Did my engineering undergrad in Corvallis at Oregon State. Lots of good speakers and events free to the public put on by the school.

The city also has "Da vinici days" in the summer which is great.

Had a friend with parents who lived there and a mentor too.

There is a fair amount of suburb-type housing I didn't really like, but there are also little hippie areas and cool spots in the hills.

OSU also has the Open Source Lab, a notable non-profit.

Go beavs.