The roots at Oregon State University go back to 1858 when it was established as a private university in Corvallis. College courses at Oregon State University were added in 1865 and the first degrees were awarded in 1870. A land grant university, this Oregon college was designated as Oregon's state-assisted agricultural college in 1868. Sea grant, space grant and sun grant designations came later, making Oregon State University one of only two universities in the nation to hold all four titles. For more than 100 years, this Oregon college has had a three-fold mission of teaching, research, and service to the people of Oregon and the world.

More undergraduate classes are taught by top professors with national reputations for research and teaching than at most major universities. In the College of Liberal Arts, master teachers, selected for their scholarly expertise, lead small discovery groups in exploring issues related to core classes. Oregon State University has 1,800 graduate faculty members that are chosen on the basis of training, experience, research, and evidence of their ability to successfully direct and supervise graduate students. Faculty members throughout the private university work closely with students in research, creative projects, university governance, and clubs and organizations.