Oregon State University
Oregon State University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Oregon State University at a Glance
Oregon State University (OSU) is a public land-grant research university in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university enrolls over 32,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students. OSU offers more than 200 undergraduate degree programs, and graduate and doctoral degrees through all of its 11 colleges. It has been classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an R1 Doctoral University, designating "very high research spending and doctorate production". As of 2025, OSU is home to the fifth-larg…
1868
158 years old
$1.0B
$1.01 billion (2025)
37,121
32,014 undergrad · 4,439 grad
560 acres
Identity
How to Apply to Oregon State University
Official admissions pageNovember 3 (Early Action)
$65
Is Oregon State University Worth It?
Oregon State University offers moderate value at $19,604/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $64,010, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 70% graduation rate means roughly 30% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Oregon State University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #21 of 33 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 100 | $11,531 | $71,902 |
| #2 | San Jose State University | 96 | $13,760 | $78,988 |
| #3 | University of Illinois Chicago | 95 | $10,974 | $68,740 |
| #4 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #5 | University of California-Riverside | 90 | $14,304 | $67,699 |
| #6 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | 87 | $16,778 | $69,020 |
| #21 | Oregon State University | 57 | $19,604 | $64,010 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Oregon State University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Oregon State University
The highest-earning program at Oregon State University is Computer Science at $69,600/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Zoology/Animal Biology at $20,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from Oregon State University earns $69,600, while a Zoology/Animal Biology graduate earns $20,700. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Science graduates carry $21,875 in median debt vs. $21,730 for Zoology/Animal Biology.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $19,604/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $69,600 | $69,600 | $21,875 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $69,300 | $69,300 | $26,000 |
| Construction Engineering | $68,500 | $68,500 | $31,000 |
| Industrial Engineering | $65,900 | $65,900 | $24,500 |
| Engineering, Other | $62,300 | $62,300 | $29,066 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $61,200 | $61,200 | $21,933 |
| Civil Engineering | $60,000 | $60,000 | $23,566 |
| Chemical Engineering | $57,900 | $57,900 | $22,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $50,100 | $50,100 | $24,500 |
| Forest Engineering | $48,800 | $48,800 | $22,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $48,500 | $48,500 | $25,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $45,000 | $45,000 | $25,000 |
| Forestry | $44,500 | $44,500 | $29,166 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $42,900 | $42,900 | $23,000 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $42,800 | $42,800 | $20,080 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $42,100 | $42,100 | $15,000 |
| Marketing | $41,300 | $41,300 | $21,042 |
| Food Science and Technology | $39,000 | $39,000 | $25,000 |
| Natural Sciences | $38,900 | $38,900 | $19,250 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services | $36,900 | $36,900 | $21,000 |
| Chemistry | $36,700 | $36,700 | $23,504 |
| Education, General | $36,200 | $36,200 | $27,000 |
| Economics | $36,100 | $36,100 | $23,094 |
| Public Health | $35,200 | $35,200 | $23,207 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $33,500 | $33,500 | $25,300 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $32,600 | $32,600 | $25,000 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $32,400 | $32,400 | $25,000 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $32,400 | $32,400 | $21,526 |
| Sociology | $32,200 | $32,200 | $21,500 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $32,000 | $32,000 | $24,985 |
| History | $31,700 | $31,700 | $23,246 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $31,200 | $31,200 | $21,500 |
| Anthropology | $31,000 | $31,000 | $27,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $31,000 | $31,000 | $19,260 |
| Plant Sciences | $30,900 | $30,900 | $24,231 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $30,500 | $30,500 | $23,241 |
| Mathematics | $29,200 | $29,200 | $21,083 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $29,200 | $29,200 | $19,500 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies | $29,100 | $29,100 | $22,317 |
| Agriculture, General | $28,600 | $28,600 | $19,500 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $28,600 | $28,600 | $24,500 |
| Psychology, General | $28,600 | $28,600 | $22,849 |
| Biology, General | $28,200 | $28,200 | $25,000 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $28,000 | $28,000 | $24,177 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $27,700 | $27,700 | $24,864 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $27,700 | $27,700 | $21,500 |
| Natural Resources Management and Policy | $26,900 | $26,900 | $28,775 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $25,800 | $25,800 | $24,000 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $25,500 | $25,500 | $23,500 |
| Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management | $24,800 | $24,800 | $25,111 |
| Animal Sciences | $24,100 | $24,100 | $23,500 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $22,800 | $22,800 | $25,000 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $20,700 | $20,700 | $21,730 |
Similar Colleges in OR
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Corvallis, OR
- Student Body
- 30,743 students
- Admission Rate
- 77%
- Graduation Rate
- 70%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $19,604
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $64,010
- Median Student Debt
- $21,221