person. While we strive to show what a typical student can expect during their undergraduate experience, there are so many stories that need to be told. Take a few moments to view videos of our students' stories.

 

Living and Learning on Campus

Living-Learning Communities are academic programs that partner with residential communities on campus. In addition to living among students in the same major, college, academic focus or program, we hold events that are related to the students' areas of interest.

Oregon State is part of the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative. The program collaborates on research and education in support of food systems innovation within and beyond universities. At our dining centers, cafes and campus markets, you'll find organic choices and food from growers around Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, as well as ingredients produced on campus. 

Health and Wellness Support

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Dancers bless the new Centro Cultural Cesar Chavez at Oregon State University. Photo: Theresa Hogue

 

Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Oregon State strives to create a supportive environment so students can be successful inside and outside the classroom. Realizing our commitment to change and dismantling systemic racism requires that we collaboratively work as faculty, staff and students to act, consistent with the mission and the values of Oregon State.

More information:

Cultural Resource Guides

Visit and Connect

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We want to hear from you!

The goal of the Office of Admissions is to make the application process as smooth and transparent as possible. We enjoy speaking with parents and helping however we can. Please reach out to us and ask any questions or encourage your students to contact us directly at 800-291-4192.

If you want to hear about the latest updates from Oregon State and its undergraduate experience, request information about one of our campuses.

Visit Our Beautiful Campuses! 

Come see what a typical student day is like. You will have the opportunity to learn about our academic programs, tour the residence halls, and take a student-led tour of campus. Our friendly TOUR Ambassadors are happy to assist you in planning a personalized campus visit.

360-Degree Tour of Campus

We understand many of you can't make it to Oregon for a visit. We have a variety of live virtual tours and information sessions or you can take a few moments to take a virtual campus tour where we can show you some of our favorite spots on campus.

Virtual Walking Tour of Campus

Use our mobile application to take a walking tour of the Corvallis campus from your home or when you visit Corvallis. The Guidebook app is free and easy to use. Learn about Oregon State whenever it’s convenient for you!

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