OSU vs. Reed

Deciding between Oregon State University and Reed College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Oregon State University
Reed College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • OSU Corvallis, OR
  • Reed Portland, OR
  • Setting
  • OSU Small City
  • Reed Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • OSU 37,163
  • Reed 1,358
  • Type
  • OSU Public 4 Year
  • Reed Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • OSU #336
  • Reed #77
  • Religious Affiliation
  • OSU -
  • Reed -
  • Status
  • OSU Non-profit
  • Reed Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • OSU
  • Reed

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • OSU $14,400
  • Reed $69,350
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • OSU $38,190
  • Reed $69,350
  • Room & Board
  • OSU $16,386
  • Reed $17,660
  • Average Net Price
  • OSU $22,467
  • Reed $30,953
  • Average Grant Aid
  • OSU $11,230
  • Reed $55,445
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • OSU 90%
  • Reed 58%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • OSU 30,293
  • Reed 9,431
  • Admitted
  • OSU 23,418
  • Reed 2,321
  • Acceptance Rate
  • OSU 77.3%
  • Reed 24.6%
  • Enrolled
  • OSU 20.4%
  • Reed 13.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • OSU 1270
  • Reed 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • OSU 27
  • Reed 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • OSU 3.61
  • Reed 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • OSU A-
  • Reed A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • OSU Very High
  • Reed Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • OSU
  • Reed High
  • ACT Range
  • OSU 24/31
  • Reed 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • OSU 1140/1400
  • Reed 1290/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • OSU Test optional
  • Reed Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • OSU Feb 1, 2027
  • Reed

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • OSU 18:1
  • Reed 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • OSU
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Work and Family Studies (11%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (6%)
  • Reed
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Foreign Languages (15%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • OSU 61%
  • Reed 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • OSU $53,900
  • Reed $47,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • OSU 66%
  • Reed 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • OSU $23,500
  • Reed $16,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • OSU $242
  • Reed $165

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • OSU 50%
  • Reed 42%
  • % Women
  • OSU 50%
  • Reed 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • OSU Medium
  • Reed Medium
  • HBCU
  • OSU No
  • Reed No
  • % White
  • OSU 67%
  • Reed 60%
  • % Asian
  • OSU 7%
  • Reed 5%
  • % Black
  • OSU 1%
  • Reed 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • OSU 9%
  • Reed 11%
  • % Native American
  • OSU 1%
  • Reed 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • OSU 0%
  • Reed 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • OSU 7%
  • Reed 8%
  • % International
  • OSU 6%
  • Reed 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • OSU 2%
  • Reed 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • OSU 55%
  • Reed 16%
  • % Out-of-State
  • OSU 42%
  • Reed 77%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • OSU Yes
  • Reed Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • OSU No
  • Reed No
  • Meal Plan
  • OSU Yes
  • Reed Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • OSU No
  • Reed No
  • Daycare Facility
  • OSU Yes
  • Reed No

Comparable Facts

Compare Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR with Reed College in Portland, OR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oregon State University is larger than Reed based on total student enrollment (37,163 students vs. 1,358 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Oregon State University is located in Corvallis, OR (Small City setting); Reed College is in Portland, OR (Large City setting).
  • Oregon State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Reed College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Oregon State University 18:1; Reed College 9:1.

OSU vs. Reed Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OSU or Reed? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Oregon State University than Reed ($22,467 vs. $30,953).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oregon State University are 7.2% lower than at Reed College ($16,386 vs. $17,660).
  • Reed College is 381.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than OSU (about $54,950 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $14,400.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 81.6% higher at Reed than at Oregon State University (about $31,160 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $38,190.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oregon State University than at Reed College (90% vs. 58%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Reed College students is 393.7% larger than aid received by Oregon State University students ($55,445 vs. $11,230).

OSU vs. Reed Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, OSU or Reed? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Reed and OSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Reed College (1410) is 140 points higher than at OSU (1270).
  • Incoming Reed students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 27 at OSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oregon State University 1140/1400; Reed College 1290/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oregon State University 24/31; Reed College 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: OSU - Test optional; Reed - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: OSU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Reed students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at OSU (3.61).
  • OSU has a higher acceptance rate (77.3%) than Reed (24.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at OSU vs. 13.1% at Reed.

OSU vs. Reed Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for OSU and Reed? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Reed College's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Oregon State University's (61%).
  • Graduates from Oregon State University earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Reed graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,900 vs. $47,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Reed College graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than OSU graduates ($16,000 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, Reed graduates have an estimated $77 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OSU graduates ($165 vs. $242).
  • More Reed graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OSU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.