Oregon State University

Former name	see "Early names"
Motto	"Out there"[1]
Type	Public land-grant research university
Established	October 27, 1868; 155 years ago (October 27, 1868) (official designated charter day)
Accreditation	NWCCU
Academic affiliations	HECC ORAU Sea-grant Space-grant Sun-grant
Endowment	$819.6 million (2021)[2]
Budget	$1.1 billion[3]
President	Jayathi Murthy[4]
Provost	Edward Feser
Total staff	4,700 (Spring 2023)[5]
Students	37,121 (Spring 2023)[6]
Undergraduates	32,014 (Spring 2023)[7]
Postgraduates	4,439 (Spring 2023)[8]
Doctoral students	1,458 (Spring 2023)[9]
Location	Corvallis , Oregon , United States 44°33′50″N 123°16′29″W / 44.5639°N 123.2747°W / 44.5639; -123.2747
Campus	Small city, 400 acres (160 ha)
Other campuses	Bend Portland Newport
Newspaper	The Daily Barometer
Colors	Orange and black[10]
Nickname	Beavers
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FBS – Pac-12 MPSF
Mascot	Benny Beaver
Website	www.oregonstate.edu
ASN	4201

Oregon State University (OSU) is a public land-grant research university based in Corvallis, Oregon. OSU offers more than 200 undergraduate-degree programs along with a variety of graduate and doctoral degrees through all 11 colleges. It has the seventh-largest engineering college in the nation for 2023.^[11] Undergraduate enrollment for all colleges combined averages over 32,000 while an additional 5,000 students are engaged in post-graduate coursework through the university.^[12] In 2023, over 37,000 students were enrolled at OSU – making it the largest university in the state. Out-of-state students typically make up over one-quarter of the student body. Since its founding, over 272,000 students have graduated from OSU.^[13] The university is classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an "...R1: Doctoral University," with "...very high research activity."^[14]

Chartered as a land-grant university initially, OSU became one of the four inaugural members of the Sea Grant in 1971.^[15] Memberships in the Space Grant and Sun Grant research consortias were awarded in 1991 and 2003, making it one of only three schools in the nation to be designated a land, sun, sea and space grant university.^[16] OSU received a record high $449.9 million in research funding for the 2022 fiscal year and has ranked as the state's top earner in research funding for over 50 years.^[17] OSU is also one of the top five doctoral university destinations in the nation for Fulbright Scholars (2022–2023).^[18] US News & World Report ranks OSU's online Ecampus fourth nationally (2024). The Ecampus has held a top-10-ranking since 2015.^[19]

History

The 1800s

The university's roots date to 1856, when it was founded as a primary and preparatory community school known as Corvallis Academy. The school's first teacher and principal was John Wesley Johnson, a famous figure in Oregon higher education. Johnson received his secondary education in Corvallis and his undergraduate from Pacific University before working at the new academy. He later attended Yale University and became an instrumental figure in the development and administration of several other early Oregon colleges.^[20] Within a decade of its inception, college-level coursework was added to the academy's curriculum, making it the first public college in the region and a magnet for Oregon's young adults seeking a profession.^[21] The university adopted eight name variations during the 1800s and three more in the 1900s. As with many land-grant colleges, name changes were common around the start of the 20th century and helped schools align with the period's largest available federal grants in agricultural research.^[22][23][24]

Early names

Year	Name
1856	Corvallis Academy
1858	Corvallis College[a]
1872	Corvallis State Agricultural College
1876	State Agricultural College
1881	Corvallis Agricultural College
1882	Corvallis College
1886	State Agricultural College of Oregon
1890	Oregon Agricultural College
1927	Oregon State Agricultural College
1937	Oregon State College
1961	Oregon State University
^ Unofficial name: 1868-1885[25]

Corvallis area Freemasons played a leading role in developing the early school. Several of the university's largest buildings are named after these early founders.^[26][27] The school offered its first college-level curriculum in 1865, under the administration of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and the school's first president, William A. Finley.^[28]

On August 22, 1868, the official articles of incorporation were filed for Oregon State University, known then as Corvallis College. Two months later, on October 27, 1868, OSU was chartered as the state's first public college. To help ensure the early college would be well funded, the Oregon Legislative Assembly designated it Oregon's Land-grant university and the "agricultural college of the state of Oregon". Acceptance of this grant required the college to comply with the requirements set forth in the Morrill Land-Grant Acts. The school was then authorized to grant Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees. The first graduating class was in 1870, with Bachelor of Arts degrees. In 1872, the name of the school was changed to Corvallis State Agricultural College. As the school's name changed so did its mission. Coursework in the sciences and technology became the most popular majors starting in 1900.^[29]

The 1900s

In 1914, the Oregon State Board of Higher Education, known then as the State Board of Higher Curricula, began assigning specific colleges to Oregon State University and the University of Oregon in an effort to eliminate duplication. "...the board confined studies in engineering and commerce to the Corvallis campus and major work in the liberal arts and related subjects to the University of Oregon in Eugene. This was the first in a series of actions to make the curricula of the two schools separate and distinct."^[30][31] In 1929 the legislative assembly passed the Oregon Unification Bill, which placed Oregon's public colleges under greater oversight of the newly renamed Oregon State Board of Higher Education. A doctorate in education was first offered in the early 1930s, with the conferral of four Doctor of Philosophy degrees in 1935. That year also saw the creation of the first summer session. The growing diversity in degrees offered by the college led leaders to adopt the name "Oregon State College" in 1937.^[32]

The name Oregon State University was adopted on March 6, 1961, by a legislative act signed into law by Governor Mark Hatfield.^[33]

Campuses and educational outlets

Main campus (Corvallis)

The 420-acre (170 ha), tree-lined main campus serves as an internationally recognized arboretum and the centerpiece of Corvallis, Oregon.^[34] The campus is 83 miles south of Portland, near the middle of the state's Willamette Valley. Much of the main campus was designed by landscape architect John Charles Olmsted in 1906. In 2008, Olmsted's early campus design was designated by the National Register of Historic Places as the Oregon State University Historic District.^[35] It is the only college or university campus in Oregon to hold a historic district designation.^[36][37] The Memorial Union was designed by OSU alum and renowned Oregon architect, Lee Arden Thomas. It has been recognized as "one of the finest examples of neoclassical architecture in Oregon."^[38]

OSU-Cascades (Bend)

In 2016 OSU completed the construction of a 10-acre branch campus in Bend. This campus is called OSU-Cascades and offers students living in Oregon's central region an opportunity to attend select classes closer to their homes.^[39]

As of 2023, the branch campus stretches across 30 acres in southwest Bend, with options to grow into 90 more acres of OSU-owned land nearby. The latest goal is to attract around 5,000 students per year within the next decade. As of 2023, enrollment was around 1,400 students.

Ecampus (online)

Oregon State offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs made up from a selection of over 1,500 online courses in more than 110 subjects.^[40] US News & World Report ranks OSU's online Ecampus fourth nationally (2024). The Ecampus has held a top-10-ranking since 2015.^[41] In 2021 College Choice ranked the Ecampus college of liberal arts program the best in the nation.^[42] The same faculty teaching on campus also teach many of their programs and courses online through the Oregon State University Ecampus website. Students who pursue an online education at Oregon State earn the same diploma and transcript as on-campus students.^[43]

OSU Portland Center (offices, classrooms and meeting spaces)

In 2017, Oregon State University's Portland headquarters were relocated to the newly renovated Meier & Frank building. The historic building features modern offices, classrooms and meeting spaces; which fill the entire second floor of what is now known as the Portland Building.

Located next to downtown Portland's Pioneer Square, the OSU Portland Center accommodates offices for the OSU Extension Service, the OSU Foundation, the OSU Alumni Association, and the OSU Athletics Department. The downtown building provides the university with a more central location, in the state's largest city, to maintain a base of operations. Aside from offices, the second floor also provides classroom space for teaching, research and meeting space for outreach engagement - similar to the work at OSU's other campuses in Corvallis and Bend. Executives and university scientists working on major initiatives, such as the Marine Studies Initiative, use the space for lectures and international conferences.

The OSU Portland Center is also an important part of the OSU Advantage partnership. The partnership brings members of private industry, from throughout the world, to Portland to discuss proposed commercialization initiatives.^[44]

Hatfield Marine Science Center (Newport)

Recognized as one of the top marine laboratories in the nation, OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center has been a fixture in Newport, Oregon for over 50 years.^[45][46][47] The campus serves as an oceanographic research base for six state and federal agencies and also a resource for K-12 educators and the public. OSU's agriculture, oceanography and marine science students have an opportunity to serve as summer interns at the Newport campus, while post-graduate students participate in a wide array of research programs year-round.

A $16.5 million project to build a 34,000-square-foot dormitory for OSU's post-graduate students, staff and visiting professionals was approved in 2023. The complex will include 70+ studio-style apartments and a small number of two-bedroom apartments near the Newport campus.

Organization and administration

Colleges and schools

All academic courses at OSU operate under the quarter-system, which breaks down into four, 11-week terms. The professional disciplines taught at OSU are divided among 11 colleges, an honors college, and a graduate school. Each college has a dean who is responsible for all faculty, staff, students and academic programs. Colleges are divided either into schools or departments, administered by a chair/head/director who oversees program coordinators. Each school or department is responsible for academic programs leading to degrees, certificates, options or minors.

Educational extension

The OSU Educational Extension is a section for non-students and adult education.

Extension Service

The OSU Extension service is an agricultural extension established on July 24, 1911,^[48] under the leadership of Vice Provost Ivory W. Lyles (OSU Extension Service Administration).^[49] There are OSU Extension offices, Combined Experiment & Oregon Agricultural Experiment Stations, and Branch Experiment Stations located throughout the state.^[50] Programs include 4-H Youth Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources (includes OSU Master Gardener), Family and Community Health/SNAP-Ed, Forestry and Natural Resources, OSU Open Campus, K-12 Outdoor School, and Oregon Sea Grant.^[51]

Funding

Together with university leaders, the Oregon State University Foundation publicly launched Oregon State's first comprehensive fundraising campaign, The Campaign for OSU, on October 26, 2007, with a goal of $625 million.^[52] Donors exceeded the goal in October 2010 nearly a year ahead of schedule, resulting in a goal increase to $850 million. In March 2012, the goal was raised to $1 billion.^[53] At OSU's annual State of the University address in Portland on January 31, 2014, President Edward J. Ray announced that campaign contributions had passed $1 billion, making OSU one of 35 public universities to cross the billion-dollar fundraising mark and one of only two organizations in the Pacific Northwest to reach that milestone.^[54][55][56] The Campaign for OSU concluded on December 31, 2014, with more than $1.1 billion from 106,000 donors.^[57]

The Oregon State University Foundation is a nonprofit organization chartered to raise and administer private funds in support of the university's education, research and outreach, governed by a volunteer board of trustees.^[58] It holds net assets exceeding $1 billion and manages most of the university's composite endowment, valued at more than $827 million.

In October 2022, the Foundation publicly launched Believe It: The Campaign for OSU, the university’s second comprehensive fundraising and engagement campaign, with a $1.75 billion goal for student and faculty support, facilities and equipment and strategic initiatives. Donors have stepped forward with over $1 billion in gifts since the campaign began in 2017.

International partnerships

Oregon State has varied and numerous^[59] partnership agreements with international institutions, including James Cook University in Australia, the University of Forestry in Bulgaria, Lincoln University in New Zealand and India's Gokula Education Foundation.^[60]

Academics

Undergraduate admissions

Undergraduate admission to Oregon State is rated "selective" by U.S. News & World Report.^[61] OSU is the largest university in the state and set a new record for enrollment in 2023. Close to 37,000 students attended the university during the year - the most for any Oregon school on record.^[62]

For fall 2015, OSU received 14,058 freshman applications; 11,016 were admitted (78.4%) and 3,593 enrolled.^[63] Fall of 2022 brought in the largest freshman class the university had seen, with 7,146 new students.^[64] The average high school grade point average (GPA) of the enrolled freshmen was 3.58, while the middle 50% range of SAT scores were 480-610 for critical reading, 490-630 for math, and 470-590 for writing.^[63] The middle 50% range of the ACT Composite score was 21–28.^[63]

Annual Incoming Student Cohort Statistics, 2011–2017

	2011[65]	2012[66]	2013[67]	2014[68]	2015[63]	2016[69]
Applicants	12,197	12,330	14,239	14,115	14,058	14,595
Admissions	9,471	9,720	11,303	10,975	11,016	11,308
% Admitted	77.7	78.8	79.4	77.8	78.4	77.5
Enrolled	3,506	3,333	3,970	3,718	3,593	3,814
Median GPA	3.56	3.56	3.56	3.59	3.58	3.67
Combined SAT (max. 2400)[i]	N/A	1430-1810	1430-1810	1440-1820	1440-1830	1460-1830
ACT Composite (max. 36)[i]	21-27	21-27	21-27	21-28	21-28	22-28
^ a b Ranges shown represent the thresholds for the second quartile (25%) and top quartile (75%) of all scores submitted that year.

Teaching

OSU has more majors, minors and special programs than any other university or college in Oregon.^[70]

Research

Research has played a central role in the university's overall operations for much of its history.^{[72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81]} Most of OSU's research continues at the Corvallis campus, but an increasing number of endeavors are underway at locations throughout the state and abroad. Research facilities beyond the campus include the John L. Fryer Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory in Corvallis,^[82] the Seafood Laboratory in Astoria and the Food Innovation Laboratory in Portland.^[83]

The 2005 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognized OSU as a "comprehensive doctoral with medical/veterinary" university. It is one of three such universities in the Pacific Northwest to be classified in this category. In 2006, Carnegie also recognized OSU as having "very high research activity", making it the only university in Oregon to attain these combined classifications.^[84]

OSU was one of the early members of the federal Space Grant program.^[85] Designated in 1991, the additional grant program made Oregon State one of only 13 schools in the United States at that time to serve as a combined Land Grant, Sea Grant and Space Grant university.

The university's College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS) operates several laboratories, including the Hatfield Marine Science Center and multiple oceanographic research vessels based in Newport.^[86] CEOAS is co-leading the largest ocean science project in U.S. history. The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) features a fleet of undersea gliders at six sites in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans with multiple observation platforms.^[87] CEOAS is also leading the design and construction of the next class of ocean-faring research vessels for the National Science Foundation, which will be the largest grant or contract ever received by any Oregon university.^[88] The first of three planned research vessels, the Taani, was launched in May 2023 and will be stationed in Newport, Oregon.

OSU also manages nearly 11,250 acres (4,550 ha) of forest land, including the McDonald-Dunn Research Forest.^[89]

In 1967 the Radiation Center was constructed at the edge of campus, housing a 1.1 MW TRIGA Mark II Research Reactor. The reactor is equipped to utilize Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) for fuel. U.S. News & World Report's 2008 rankings placed OSU eighth in the nation in graduate nuclear engineering. In the early 2000s, researchers at the campus reactor developed the first working prototype Small Modular Reactor (SMR) to power large commercial operations, buildings, and large industrial facilities. More recently, Oregon State University has partnered with a leading manufacturer of SMRs, NuScale, to provide continued research and development for commercial applications.^[90]

The university's College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS) operates several laboratories, including the Hatfield Marine Science Center and multiple oceanographic research vessels based in Newport. In 2001, OSU's Wave Research Laboratory was designated by the National Science Foundation as a site for tsunami research under the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation. The O. H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory is on the edge of the campus and is one of the world's largest and most sophisticated laboratories for education, research and testing in coastal, ocean and related areas.^[91]

Oregon State University operates two off-shore research test facilities near Newport, Oregon for commercial wave energy technology companies to stress test prototypes.^[92] The North and South PacWave Energy Test Facilities are located several miles off the coast of Newport and serviced by the university's Hatfield Marine Science Center. The South PacWave Test Facility is an open ocean test site consisting of four berths, which occupy two square nautical miles of ocean with a cable route to shore of approximately 12 miles in length. The North PacWave Test Facility offers a site in state waters with streamlined permitting (the expected time to permit is under one year). The site is shallower than PacWave South and closer to port.^{[93][94][95][96]}

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences funds two research centers at OSU. The Environmental Health Sciences Center^[97] has been funded since 1969 and the Superfund Research Center^[98] has been funded since 2009.

OSU administers the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, a United States Forest Service facility dedicated to forestry and ecology research. The Andrews Forest is a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve.

OSU's Open Source Lab is a nonprofit founded in 2003 and funded in part by corporate sponsors that include Facebook, Google, and IBM.^{[99][100][101]} The organization's goal is to advance open source technology by hiring and training students in software development and operations for large-scale coding projects. The lab hosts a number of projects, including contracted work for the Linux Foundation.^[99][102]

Military

Oregon State University is one of the few universities to have ROTC detachments for each branch of the US Military. Oregon State University Army ROTC is a distinguished program and has been taught regularly since 1873. The so-called Beaver Battalion is known as the West Point of the West for producing more commissioned officers than any other non-military school during World War II.^[103] It is located in McAlexander Fieldhouse, named after General Ulysses G. McAlexander, the former commander of Army ROTC.

After the Second World War ended in 1945, a Department of Naval Science was added at Oregon State. Providing officer training for both the US Navy and the US Marine Corps, it became one of the largest in the nation and has earned the unofficial title "Naval Academy of the Northwest."^[104] On July 1, 1949, the US Army Air Corps training branch became a separate officer training unit later known as Aerospace Science. The Oregon State Air Force ROTC draws more freshmen scholarships than any other AFROTC unit in the nation and has had over 1,000 officers commissioned. In 1977, two graduates of the OSU AFROTC became the first women pilots in the Air Force.^[105] The Army and Air Force ROTC programs at the university share the McAlexander Fieldhouse.

Libraries

In 1999, OSU finished a $40 million remodeling of the campus library. Known as the Valley Library, the remodeled building was selected by The Library Journal as its 1999 Library of the Year, the first academic library so named.^[106]

Rankings and recognition

In 2023, the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) ranked Oregon State University in the top 1.4 percent out of 20,531 degree-granting institutions of higher education worldwide.^[107] The CWUR is known for relying heavily on outcome-based data to compile their rankings.

In 2021, U.S. News & World Report ranked OSU tied for 139th nationally, tied for 71st top public and tied for 58th "most innovative" university in the U.S., and tied for 277th best globally.^[108]

In its 2021 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) ranked Oregon State University's oceanography program 5th in the world, its agricultural sciences program in the top 50 worldwide, and its earth sciences, ecology and water resources program among the top 100 worldwide.^[109]

Agriculture and forestry at Oregon State University rank 26th in the world (11th in the U.S.), according to QS World University Rankings in 2021.^[110]

In 2012, ECONorthwest conducted an economic impact analysis that found that each year OSU has a $2.06 billion economic footprint. $1.93 billion of this total was in the state of Oregon.^[111][112]