Outcomes assessment within a degree program is a process of articulating expected student learning outcomes for degree programs, collecting data to evaluate the extent to which student's achieve those outcomes, and using that information for program development. OSU faculty guide their program's outcomes assessment process by defining their program's expected educational outcomes, identifying and implementing appropriate tools for evaluating student achievement of program goals, and actively using the information to justify what's working well in the program and to identify areas for program growth and development.

Outcomes assessment is the cornerstone of OSU's assessment program because it involves faculty members working within their discipline to evaluate the educational impact of their academic programs and using the information for developing curricula and student programs.