Related News
More than 1,250 students are enrolled at Oregon State University–Cascades this fall, with preliminary enrollment data showing increased enrollment in several new degree programs, particularly mechanical engineering.
“Students continue to be drawn to OSU-Cascades and the unique opportunities that come with learning in Bend,” said Christine Pollard, interim chancellor and dean of OSU-Cascades. “As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, students consistently point to our personalized learning environment, innovative degree programs, hands-on experiences and connections to employers, alongside the outdoor opportunities that make Bend and Central Oregon a special place to live and learn.”
The campus is serving a total of 1,258 students, including 296 new undergraduate students.
The strongest enrollment increases were seen in recently launched undergraduate degree programs designed to help meet state, regional and national workforce needs. The mechanical engineering program, launched in 2024, grew by 20 students, a nearly 38% increase. The new accountancy major also saw strong growth, as did majors in elementary education, biology and social science.
The cohort of 160 new first-year students includes 29% from Central Oregon. The average high school GPA for first-year students was 3.51. Two-thirds of students arrive at OSU-Cascades with some college credit.
Of the 108 new transfer students, 44% transitioned from Central Oregon Community College through the institutions’ long-standing Degree Partnership Program.
Other notable enrollment figures for fall 2026 include:
- Seventy-seven percent of students are from Oregon, and 45% are from Central Oregon.
- In addition to Oregon, students represent 35 U.S. states, with the top five being: California (105), Washington (52), Colorado (17), Texas (16) and Hawaii (12).
- Twenty-five percent of students are the first in their families to attend college.
- Thirty-nine percent of undergraduate students demonstrate high financial need.
- Six percent of students are completing all of their coursework online through OSU’s top-ranked Ecampus program with support from OSU-Cascades academic advisors.
- Of the 416 total transfer students, 61% participated in the Degree Partnership Program through Central Oregon Community College.
- A total of 230 students are pursuing master’s degrees or a Doctor of Physical Therapy.
- The youngest degree-seeking student is 17, and the oldest is 73.
OSU-Cascades official enrollment will be finalized in late October, during the fourth week of fall term.
