Bragging points for Beaver alumni

June 30, 2023

By Karla Rockhold, Director of Alumni Career Engagement, OSU Alumni Association

More than 7,330 students became Oregon State University alumni in 2023 with 4000+ participating in June commencement ceremonies on the Corvallis and OSU-Cascades campuses. This year’s youngest graduate is 18 and the oldest is 72!

This is an exciting time for our new OSU alumni, as they are eager to celebrate this achievement with family, friends and loved ones and feel empowered to use their degrees as a foundation for accomplishing a wide range of personal and professional goals.

Unfortunately, we often hear people question the value of a college degree today due to the rising costs of tuition, a perception of outdated curriculum leading to a lack of employable skill development and optional pathways to success via vocational training programs.

However, earning a college degree is a significant milestone that represents years of hard work and is a testament to one’s ability to set and accomplish goals. Only 35% of the U.S. population has attained a bachelor’s degree or higher.

OSU supporters know that a degree from this university has unique advantages, and we have the power to preserve and enhance the pride that comes with being an OSU graduate.

Here are four ways your OSU degree serves as a launchpad for a successful career:

  1. Our worldwide alumni community is 220,000+ strong with wide-ranging professional ties, ensuring that students and alumni can network and access internship and job opportunities in their chosen fields. With OSU Connections, our Beavers-only networking and career hub, every generation of Oregon Staters can find success after college.

  2. OSU’s 11 renowned academic colleges with 200+ degree programs produce alumni who are eager and prepared to solve challenges around the world in the face of an ever-changing workforce and are highly sought-after by employers.

  3. An Oregon State degree is internationally recognized: OSU is ranked in the top 1.4% of universities worldwide by the Center for World University Rankings.

  4. $2.8 million is the median lifetime earnings of full-time workers with a bachelor’s degree (66% higher than those without a degree) and OSU graduates have a median mid-career salary of $110,000.

Congratulations to our 2023 graduates. You’ve attained a degree that can transform lives — and not just your own. We are excited to have you as part of the strong and supportive network of fellow alumni who are inspired to nurture a sense of community and lifelong connections.

Go Beavs!