Eastern Oregon University (EOU, EOU) Academics and Admissions

Academics

For students who want to pursue their college education at a small school in the Pacific Northwest, Eastern Oregon University (EOU) has a beautiful campus in the Blue Mountains and some well-regarded academic programs.

The university has a long tradition as a school for training teachers, and its education program remains an essential component of the school’s academic offerings to this day. The university offers bachelor’s degrees, an MBA, and master’s degrees in education. Most degrees at EOU are traditional liberal arts degrees, however, the university does have some specialty programs such as its fire service and small town and rural county management degree programs. All told, the university offers about 40 undergraduate degrees and the aforementioned graduate programs. Minors and double major programs are also offered.

The university’s academic programs are separated into a College of Business, College of Education, and College of Arts and Sciences. The most popular degrees at the school are business/marketing, liberal arts, education, and biology.

Like many forward-thinking universities, EOU has a strong online program. Many students take courses by flexible delivery methods, including online courses. Students can also benefit from the university’s relatively low student-to-instructor ratio.

The university is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, which accredits schools in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. The NWCCU accredits more than 150 colleges and universities in the region.

EOU is collaborating with other universities throughout Oregon on a major solar energy project. The project is expected to bring more than $6 million in energy savings to the seven participating universities over 25 years.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Information Summary

Ranks 15th in Oregon and 1093rd overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	79.1
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$22,664
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	23 / 1133
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	16 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	68% / 46%
Enrollment Total (all students)	2,978

Admissions

EOU has a selective admissions policy. About 74 percent of students who apply to the university are admitted. Typically, the university will want students to have a high school GPA of at least 3.0 in relevant study areas. Most students admitted score between 850 and 1080 on the SAT or between 18 and 22 on the ACT, but the university will occasionally make exception to its admission rules for extraordinary students who may not meet all requirements.

Students will need to submit high school transcripts and SAT or ACT scores along with a required admissions essay. Documentation of volunteer work and letters of recommendation should also be included with the application.

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Financial Aid

Students applying to EOU are eligible for federal grants and student loans. There are also a number of grants and scholarships that students may be eligible for offered by the state of Oregon, the university, and other organizations.

The university awards tens of millions in financial aid each year, including loans, scholarships, and grants. For example, the university offers the EOU Returning Student Scholarship, which is awarded to returning students each year who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better. Award amounts vary based on student GPA.

The university’s Office of Financial Aid stands ready to help students find other grants and scholarships for which they may be eligible. The majority of students at Eastern Oregon University receive student aid in one form or another.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 4377th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Oregon.

Students

EOU offers students the opportunity to study in a beautiful, scenic area of the Pacific Northwest. The university is located in a small town in eastern Oregon, and the nearest big cities are three to four hours away. For students who enjoy the outdoors and mountain areas, the university’s location can’t be beat. Ample outdoor activities abound in the Blue Mountains. The nearby Wallowa-Whitman National Forest also provides many outdoor and camping opportunities, as well as canoeing and rafting.

The university offers more than 50 on-campus student clubs and organizations, including both professional and academic organizations, as well as clubs that are based on recreational interests, such as the Rodeo Club. The university also has a fitness center and student health center.

One interesting fact about the university is that it does not charge out-of-state tuition, so students from outside Oregon who would like to study there can do so at EOU without incurring financial hardship.

The campus takes a number of precautions to ensure student safety, such as 24-hour police patrol, late-night escort and transportation services, security lighting, dorms secured by keycard, and emergency telephones scattered throughout the campus.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

The university is a member of the NAIA. The football program is a member of the NAIA’s Division I Frontier Conference and prior to 2005 competed in the NCAA Division III. Other sports compete in the Cascade Collegiate Conference. The university’s mascot is the Mountaineer, and its official colors are blue and gold.

The university offers men’s basketball, football, track and field, and cross country, along with women’s soccer, softball, volleyball, basketball, track and field, and cross country.

EOU’s football team plays its home games at Community Stadium, located at the university’s home campus in LaGrande.

Additional School Information

Leo Plass set a world record, becoming the oldest person in the world to earn a college degree at age 99 in 2011. Plass had been attending the university (then known as Eastern Oregon Normal School) 75 years earlier, but financial hardships caused by the Great Depression forced him to drop out. Plass only lacked three hours course credit when he left school, and university officials in 2011 agreed to accept his years in carpentry as an alternative and awarded him an associate’s degree.

Eastern Oregon University