Home / Worth-It Scores / Oregon / Oregon State
Is Oregon State University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Oregon State, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Workable
Oregon State lands in the workable band for a typical family. Median debt of $21,221 can be carried by median long-run earnings of $64,010, but the margin is not huge. For context, Oregon State's net price sits about 66% above the typical 4-year, public school and near the top of its sector range. This is the kind of school where your actual aid offer can move the answer meaningfully.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$21,868
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis significantly impacts your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $8,714 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $35,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$19,604
Median earnings 10 years out
$64,010
Median debt at graduation
$21,221
Graduation rate
70%
At Oregon State, a typical graduate carries about $21,221 in student debt and earns roughly $64,010 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $241 per month, or 5% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Oregon State is a public four year school in Corvallis, OR. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR
Worth-It Score: 68/100
Median net price: $22,182
Public 4-year
Western Oregon
Monmouth, OR
Worth-It Score: 56/100
Median net price: $17,237
Public 4-year
Eastern Oregon
La Grande, OR
Worth-It Score: 53/100
Median net price: $17,148
Public 4-year
Southern Oregon
Ashland, OR
Worth-It Score: 54/100
Median net price: $16,732
Public 4-year
Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR
Worth-It Score: 72/100
Median net price: $15,706
Common questions about Oregon State
The median net price at Oregon State is $19,604 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in Oregon? See the most affordable public universities in Oregon →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →