OSU vs. SPU

Should I go to Oregon State University or Seattle Pacific University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if OSU or SPU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Oregon State University vs. Seattle Pacific University comparison
Oregon State University Seattle Pacific University College 3 College 4
Oregon State University Seattle Pacific University
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Overview

 OSU SPU
Location Corvallis, OR Seattle, WA
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 35,622 2,659
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #379 #246
Religious Affiliation - Free Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website oregonstate.edu spu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 OSU SPU
Tuition (In State) $11,145 $37,965
Tuition (Out of State) $33,315 $37,965
Room & Board $15,075 $15,498
Avg Net Price $21,868 $26,155
Avg Grant Aid $9,922 $28,070
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 98%

Admission

 OSU SPU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 29,025 2,806
Admitted 22,886 2,556
Acceptance Rate 78.8% 91.1%
Enrolled % 20.5% 14.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.53
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 20/28
SAT Range 1120/1370 1050/1320
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026 Jul 11, 2026

Academics

 OSU SPU
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (6%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 OSU SPU
Graduation Rate 61% 74%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,900 $50,400
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $25,603
Median Loan Payment $242 $264

Diversity

 OSU SPU
% Men 7% 6%
% Women 8% 16%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 67% 61%
% Black 1% 4%
% Hispanic 9% 10%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 8%
% International 6% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 OSU SPU
% In-State 57% 71%
% Out-of-State 40% 26%

Campus

 OSU SPU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Oregon State University is larger than than SPU based on total student enrollment (35,622 students vs. 2,659 students)

OSU vs. SPU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OSU or SPU?

  • Seattle Pacific University is 240.6% more expensive to attend than OSU for in-state tuition ($37,965.00 vs. $11,145.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14% higher at SPU than Oregon State University ($37,965.00 vs. $33,315.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Oregon State University than SPU ($21,868 vs. $26,155)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oregon State University are 2.8% lower than costs at Seattle Pacific University ($15,075 vs. $15,498)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Seattle Pacific University than Oregon State University (98% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Seattle Pacific University students is 182.9% larger than aid received Oregon State University ($28,070 vs. $9,922)

OSU vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, OSU or SPU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SPU or OSU .

  • The average SAT score at Seattle Pacific University (1145) is 32 points higher than at OSU (1113)
  • Incoming SPU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at OSU (25)
  • Accepted freshman OSU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at SPU (3.53)
  • SPU has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than OSU (78.8%)

OSU vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, OSU or SPU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SPU and OSU.

  • The graduation rate at SPU is higher than Oregon State University (74% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from Oregon State University earn on average $3,500 more per year than SPU graduates after ten years. ($53,900 vs. $50,400)
  • Oregon State University students graduate with a $2,103 lower median federal student loan debt than SPU graduates. ($23,500 vs. $25,603)
  • OSU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than SPU graduates. ($242 vs. $264)
  • More SPU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OSU students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/