Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a public land-grant research university in Corvallis and the largest university in Oregon, enrolling more than 31,000 undergraduates. Admission is accessible by flagship standards — about 79% of roughly 29,000 applicants earn an offer, and enrolled first-years post an average high school GPA near 3.7 with middle-50% SAT scores of 1130–1360. Computer science leads the degrees conferred at about 17%, trailed closely by engineering and business, and the university carries deep strengths in forestry, oceanography, and agricultural sciences rooted in its land-grant mission. Oregon State stays test-optional and draws 43% of its first-years from outside Oregon, many through the Western Undergraduate Exchange tuition discount.
See how Oregon State compares
Pick up to two rivals — or search any school.
Oregon State admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Action
Oregon State offers non-binding Early Action — an earlier decision with no commitment to enroll.
Standardized Tests
Oregon State is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Oregon State's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 53% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Oregon State does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Oregon State weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Oregon State's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $26,715 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
Writing your Oregon State application essay?
Esslo gives you line-by-line feedback on your Common App and supplemental essays — so your application stands out at Oregon State and beyond.
Frequently asked questions about Oregon State admissions
What is Oregon State's acceptance rate?＋
Oregon State admitted about 78.9% of applicants in the most recent cycle, drawing roughly 29,000 applications and enrolling around 4,500 first-year students. The university is accessible for a major research flagship, though admission to selective programs such as engineering and the Honors College runs tighter than the overall rate.
Is it harder to get into Oregon State from out of state?＋
Slightly. Oregon State admitted 85% of in-state applicants and 77% of out-of-state applicants in Fall 2024, so residents hold a modest edge. State residency is not weighed in the admissions review itself, and out-of-state students make up 43% of the first-year class, so non-residents are admitted in large numbers.
What are my chances of getting into Oregon State as an international student?＋
International admission is the most competitive path: Oregon State admitted about 30% of international applicants in Fall 2024, well below the 85% in-state and 77% out-of-state rates. International students made up roughly 1,400 applicants and 113 enrolled first-years, so the pool is small but selective compared to domestic applicants.
What GPA do you need to get into Oregon State?＋
Enrolled first-years average about a 3.7 high school GPA, and academic GPA ranks as a very important factor in Oregon State's review, with the rigor of your course load weighed just behind it. There is no hard cutoff, and 99% of enrolled students reported a GPA, so strong grades in a challenging schedule make the clearest case.
Is a 1300 SAT good enough for Oregon State?＋
Yes, a 1300 is competitive at Oregon State. It sits above the 50th-percentile mark of 1270 and inside the middle 50% of enrolled first-years, who scored 1130–1360 on the SAT and 24–31 on the ACT. A 1300 puts you in solid shape relative to the typical admitted student.
Is Oregon State test-optional?＋
Yes, Oregon State is test-optional, so you can apply without SAT or ACT scores. Only about 12% of enrolled first-years submitted scores in the most recent class. If you do submit, scores are weighed as a considered factor rather than a very important one, behind GPA and course rigor.
How much does Oregon State cost in-state vs. out-of-state?＋
Annual tuition and required fees run about $16,032 for Oregon residents and $42,747 for out-of-state students. Roughly 47% of first-years receive need-based grant or scholarship aid, with an average first-year package near $21,077, and Oregon State participates in the Western Undergraduate Exchange, which discounts tuition for residents of many Western states.
What are the most popular majors at Oregon State?＋
Computer science leads at about 17% of bachelor's degrees, followed by engineering at 15% and business at 13%. As a land-grant university, Oregon State also confers a notable share of degrees in natural resources, the life sciences, and agriculture, reflecting longstanding strengths in forestry, oceanography, and environmental science.
Source: Oregon State University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-25. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Oregon State. Banner photo by Owen, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain).