Oregon State University

Established in 1856 as a primary and preparatory community school called Corvallis Academy, Oregon State University (OSU) is an internationally renowned public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon. The school became the first public college in the area within a decade of its founding when college-level coursework was added to its curriculum, making it popular among young adults in Oregon seeking to build different careers. Since its founding, the institution has had 11 different names. The present name was chosen on March 6, 1961.

Today, the university is committed to providing access to high-quality education for students from all backgrounds. The on-campus enrollment averages nearly 34,000 students, making it the state’s largest university. US News & World Report 2021 ranked OSU as the 58th ‘most innovative’ university in the US. 

Oregon State University has numerous nationally and internationally famous alumni who have made significant contributions to their fields. Linus Pauling, a scientist and peace activist, is one of over 210,000 OSU alumni. Pauling is the sole recipient of two unshared Nobel Prizes, one in chemistry and one in peace. Other notable alumni of the university include Peggy Cherng, founder of the American food chain, Panda Express; Douglas Engelbart, inventor of the first computer mouse; and many more. 

Courses and Faculty

OSU offers over 200 undergraduate degree programs and 100 graduate and doctoral degrees across its two campuses, 12 experiment stations, 11 colleges, and a graduate school and honors college. 

The course offerings are constantly evolving to meet the needs of today’s students. There are courses in every subject imaginable, from accounting to zoology. According to the QS World University Rankings 2022 by subject, Oregon State University possesses prowess in the fields of agriculture and forestry: it occupies the 26th position globally and 11th in the US. Other popular majors include biological sciences, Earth and marine sciences, environmental studies, and education and training. 

In addition to on-campus learning, over 1500 courses are offered online or in a hybrid format, thereby, combining online learning with traditional face-to-face imparting of education. This allows students to have more flexibility in their schedules while still receiving a top-notch education from OSU professors. The university’s online bachelor’s degree programmes were ranked fourth nationally by US News & World Report 2021. 

Research at OSU 

OSU is renowned for excellence in education, research, and community engagement. It is 

consistently ranked in the Carnegie Foundation Classification’s ‘R1: Doctoral University– a very high research activity’ category. Only institutions that conduct extensive research activities and invest significant financial resources in them are granted this classification.  Matching up to this standing, OSU’s total expenditure was $1.236 billion in 2021. 

Since 2010, it has also received the honour of a  ‘Community Engagement’ university: making Oregon State University one of the only 28 institutions in the country to hold both designations. Furthermore, the university has been rated as the state’s top earner in research money for over 50 decades and received a record-high $449.9 million in funding for the fiscal year 2022.  

The faculty here has contributed immensely in various fields. Even movies. Jurassic Park, the popular science fiction book and movie franchise, was inspired by OSU’s Entomology professor George Poinar Jr’s research on obtaining DNA from insects fossilized in amber. 

Fees and Scholarships 

The tuition cost for a non-resident undergraduate for 2022-23 is $49,221. In comparison, the estimated tuition fee for a non-resident graduate is $30,357. Many scholarships and fee waivers are available to students, making OSU further accessible to students from all economic backgrounds. The variety of scholarships includes academic, athletic, and special-interest awards. In addition to this, there are several fee waivers available for qualifying students. These waivers can reduce or eliminate tuition costs considerably.

Some of the popular scholarships for international students include

• Provost’s Scholarships for Excellence
• Honorary Scholarship For Leadership
• Regional Scholarship
• South Asian Regional Award
• Latin American Regional Award
• Southeast Asia and Indochina Regional Award 
• Europe and Central Asia Regional Award
• International Student Continuation Scholarship

The best way to learn more about scholarships and fee waivers is to contact the financial aid office or visit the OSU website. Also, the financial aid office can help determine if you qualify for any available scholarships or fee waivers, and can help you apply for various awards. 

Careers and Placements

Oregon State University provides an excellent interdisciplinary education that will prepare you for any career path you choose. You will also develop critical thinking skills and practical experience through research, internships, or study abroad opportunities. For instance, the Open Source Lab at OSU is a non-profit organisation created in 2003 and partially supported by corporate sponsors like Facebook, Google, and IBM. It prepares OSU students for large-scale IT projects in software development and operations. 

The university’s alums are known for their ability to make a difference in the world. Many are successful founders of companies like Nvidia and U-haul. John A. Young, the former president and CEO of Hewlett-Packard (HP), is also an alum of OSU. The average salary of an OSU graduate is $110,000. 

Assisting its students in improving their professional skills, OSU’s Career Services Center provides workshops on resume writing, networking, and interviewing skills. OSU website also has a section called ‘Career Exploration’, which includes information about different careers and job and internship postings. 

Admission Requirements 

Oregon State is a selective school, according to US News & World Report. The admissions process is highly competitive, and only the most qualified students are accepted. Admission requirements for Oregon state university include:

• An excellent academic record: a GPA of 3 or above on a scale of 4.  
• Scores secured on standardised tests such as GMAT and GRE
• Proof of English Proficiency through IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or other recognised tests. 
• A CV or resume
• An essay or Statement of Purpose
• Letters of recommendation

Oregon State University is the place for you if you want a high-quality education and wish to learn from some of the best minds in the world. Also, the availability of resources on campus supports students’ lives in every aspect: from academics to fitness to cultural activities. Therefore, we hope that the information presented in this article will help you make an informed choice about applying to Oregon State University. Good luck!