To spot the Oregon State University College of Business, just look for a striking, modern four-story brick building lined with tall windows-it stands boldly with a wide entrance and two bright orange flags on either side to catch your eye.
Now, let’s dive into the story behind these walls-and don’t worry, I promise not to make you do any surprise accounting homework! Imagine it’s the late 1800s-the world is shifting fast, horse-drawn carriages roll on muddy roads outside Corvallis, and at Oregon State University, students are learning their first lessons in business, perhaps dreaming of invention, commerce, or maybe just a better way to balance their pocket money. That was more than a century ago-1898, to be exact-and it kicked off a legacy that’s become one of the state’s oldest public business schools.
Time marches on and so does business at OSU. The very first business degree was awarded in 1904, and soon after, a vision for the future started to take shape. The School of Commerce was born, guided by a determined dean named John Andrew Bexell, a man so committed to OSU business students that he stuck around for over two decades. Under his watch, the program changed names more times than a business student changes their major: it became the Division of Business and Industry, then the School of Business and Technology, and finally settled as the School of Business. From the beginning, OSU stood a little taller-offering Oregon’s only public business degree until 1914.
Picture back-to-back eras with deans who might as well have set up camp in their offices-Clifford Maser, for instance, clocked in for 24 years, and Earl Goddard stuck around for 15. Even when the business program hit a rough patch during the Great Depression, it rebounded stronger than ever. Through the decades, what started as basic business instruction grew into a dazzling menu: from accounting and finance to graphic design, hospitality, management, and even interior design-yes, they make spreadsheets and rooms look good.
Fast forward to 2014-cue the sound of hard hats and power tools. This gleaming 100,000-square-foot wonder, Austin Hall, opened after a whopping $55 million investment, thanks to the generosity of OSU alumni Ken Austin and his wife Joan. Just imagine the excitement on dedication day: students bustling by, faculty grinning with pride, Kilimanjaro-sized coffee cups clutched in nervous hands as new futures began inside. And those Austin names? They’re a fixture here, lending their moniker not only to the building, but also to groundbreaking entrepreneurship and family business programs, all thanks to the Austins’ incredible support for the university.
Today, the College of Business is buzzing more than a stock market on earnings day! Nearly 4,000 students are pushing boundaries, exploring everything from business analytics (yes, OSU teaches this in Portland too), to executive leadership, to entrepreneurship, and even a Ph.D. for those who dream of diving deep into accounting or innovation. And did I mention OSU’s famous online offerings? Whether you’re in Corvallis or curled up in your pajamas on another continent, you can join the Beaver business family.
But what’s a great business school without legendary alumni? OSU’s produced everything from Medal of Honor recipients and state governors to E-Trade co-founders, restaurant CEOs, movie stars, and even a brewer behind 27 breweries-talk about a recipe for success!
So as you stand here, let the energy wash over you-imagine the bright students heading to class, the sense of tradition in the air, and the endless, entrepreneurial spirit stretching all the way back to 1898. Maybe you’ll catch a future billionaire, inventor, or simply a business buff on their way to change the world. Or maybe just someone late for their marketing exam! Either way, this is where business dreams take shape at OSU-and you’re standing right at the heart of it.
