On the same ballot were two other measures to additionally establish normal schools in Ashland and Weston: both failed.

[13] Attendance rebounded later in the decade, topping the 1,000 mark for the first time during the 1938–39 academic year, with a total enrollment including summer session of 1,017.

[8] In 1981, the institution was renamed Western Oregon State College[8] to reflect the school's growing academic programs in the liberal arts fields.

This was done in attempt to improve retention and graduation rates and focus on student learning outcomes.

Western Oregon has competed in the Lone Star Conference (LSC) for football as an affiliate member since the 2022 season.

[19] The Wolves previously competed in the D-II Pacific West Conference (PacWest) from 1998–99 to 2000–01; and in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1993–94 to 1997–98 (although they remained in the CCC as an affiliate member for some sports from 1998–99 to 1999–2000).

The school welcomed Alpha Chi Omega, its first traditional sorority in the fall of 2015 with the organization founding its chapter in 2016.