OSU-Cascades early fall numbers show enrollment holding steady, increasing freshman diversity

OSU overall has record enrollment for 28th straight year

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Oregon State University–Cascades’ preliminary enrollment report shows a total of 1,370 students served at the Bend campus this fall, the Bend school announced Wednesday.

The number of degree-seeking students increased slightly over last fall, totaling 1,365. The report reflects a 2.2% increase in credit hours, continuing a trend toward more full-time than part-time students at the Bend campus.

New students include 215 first-year students and 133 transfer students.

The report also reflects that of new freshmen, 29.4% identify as students of color, reflecting an 8.9% increase over last fall and the changing demographics of Oregon high schools.

The total enrollment includes 92 students who are taking all their classes online.

The report also shows a 4.9% increase in graduate students with a total of 237 students pursuing a master’s degree or Doctor of Physical Therapy at the Bend campus.

It also reflects how students are increasingly attracted to new undergraduate degree programs created at OSU-Cascades that provide key industries with skilled and professional talent. A new mechanical engineering degree program has drawn 17 students, and 31 students are enrolled in the biochemistry and molecular biology program, now in its second year.

“These initial enrollment numbers reflect the continued growing interest in OSU-Cascades from a diverse group of students and families in Central Oregon and around the state, as well as from individuals seeking degrees in fields where they can make a positive difference in society,” said Sherm Bloomer, chancellor and dean of OSU-Cascades. 

The report also shows that OSU-Cascades is primarily serving Oregon students, with 77.8% of students coming from Oregon and of those, 53.3% are from Central Oregon.

Among first-year students, the average high school GPA is 3.6.

Of the 473 transfer students at OSU-Cascades, 46.9% transferred from Central Oregon Community College, a reflection of a long-standing partnership between the two institutions. Of the students who are continuing their education at OSU-Cascades after attending another college or university, 94 were already living in Central Oregon. 

About one quarter of OSU-Cascades students are the first in their family to attend college.

The youngest student is 16, and the oldest is 72.

OSU-Cascades’ official enrollment will be captured the fourth week of fall term.

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Oregon State University enrollment reaches record for 28th consecutive year, nearing 38,000

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Enrollment at Oregon State University has reached a record for the 28th consecutive year, nearing 38,000 students this fall.

Among 108 Public Research 1 universities in America, only Oregon State has produced 28 consecutive years of fall-over-fall enrollment growth, according to an analysis by Jon Boeckenstedt, the university’s vice provost of enrollment management. The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education categorizes institutions as R1 based on the highest levels of research productivity.

“At Oregon State University, we take access and opportunity to heart, providing high-quality education to as many students as possible,” said OSU President Jayathi Murthy. “This unmatched record of enrollment growth demonstrates that we are creating pathways to success and fueling the workforce, making the world better for individuals and communities.”

With 37,900 students enrolled, up 1,264, or 3.5% from last year, Oregon State is the largest university in the state for the 11th consecutive year. (The enrollment numbers in the news release are preliminary but are expected to be very similar to official numbers finalized later this fall.)

The enrollment numbers include students at Oregon State locations in Corvallis, Bend, Portland, La Grande and through the university’s online Ecampus unit, ranked #4 in the nation for best online bachelor’s programs by U.S. News & World Report. Oregon State enrolls students from 50 states and over 100 countries and from all 36 of the state’s counties.

“Oregon State is not only the largest university in the state, but it also serves the most undergraduate, graduate, resident, nonresident, international and online students, as well as the most students on a single campus (in Corvallis),” Boeckenstedt said. “The continuing strength of our enrollment, and our leadership in Oregon is testament to the focus on serving student needs via high quality and in-demand programs.”

Ecampus is once again driving enrollment growth, with a 6.6% increase from last fall to reach a total of 11,600 students. That is a 65% increase from five years ago.

Enrollment on the Corvallis campus increased 3.3% from last year to 24,900 students this fall. At OSU-Cascades in Bend, enrollment is 1,370 and the number of credit hours students are taking is up 2.2%, continuing a trend towards more full-time than part-time students, Boeckenstedt said.

Several other enrollment records were also set, including:

• New undergraduates university-wide are at 7,880, up 2.5% from the previous record set last year.
• New first-year students are at a record of 5,095, up 2.6% from last year’s record of 5,008. The largest group is on the Corvallis campus, which also set a record of 4,585, up just a handful from last year’s record.
• The number of new undergraduate transfers is also at a record at 2,364, surpassing the number from fall 2020, when there was a bump from COVID, Boeckenstedt said.
• The percentage of first-year applicants admitted fell to 77.8%, down from last year’s 80.2%, and down substantially from the 90.6% rate in 2021.

Other notable 2024 enrollment figures include:

• The number of new students of color increased from 1,410 to 1,582. Of those US citizens and permanent residents who reported ethnicity, 32% are students of color.
• Undergraduate nonresident students in Corvallis are up 11.6%, or 752 students.
• The home states of the first-year class continue to diversify, with Washington overtaking California for the top spot. This year 505 first-year students came from Washington, a 220% increase from 2019. Colorado, Hawaii and Nevada filled out the top 5. Oregon State has seen triple digit percentage increases from all these states since 2019.
• Graduate student enrollment is up 5.1% and professional school enrollment is up 3.7%. Graduate student enrollment is up 16% from two years, fueled by a 20% increase in Ecampus graduate students this year. At OSU-Cascades, resident graduate students are up 30%, or 21 students.

About Oregon State University: As one of only three land, sea, space and sun grant universities in the nation, Oregon State serves Oregon and the world by working on today’s most pressing issues. Our more than 36,000 students come from across the globe, and our programs operate in every Oregon county. Oregon State receives more research funding than all of the state’s comprehensive public universities combined. At our campuses in Corvallis and Bend, marine research center in Newport, OSU Portland Center and award-winning Ecampus, we excel at shaping today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders.