Oregon State University

Corvallis, Oregon

ACCEPTED

SETTING

Mid-size college town, 90 min from Portland

SIZE

Large (30,000+ students)

ACADEMIC RIGOR

Very High

Environmental Programs

Environmental Engineering

B.S. (ABET-accredited)

  • Part of School of Chemical, Biological & Environmental Engineering
  • Rigorous program: civil/chemical engineering, water treatment, air quality
  • Strong research focus

Environmental Sciences

B.S.

  • Through College of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS)
  • Interdisciplinary: geography, oceanography, atmospheric science
  • Online option available
  • Excellent for graduate school preparation

Campus & Nature

Located in the Willamette Valley with access to mountains and coast

  • Cascade Mountains nearby
  • Coast Range access
  • Willamette River
  • Research ship for marine science

Academic Rigor

R1 research university with rigorous STEM programs

  • R1 research university (highest research activity)
  • Strong STEM reputation
  • Rigorous engineering programs
  • Excellent graduate school placement

Liberal Arts Access

  • Large research university with extensive liberal arts offerings
  • Full access to economics, political science, history, philosophy
  • Strong language programs and arts colleges
  • Complete breadth across all disciplines

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ABET-accredited environmental engineering
  • R1 research opportunities
  • Strong STEM and graduate school preparation
  • Large university resources
  • Access to both mountains and coast

Cons

  • Large school size may feel impersonal
  • Engineering-heavy focus (less liberal arts)
  • Competitive environment

Student Voices

Real perspectives from students and alumni on third-party review sites

What Students Love

"The ECE program is hands on and practical with the labs and projects that actually help you learn. Professors within the program are all amazing. Corvallis is also a super chill town to live in."

— Sophomore, 23 days ago

What Students Love

"There is a 'Beaver Nation' spirit that brings everyone together, making the campus feel like a tight-knit community despite its size. It's a place where you can truly be yourself."

— Freshman, 2 months ago

Common Complaint

"When he reached out to the mental health and counseling department, they didn't follow up. There was a suicide in the building where his dorm was located. I contacted the counseling department but their response was to refer me to their standardized procedures, with no personal attention at all."

— Parent, 3 months ago