By employing a double-pass absorption design and pressure clamping technique, a diode end-pumped continuous-wave Yb:Y2O3 ceramic disc laser at room temperature has been developed. An optimum output power of 10.5 W near 1078 nm was obtained at a pump power of 35 W. The laser threshold was 7 W and the corresponding slope-efficiency was 37.5%. The red-shift phenomena under different pump power levels and output couplings have been investigated. The still evolving Yb:Y2O3 ceramic is a super-excellent media for high brightness laser applications.