The University of Oregon (UO) is a popular destination for Californians as well as residents of other states. There are several good reasons why over half of UO’s undergraduate student body come from outside the Beaver State. Offering nearly 200 academic programs, UO pairs popular majors with distinctive fields like Art & Technology, Environmental Design, Interior Architecture, and Cybersecurity, along with creative minors such as Climate Studies and Comic & Cartoon Studies. About a quarter of incoming freshmen begin as “Exploring” majors, which keeps pathways flexible and makes it easier to move into high-demand programs than at many large state universities.
One of UO’s most distinctive assets is the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, a dedicated, interdisciplinary hub where students and faculty collaborate in advanced laboratories, research suites and maker-spaces designed to fast-track scientific discoveries into real-world innovations. Its growing influence is reflected in the university’s most recent economic report, which shows that UO generated $3.7 billion in statewide economic impact in 2024.
The university’s Clark Honors College has approximately 1,400 students and attracts more than 4,000 prospective freshmen each year. Admission is by application rather than invitation, and students are encouraged to apply even if their academic profile is not at the very top of the applicant pool. With only one (challenging) supplemental essay and a review process that considers creativity and potential contributions to the honors community, it’s a worthwhile option for students targeting UO’s strongest programs.
Health, fitness and nature drive community life in Eugene, a true college town that has been home to the university since 1876. Biking, hiking and running trails knit the campus and the community together. Eugene is also known as Track Town USA, not only because of UO’s successful track program, but also because the university’s Hayward Field has hosted multiple U.S. Olympic Trials. The city’s location—about two hours from Portland or the Oregon Coast—and its population of over 180,000 make it the second-largest city in Oregon.
Known for its welcoming, inclusive atmosphere, the campus has a laid-back, creative and eco-conscious community that supports students from all backgrounds and consistently ranks among the region’s most LGBTQ+-friendly environments.
UO has one of the most iconic mascots in college sports. The Duck, unofficially known as “Puddles,” originated in the 1920s with students bringing live ducks to games and later evolved through an informal agreement with Walt Disney to use Donald Duck’s likeness. Donald and the Oregon Duck even appeared together in the 1995 Rose Bowl parade, and today the mascot has grown into a unique and beloved character of his own.
In conclusion, UO has an appealing mix of achievable admissions, distinctive academic options, an inclusive community, spirit and sports that very few large state schools can equal.
Public: 20,622 undergraduates, 3,782 graduate students
88% acceptance rate;
mid-SAT: RW 580-690, M 550-670;
mid-ACT: 23-30;
51% Out of State, 39% Diversity, 1% International
Student-Faculty: 18 to 1
Image Credit:
By Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives – This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by Oregon State Archives as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America, via its partner Northwest Digital Heritage. Record in source catalog
DPLA identifier: 102536876c17a67f23ebd6cbec114d2c
Oregon State Archives identifier: 20190817-3933, CC BY 4.0, Link
