What is the acceptance rate at Southern Oregon University?

Southern Oregon University's acceptance rate is approximately 89% (Ashland, OR), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

How much does Southern Oregon University cost?

At Southern Oregon University, the average net price (after aid) is about $16,732 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Southern Oregon University?

Southern Oregon University enrolls approximately 2,751 undergraduate students.

Where is Southern Oregon University located?

Southern Oregon University is located in Ashland, OR.

Southern Oregon University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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Southern Oregon University

Ashland, ORpublicwww.sou.edu/

Acceptance

89%

Avg net price

$16,732

Earnings (10 yr)

$49,175

Graduation rate

43%

Admit rate has ranged 78%–90% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

Southern Oregon University (SOU) is a public liberal arts university nestled in the culturally rich town of Ashland, known for its Shakespeare Festival. With an acceptance rate hovering around 90%, SOU offers a welcoming environment with small class sizes, a strong sense of community, and a focus on practical outcomes—though its graduation rates lag behind national averages. The university is particularly noted for its programs in psychology, business, and theater, but faces financial challenges that have led to recent program cuts.

Admission requirements

Test-blind — scores not considered

Required

High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 2,751
In-state tuition: $12,762
Out-of-state tuition: $31,887
Location: Ashland, OR (Shasta, Takelma, and Latgawa Land)
Popular Majors: Psychology, Business, Theater
Acceptance Rate: ~90%
4-Year Graduation Rate: 41%
Average Federal Grant Aid: $6,474
Median Earnings (1 Year Post-Grad): $36,427

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $49,175
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 2.9×
Median debt at graduation: $20,332
Graduation rate: 43%
First-year retention: 68%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 50%
Pell (lower-income) share: 70%
First-generation share: 40%
Endowment / student: $14,472

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Computer and Information Sciences, General$48,432
Business Administration, Management and Operations$40,017
Social Sciences, General$33,993
Criminal Justice and Corrections$33,192
Communication and Media Studies$31,042
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 6
Per 1,000 students: 2.18

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 97
Summer high: 85°F
Winter low: 33°F
Annual rain: 41.7"
Annual snow: 78.2"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively Moderate

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 110
Scholarly works: 2,020

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Economic mobility

Mobility rate: 1.6%
Bottom → top quintile: 21%
From bottom quintile: 8%

Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at Southern Oregon University?: Southern Oregon University's acceptance rate is approximately 89% (Ashland, OR), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Southern Oregon University cost?: At Southern Oregon University, the average net price (after aid) is about $16,732 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Southern Oregon University?: Southern Oregon University enrolls approximately 2,751 undergraduate students.
Where is Southern Oregon University located?: Southern Oregon University is located in Ashland, OR.

Admissions

Southern Oregon University is decidedly not selective, with an consistently around 90% (ranging from 89% to 92% across sources). The university admits nearly all applicants, with recent data showing 2,056 acceptances out of 2,320 applications. SAT/ACT scores are considered but not emphasized—most admitted students fall in the bottom 46% nationally on the ACT. The application deadline for fall term is February 1, and SOU is notably transfer-friendly, offering generous credit acceptance policies.