Southern Oregon University — College Profile

About

Nestled in the picturesque, culturally vibrant mountain town of Ashland, Southern Oregon University (SOU) is a public liberal arts institution renowned for its commitment to environmental sustainability and its deep, collaborative partnership with the world-famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The university's flagship programs in Theatre Arts, Environmental Studies, and Creative Writing leverage this unique setting, offering undergraduates unparalleled hands-on internships, creative showcases, and field research opportunities. On campus, students enjoy an inclusive, environmentally conscious, and highly creative community that thrives on outdoor recreation in the nearby Siskiyou Mountains and active participation in the local arts scene. Notably distinguished as the nation’s very first official Bee Campus USA, SOU sets itself apart by combining the personalized mentorship of a small college with the progressive, future-focused resources of a public university.

Wikipedia:Southern Oregon University (SOU) is a public university in Ashland, Oregon, United States. It was founded in 1872 as the Ashland Academy, has been in its current location since 1926, and was known by nine other names before assuming its current name in 1997. Its Ashland campus, located 14 miles (23 km) from Oregon's border with California, encompasses 175 acres (71 ha). Five of SOU's newest facilities have achieved LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. SOU is headquarters for Jefferson Public Radio and public access station Rogue Valley Community Television. The university has been governed since 2015 by the SOU Board of Trustees.

Location

Ashland, OR, 97520 · Suburb campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

PDX · Portland

235 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$12,762$31,887

Housing & food (on campus)$16,968$16,968

Books & supplies$999$999

Cost of attendance$27,636$57,809

Average net price$16,732Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$31,887

In-state: $12,762

Housing & food (on campus)$16,968

Books & supplies$999

Cost of attendance$57,809

In-state: $27,636

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $16,732

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: sou.edu

How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27

Southern Oregon University’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$32,265

Fees$2,675

Housing$12,318

Food$7,053

Books & supplies$999

Personal expenses$1,500

Transportation$999

Total of the above$57,809

Source: sou.edu · checked Sep 13, 2026

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$11,830

$30–48k

$12,466

$48–75k

$15,813

$75–110k

$22,415

$110k+

$24,181

Your family's actual price → Southern Oregon University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

43%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

21%

Back for yr 2

68%

Transferred

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

45% graduated · 38% transferred · 17% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$39,326

10 yrs after entry$49,175

Debt

Median at graduation$20,332

Monthly payment$216

Middle 50% owe$6.3k–$26k

90th percentile$35,843

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

89%

Test policy

Not required

Per College Scorecard

ACT midpoint

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Essay prompts

If Southern Oregon University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 37%Women 63%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

23 : 1

Pell grant

25%

First-gen

40%

Family income

$32,578

Independent

35%

Age at entry

24.0

Part-time

17%

Race & ethnicity

White

53%

Hispanic

14%

Black

Asian

Two or more

10%

Non-resident

AI/AN

NH/PI

Unknown

16%

Varsity sports

NAIA Division II · EADA 2024-25

Basketball
Men's · Women's
Beach Volleyball
Women's
Cross Country
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Soccer
Men's · Women's
Softball
Women's
Track and Field (Indoor)
Men's · Women's
Track and Field (Outdoor)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's
Wrestling
Men's · Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$39,326

After 10 yrs

$49,175

Psychology, General76

Business Administration, Management and Operations70

Education, General45

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft42

Criminal Justice and Corrections41

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness32

Biology, General29

Natural Resources Conservation and Research25

Communication and Media Studies25

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication23

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods23

Fine and Studio Arts23

English Language and Literature, General18

Computer and Information Sciences, General13

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies13

Sociology and Anthropology13

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$40M

Full-time faculty

56%

Faculty salary

$9,721/mo

Teaching spend

$10,493

per student

Federal loans

28%

Classification

Carnegie type

Master's (larger programs)

Undergraduate profile