Information for Parents and Families

General Resources

Oregon State offers some excellent resources for parents of future and current students. If your search for information started here, these are good resources to help you understand how OSU includes parents as an integral part of the university experience.

 

The Student Experience

Let’s start with some basic information about the College of Engineering (COE).

  • Since fall 2013, the average acceptance rate for COE is 83.4%. This percentage includes transfer, post-bacs, and readmitted students.
  • In fall 2018, the total COE undergraduate enrollment was 7,759 students (including OSU-Cascades, online, post-baccalaureate and non-degree undergraduates).
  • As of fall 2018, approximately 7.1% of COE students were in the Honor’s College. 
  • As of fall 2018, close to 15% of COE students had declared a minor. The most common minor among our students is the Business & Entrepreneurship minor. 

ACADEMICS

New undergraduate students will enter the College of Engineering under a general engineering program. Many new students will come to orientation knowing what major they want to pursue and can start taking classes for that major. Others will take the opportunity to learn more about engineering emphases and explore multiple majors. By the end of their first year, students will choose the engineering major that best fits their interests and long-term career goals.

As they progress through the undergraduate experience, College of Engineering advisors are assigned to each student to ensure they are on track with their planned programs. If there are situations where students require additional assistance with coursework, both the university and the college have a variety of academic support services.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

The transition to an undergraduate program can be difficult. Not only are there the physical challenges of new schedules, living in dorms, and proper eating, but students often encounter a variety of new experiences that may require support. Oregon State works to make sure that our students are supported in any way they need so as to make the college experience the most enjoyable and most rewarding that it can be.

CAREER PREPARATION

Oregon State understands the importance and goals of any undergraduate program in the path to a successful career. We make career planning and preparation top priorities for all of our students. Whether your student wants to move into the private sector or embark on a path of academic research, the university has a variety of resources available.

Because the College of Engineering has the largest undergraduate enrollment of any college at Oregon State and the career paths of our students are so specific, we offer additional services and opportunities that are unavailable elsewhere. We are especially proud of our alumni and Oregon industry efforts to provide a variety of internship opportunities for current students. With three college career fairs each year, many of our students graduate with job offers in hand.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

There is so much more to the undergraduate experience than just classes and lab work. The College of Engineering supports dozens of engineering student organizations. There are also numerous university activities and events that students can enjoy.

Extracurricular choices may affect the length of time to graduation, but there are often unique rewards from each experience. For example, an international internship or the choice to study abroad may add time to the college plan. Even if students remain in Oregon, some internship opportunities can extend beyond summer. However, these experiences often result in a more professional graduate who can secure better opportunities when starting their job search.

Early Saving and Planning

If you know your children will eventually attend college, start saving early. For a variety of reasons, college costs have risen over the past ten years and preparation is the best strategy. While there are a variety of aid, scholarship, and work-study programs available, many are highly competitive and some may not be available when it comes time to apply for college. Start your planning with research online or sit with a financial planner at your bank to come up with a strategy.

 

The Finances

Let’s start with some basic information about Oregon State (From U.S. News & World Report).

  • 51% of Oregon State students received need-based financial aid.
  • 62% of student financial needs were met through different sources of financial support.
  • 45% of undergraduates received a federal loan.
  • The COE awards more than $2 million in scholarships each year.

TUITION AND FEES

Please review tuition rates for the College of Engineering. There are slightly different rates for each of the colleges at Oregon State.

FINANCIAL AID

There are many sources of financial aid available to all Oregon State students. Oregon State uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your financial need and eligibility for various programs.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Fortunately, Oregon State offers merit-based scholarships, as well as need and non-need based financial aid. View the general timeline so that you don’t miss any important dates during your financial planning. For enigneering students, there are several scholarships available for specific majors. Below are some resources to help you navigate this process:

Many of our students also choose to participate in Oregon State’s Degree Partnership Program, a pathway to completing a university degree more quickly and more affordable. This program allows you to be jointly admitted and enrolled at Oregon State and any of our community college partner schools. 

PAID INTERNSHIPS AND WORK-STUDY

Internships are typically short-term work assignments related to your engineering program. While they can be paid or unpaid (academic credit), students are given the opportunity to develop the hands-on skills needed for a successful transition into the work place. Federal work-study funding helps provide part-time jobs for students with financial need. Being awarded Work-Study funds allows you to apply for jobs that specifically have the work-study designation. 

Corvallis, Oregon

Corvallis is a beautiful college town nestled in the heart of the Willamette Valley. An hour's drive from the Pacific Coast and two hours from the Cascades and high desert, Corvallis is an ideal place to live and work. 

 

The Location

Let’s start with some basic information.

  • No. 1 Safest College (ADT Security Systems, 2018)
  • No. 5 Most Beautiful College Town in America (Travelers Today, 2017)
  • No. 2 Friendliest College Town in America (Great College Deals, 2016)
  • Best College Town in the Pac-12 (2016)
  • No. 4 Most Innovative U.S. City (Nerd Wallet, 2015)

HOUSING

Most first-year students live on-campus. There are a variety of dormitories and places to eat on campus. Specific to engineering students, is the living-learning community at Hawley, Buxton, and Cauthorn halls. Living in the Engineering Living-Learning Community allows students to connect with others in the same engineering core courses and to take advantage of extra help through tutoring support services provided in your residence hall.

CAMPUS SAFETY

We understand that safety and security is very important to students and their families; we share this value and believe that safety and security is a shared responsibility.

PARENT & FAMILY INFORMATION

Family support and guidance is important for student success. Oregon State provides opportunities for guardians to engage through events, newsletters and email updates.

OFF-CAMPUS ACTIVITIES

There are many off-campus activities in both Corvallis and the surrounding region. 

Stay Connected and Stay Supportive

Communication can look very different once your student is no longer living in your home.  With texting being the #1 choice to communicate, some families find that their student texts more frequently while others notice a drop off. Some might notice it more frequently at the beginning and then it slows down as the quarter goes one and most likely as they are building their network and new community here at Oregon State. Any of and all of those are normal. 

One very common occurrence is for a student to call their family member and vent or share a concern and then you as the family member feel obligated to help solve it or you worry about it and 90% of the time they just needed a safe space to vent and you are that.

Never forget that both Oregon State and the College of Engineering are here for both you and your student if you need to reach out and ask for help.