Corvallis, OR · Private University
Is Oregon State University Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$64,010
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$13,494
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$35,664
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$142,656
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
1.79x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
4.9 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
70.6%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$21,221
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$19,568
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
Oregon State University graduates earn $19,010 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at Oregon State University ranked by graduate earnings
118 graduates
723 graduates
121 graduates
248 graduates
23 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at Oregon State University
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings. Your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At Oregon State University, the gap between the highest-earning major (Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering: $96,536) and the lowest (Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences: $27,182) is $69,354/yr, bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringBest ROI | $96,536 | 2.7x |
| Computer Science | $94,403 | 2.6x |
| Construction Engineering | $93,310 | 2.6x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $84,855 | 2.4x |
| Nuclear Engineering | $82,731 | 2.3x |
| Industrial Engineering | $81,703 | 2.3x |
| Manufacturing Engineering | $81,549 | 2.3x |
| Civil Engineering | $79,707 | 2.2x |
| Chemical Engineering | $79,686 | 2.2x |
| Engineering, Other | $78,026 | 2.2x |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $73,795 | 2.1x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $72,376 | 2.0x |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $69,602 | 1.9x |
| Forest Engineering | $68,687 | 1.9x |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $67,829 | 1.9x |
| Economics | $63,764 | 1.8x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $63,726 | 1.8x |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $63,336 | 1.8x |
| Marketing | $63,235 | 1.8x |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $63,162 | 1.8x |
| Political Science and Government | $59,559 | 1.7x |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $59,456 | 1.7x |
| Mathematics | $58,658 | 1.6x |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $57,405 | 1.6x |
| Chemistry | $56,658 | 1.6x |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services | $56,356 | 1.6x |
| Agricultural Engineering(1yr data) | $54,095 | 1.5x |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $54,008 | 1.5x |
| Food Science and Technology | $52,585 | 1.5x |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $50,824 | 1.4x |
| Agriculture, General | $50,111 | 1.4x |
| Public Health | $50,070 | 1.4x |
| History | $50,046 | 1.4x |
| Design and Applied Arts | $49,469 | 1.4x |
| Physics(1yr data) | $48,169 | 1.4x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $48,116 | 1.4x |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies | $47,694 | 1.3x |
| Anthropology | $47,280 | 1.3x |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $47,250 | 1.3x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $47,101 | 1.3x |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $45,157 | 1.3x |
| Plant Sciences | $44,549 | 1.3x |
| Psychology, General | $44,498 | 1.3x |
| Animal Sciences | $44,079 | 1.2x |
| Sociology | $43,929 | 1.2x |
| Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management | $43,598 | 1.2x |
| Biology, General | $42,163 | 1.2x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $41,182 | 1.1x |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $40,876 | 1.1x |
| Natural Resources Management and Policy | $40,257 | 1.1x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $38,393 | 1.1x |
| Social Sciences, General(1yr data) | $35,590 | 1.0x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology(1yr data) | $34,566 | 1.0x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics(1yr data) | $34,510 | 1.0x |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $30,402 | 0.8x |
| Music(1yr data) | $29,630 | 0.8x |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related SciencesLowest(1yr data) | $27,182 | 0.8x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
The Bottom Line
Oregon State University offers solid financial returns relative to its cost. Graduates earn $64,010 10 years after starting, $19,010 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 4.9 years, faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.