Bend, OR · Private University
Is Oregon State University-Cascades Campus 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
$12,594
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$34,944
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$139,776
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
1.83x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
4.8 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
51.2%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$21,221
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$17,722
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
Oregon State University-Cascades Campus 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-Cascades Campus 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-Cascades Campus
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-Cascades Campus, the gap between the highest-earning major (Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering: $96,536) and the lowest (Music: $29,630) is $66,906/yr, bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringBest ROI | $96,536 | 2.8x |
| Computer Science | $94,403 | 2.7x |
| Construction Engineering | $93,310 | 2.7x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $84,855 | 2.4x |
| Nuclear Engineering | $82,731 | 2.4x |
| Industrial Engineering | $81,703 | 2.3x |
| Manufacturing Engineering | $81,549 | 2.3x |
| Civil Engineering | $79,707 | 2.3x |
| Chemical Engineering | $79,686 | 2.3x |
| Engineering, Other | $78,026 | 2.2x |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $73,795 | 2.1x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $72,376 | 2.1x |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $69,602 | 2.0x |
| Forest Engineering | $68,687 | 2.0x |
| 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 | 1.7x |
| 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 | 1.6x |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $54,008 | 1.6x |
| 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 | 1.4x |
| Anthropology | $47,280 | 1.4x |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $47,250 | 1.4x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $47,101 | 1.4x |
| 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 | 1.3x |
| Sociology | $43,929 | 1.3x |
| Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management | $43,598 | 1.3x |
| Biology, General | $42,163 | 1.2x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $41,182 | 1.2x |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $40,876 | 1.2x |
| 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 | 0.9x |
| MusicLowest(1yr data) | $29,630 | 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-Cascades Campus 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 4.8 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.