Southern Oregon University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Ashland, Oregon. It enrolls 2,751 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic CalendarQuarter
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
57/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes21
Value59
Affordability48
Selectivity28
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 88.6%, Southern Oregon University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
88.6%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Southern Oregon University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
4.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Southern Oregon University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $16,732 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$16,732
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
25%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
28%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$12,762
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$31,887
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,968
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,432
Books & Supplies
$999
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,500
Total Cost of Attendance
$27,636
Application fee: $60 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$11,830
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,466
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,813
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,415
Over $110,000
$24,181
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$6,33325%percentile
$20,332Medianpercentile
$26,00075%percentile
$35,84390%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $16,666
↓ $3,666
No Pell $13,170
↓ $7,162
Dependent students $14,000
↓ $6,332
Independent students $18,103
↓ $2,229
Female students $15,000
↓ $5,332
Male students $15,000
↓ $5,332
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $11,000, less than completers ($20,332), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
43% of full-time students who enrolled at Southern Oregon University graduate within six years, and 68% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
43%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
68%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Southern Oregon University earn a median of $49,175 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,175
Earning > $25K
74%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$40,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$47,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$42,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$42,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$45,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,300, about 15% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
19.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 70% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Southern Oregon University is home to 2,751 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,751
Part-Time
17%
First-Generation
40%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 53.3%1,467
Hispanic 14.0%384
Other 12.7%348
Black 1.7%46
Asian 1.6%43
International 1.3%36
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Southern Oregon University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize SuburbAshland, Oregon
Housing
Partly residential1,000 beds available
Adult Learners
18%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Southern Oregon University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
58 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southern Oregon University is 23:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
23:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$13,569
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$36M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$82,028
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
125 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
45
36%
$98,575
Associate Professors
24
19%
$78,851
Assistant Professors
34
27%
$73,449
Instructors
21
17%
$67,504
No Rank
1
1%
$10,400
Pros & Cons of Southern Oregon University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Southern Oregon University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Southern Oregon University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Oregon University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Southern Oregon University.
Is Southern Oregon University hard to get into?
Southern Oregon University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 88.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Southern Oregon University?
Southern Oregon University has an acceptance rate of 88.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Southern Oregon University cost?
The average net price after aid at Southern Oregon University is $16,732 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Southern Oregon University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,175 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,732 per year. That's roughly 2.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Southern Oregon University known for?
Southern Oregon University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12), Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Southern Oregon University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Southern Oregon University are $49,175, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Southern Oregon University accredited?
Yes. Southern Oregon University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Southern Oregon University?
Southern Oregon University enrolls 2,751 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Southern Oregon University?
Southern Oregon University graduates 43% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Southern Oregon University a public or private college?
Southern Oregon University is a Public institution.
Where is Southern Oregon University located?
Southern Oregon University is located in Ashland, Oregon.
What programs does Southern Oregon University offer?
Southern Oregon University offers 58 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12), Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Southern Oregon University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southern Oregon University is 23:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Oregon
Other colleges in Oregon share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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