Southern Oregon University
Ashland, OR · Public · Midsize suburb · SOU
Public institution in Ashland, OR · 2,911 undergraduates · 83% acceptance rate · $49,175 median earnings 10 years after entry.
Stats
College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.
Cost
- Average net price
- $16,470785th cheapest of 1,969 reporting
- In-state tuition & fees
- $12,093764th cheapest of 2,024 reporting
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $30,7231,268th cheapest of 2,024 reporting
- Cost of attendance
- $25,950746th cheapest of 1,969 reporting
- Median graduate debt
- $20,332669th lowest of 1,865 reporting
Outcomes
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- $49,1751,115th highest of 1,954 reporting
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- $39,3261,262nd highest of 1,950 reporting
- Graduation rate (4-year)
- 44.2%1,373rd highest of 2,014 reporting
- Full-time retention
- 67.6%1,347th highest of 1,837 reporting
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 82.7%982nd most selective of 1,596 reporting
- Average SAT
- —
- Median ACT
- 22604th highest of 952 reporting
Campus
- Undergraduates
- 2,911714th largest of 2,144 reporting
- Student-faculty ratio
- 23.0:12,007th smallest of 2,141 reporting
- Pell Grant share
- 24.3%1,486th highest of 2,122 reporting
Nearest large-hub airport: 316 mi (SFO)
On 1 of our 111 lists
Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.
Applying
- Common App member
- Yes
- Application fee
- $60
- Personal essay
- Optional / not required
- Writing supplement
- No
Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.
Best-paying fields of study
Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 44 reported programs.
| Field | Level | 1 yr | 2 yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Science | bachelors | $42,682 | $48,432 |
| Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness | bachelors | $40,728 | $40,017 |
| ChemistryPhysical Sciences | bachelors | $39,369 | — |
| Social Sciences, GeneralSocial Sciences | bachelors | $39,009 | $33,993 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsEducation | bachelors | $33,604 | $29,322 |
| Criminal Justice and CorrectionsHomeland Security & Law Enforcement | bachelors | $31,988 | $33,192 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherMultidisciplinary Studies | bachelors | $30,771 | — |
| Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences | bachelors | $30,409 | $25,967 |
| Communication and Media StudiesCommunications | bachelors | $29,685 | $31,042 |
| Health and Physical Education/FitnessParks, Recreation & Fitness | bachelors | $29,685 | $25,194 |
| Psychology, GeneralPsychology | bachelors | $28,598 | $26,739 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, GeneralVisual & Performing Arts | bachelors | $27,874 | $21,312 |
Campus facts
- Founded in 1872source
- School colors: Red and Blacksource
- Athletic nickname: "Raiders"source
- Mascot: Red-tailed hawksource
- Campus size: about 175 acressource
- Formerly known as "{{collapsible list"source
- Formerly known as "|"source
- Formerly known as "* Ashland Academy" (1872–1878)source
- Formerly known as "* Ashland Academy and Commercial College" (1878–1882)source
- Formerly known as "* Ashland College and Normal School" (1882–1886)source
- Formerly known as "* Ashland State Normal School" (1886–1895)source
- Formerly known as "* Southern Oregon State Normal School (1895–1909; 1925–1932)"source
- Formerly known as "* Southern Oregon Normal School" (1932–1939)source
- Formerly known as "* Southern Oregon College of Education" (1939–1956)source
- Formerly known as "Southern Oregon College" (1956–1975)source
- Formerly known as "* Southern Oregon State College" (1975–1997)source
- Formerly known as "}}"source
- Athletic conference: NAIAsource
- A [[National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program institutionsource
- A Space-grant]] institutionsource
- Notable alum: Ty Burrellsource
- Notable alum: Joel David Mooresource
- Notable alum: Kim Rhodessource
- Notable alum: Todd Fieldsource
Athletics — 11 sports
NAIA Division II · NAIA
Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $1,489,149 (M $880,361 · W $608,788)
- Basketball
- Beach Volleyball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Track and Field (Indoor)
- Track and Field (Outdoor)
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.
Similar-size colleges
Nearest undergraduate enrollment to Southern Oregon University’s 2,911 (College Scorecard UGDS, compiled 2026-10-24). Size only — not a judgment of similarity or quality.
In OR
- Oregon Institute of TechnologyKlamath Falls, OR · 2,913 undergrads
- University of PortlandPortland, OR · 3,104 undergrads
- Western Oregon UniversityMonmouth, OR · 3,211 undergrads
- George Fox UniversityNewberg, OR · 2,505 undergrads
- Eastern Oregon UniversityLa Grande, OR · 2,201 undergrads
- Lewis & Clark CollegePortland, OR · 2,167 undergrads
Elsewhere
- University of North Texas at DallasDallas, TX · 2,914 undergrads
- Calvin UniversityGrand Rapids, MI · 2,921 undergrads
- Manhattan CollegeRiverdale, NY · 2,928 undergrads
- Grayson CollegeDenison, TX · 2,890 undergrads
- Spokane Falls Community CollegeSpokane, WA · 2,881 undergrads
- Yeshiva UniversityNew York, NY · 2,942 undergrads
Key links
- Official websitesou.edu
- College ScorecardFederal source for every figure above (UNITID 210146)
- Compare colleges in ORRe-score with your weights
- The Most Selective Colleges in OregonEvery eligible four-year in this state, ranked by published admission rate
- Compare with Oregon Institute of TechnologySide by side on every Scorecard measure — closest in-state school by enrollment
- Showdown: Southern Oregon University vs Oregon Institute of TechnologyHigher-or-lower on real Scorecard metrics — round 1 is these two
- Sports directoryAll 11 EADA programs at this school
- Build an admissions plan8th–12th grade actions for this college — sports, activities, timeline
- MethodologyWhat these figures do and do not capture
- How to read a school page end to endStats, standings, lists, athletics, news — one profile, many jobs. Know which panel answers which question.
- Sticker price is a trapPublished tuition is a starting rumor. Net price is closer to what families actually pay.
- What acceptance rate actually measuresSelectivity is a competition statistic — not a quality score, and not your personal odds.
- A plan from eighth grade — without fake certaintySchool-anchored milestones, sports scarcity honesty, and EC playbooks — not invented admit odds.