🎓 Oregon State University Scholarships & Financial Aid (2025–2026)
← Back to the Public University Scholarships hub • See Oregon state aid
- Tuition, housing, and what families actually pay on average
- Automatic merit and competitive scholarships for 2025–26
- Hidden-gem and departmental awards
- Honors and how to stack state, WUE, and need-based aid
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ≈ 78% (Fall 2024)
- Middle 50% GPA (weighted): 3.6–4.1
- Middle 50% SAT (prior cycles): 1140–1350
- Middle 50% ACT (prior cycles): 23–30
Source: Oregon State University Common Data Set 2024–25 and Office of Admissions.
Oregon State at a Glance
Last verified: October 9, 2025
Oregon State balances affordability with major-level excellence. It’s a land-grant R1 university known for engineering, environmental science, agriculture, and forestry—and for generous aid to high-achieving out-of-state students through WUE and automatic merit scholarships.
Strong students can combine the Provost’s Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship, and state WUE tuition reduction to make OSU surprisingly affordable compared to other PAC-12 schools.
FAQ
Does OSU offer automatic merit scholarships? Yes — awards like the Provost’s Scholarship are automatic based on GPA and residency.
What’s the average net price? Around $21,559 after grants and scholarships (College Scorecard 2025).
Is Oregon State test-optional? Yes — admission and merit aid decisions do not require SAT or ACT scores.
Does OSU participate in WUE? Yes — many majors offer WUE discounts to students from partner Western states.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Oregon State University (2025–2026)
Oregon State’s tuition is set by term (quarter system), with three terms in a standard academic year. Here’s what families can expect to pay before scholarships, grants, or tuition discounts are applied.
| Category | In-State (3 Terms) | Out-of-State (3 Terms) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Mandatory Fees Assumes 15 credits per term (undergraduate) |
$15,246 | $40,392 |
| Housing & Meals (average) | $17,205 | $17,205 |
| Estimated Total (On-Campus) | $36,747 | $61,893 |
Why we only show tuition & housing here: Oregon State’s official “cost of attendance” also includes allowances for books, transportation, and personal expenses, but those vary by student. The figures above show the main billed costs that differ most between residents and nonresidents.
❓ COA & WUE FAQs
Do I need to apply for WUE separately?
No — all eligible applicants from WUE states are automatically considered when they apply for admission. Awards are limited and competitive.
Who qualifies for WUE at Oregon State?
Admitted students from western states and territories participating in WUE, with a strong academic record and early application submission.
Can WUE stack with other scholarships?
Not with the nonresident Provost Scholarship, but many college- or department-based awards can still stack. OSU automatically applies the combination that results in the greatest savings.
✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships
Quick heads‑up for parents: Oregon State doesn’t publish true “automatic” merit awards (the kind where a specific GPA/test score guarantees a set dollar amount). The major scholarships here are reviewed competitively and will appear in the next section.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OSU lists no true automatic merit scholarships for 2025–2026. See 🏆 Competitive Scholarships for selective awards and 💰 Cost of Attendance for WUE tuition‑rate info. | |||||
Automatic Merit FAQ
Q: Why doesn’t OSU have automatic merit?
A: OSU evaluates scholarships competitively (holistic review, funding limits), so they don’t publish a guaranteed GPA/test grid.
Q: Is WUE automatic?
A: No. WUE is a competitive tuition‑rate scholarship for students from WUE states. It cannot be stacked with the Provost Scholarship. Details live in the COA section and competitive section.
Q: What should we do to maximize aid?
A: Apply by OSU’s earliest/priority deadlines, present a strong academic record and meaningful activities, and complete the FAFSA (and OSU’s scholarship portal) as soon as they open.
🏆 Competitive Scholarships
OSU automatically reviews all eligible admitted students for several merit-based scholarships—no extra application needed—based on GPA, coursework rigor, personal statements, and dates of admission.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presidential Scholarship (Resident Freshmen) | Up to $10,000/year (4-year total up to $40,000) | Oregon resident high school seniors; min ~3.85 UW GPA or 4.20 weighted GPA; apply by Feb 1 | No—automatic via admission | Yes—renewable for up to 4 years | Top ~1–2% of Oregon applicants, academic leaders, strong extracurricular profile |
| Finley Academic Excellence Scholarship (Resident Transfers) | Up to $2,000/year (renewable) | Oregon resident transfer students; transfer GPA ≈ 3.75+; apply by March 15 | No—automatic via admission | Yes—renewable for up to 4 years | Strong transfer GPA; likely upper quartile of applicants |
| Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Scholarship | Tuition reduced to 150% resident rate (~$22,869/year based on resident tuition) | Residents of WUE states/territories; apply by Feb 3; automatic competitive review | No—automatic via admission | Yes—up to 4 years | High-achieving non-resident applicants from WUE states; holistic admission review |
| Provost Scholarship (Nonresident Freshmen) | Up to $12,000/year (renewable 4 years) | Nonresidents (non-WUE); unweighted GPA ≈ 3.00+; apply by Feb 1 | No—automatic via admission | Yes—renewable for up to 4 years | Above-average academic record among out-of-state applicants (GPA 3.0+) |
Note: GPA thresholds and applicant profiles are approximate, based on OSU descriptions and typical award patterns. Official award offers may vary.
Competitive Scholarships FAQ
Q: Do I need to submit a separate scholarship application?
A: No. These awards are part of the admission review; no additional applications are required.
Q: What matters most?
A: Your GPA, rigor of courses, personal statement, and meeting the application deadline are key factors.
Q: Can Provost Scholarship stack with WUE?
A: No—the WUE scholarship and Provost Scholarship are mutually exclusive. If you qualify for WUE, OSU will evaluate WUE first; if not awarded WUE, you’ll be evaluated for Provost. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
🎖️ Oregon State University Honors College
The Oregon State University Honors College (HC) is a small, degree-granting college within OSU that offers a selective academic experience and an Honors Baccalaureate degree. Honors students get access to specialized courses, priority perks, and funding opportunities that can set them apart for grad school or competitive jobs.
- Unweighted GPA: ~3.75+ (weighted often 4.0+)*
- Strong course rigor: AP/IB, honors, or dual-enrollment
- Evidence of leadership, service, or unique projects
- Thoughtful, well-written application essays
*GPA estimate based on past profiles; actual admits vary by applicant pool and holistic review.
- Priority course registration and honors housing options
- Small seminar-style classes with OSU’s top faculty
- Dedicated Honors advising and career support
- Funding for research, internships, or study abroad
- Capstone thesis project with faculty mentorship
| Honors-Specific Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honors College DeLoach Scholarship | $1,000–$2,000/year | Admitted OSU Honors College students; selection based on academic merit and Honors application strength | No — considered after HC admission | Yes — maintain HC standing | High-GPA students with standout essays and involvement in leadership/service |
Honors College FAQ
Q: Is admission automatic for top GPA students?
A: No — all students must submit the OSU Honors College application, including essays. High GPA helps, but the review is holistic.
Q: Does Honors add time to graduation?
A: Not if planned well. The thesis requirement is built into your four-year plan with advisor help.
Q: Are there extra costs?
A: Yes — a modest per-term Honors fee, but many students offset this with Honors-specific scholarships.
Q: When should I apply?
A: Apply as early as possible — spots are limited and fill quickly. Deadlines often align with OSU’s early action/priority dates.
🎯 What Oregon State University Is Known For
Oregon State University (OSU) is the state’s largest public research institution and a public R1 Research University. As Oregon’s land-grant university, OSU is known for hands-on, science-driven programs in forestry, oceanography, engineering, and agricultural sciences. It’s one of only two U.S. universities with all four federal designations—land, sea, space, and sun grant—reflecting the breadth of its research impact.
Ranked the #1 forestry program in the United States and #2 globally (Center for World University Rankings 2025), OSU’s College of Forestry leads in sustainable forest management, wildfire science, and wood innovation. Its research helps shape policy and conservation worldwide.
- College of Engineering — Ranked among the Top 75 engineering programs nationally (U.S. News 2025) with standout departments in mechanical, civil, and computer engineering and a growing reputation in robotics and renewable energy.
- College of Agricultural Sciences — One of the Top 20 agricultural colleges in the nation, advancing food science, crop and soil management, and sustainability research across the Pacific Northwest.
- College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS) — Ranked #3 in the world for oceanography (CWUR 2025) and home to NOAA’s research fleet, driving major discoveries in marine and climate science.
- College of Business — AACSB-accredited and ranked among the Top 100 public business schools, known for entrepreneurship, marketing, and supply chain management.
- College of Education — Recognized for teacher preparation, STEM education, and rural outreach programs serving schools across Oregon.
- Honors College — One of the most established honors programs in the Pacific Northwest, offering research funding and small-seminar experiences at a major research university.