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About

About Southern Oregon University

public masters universityhigh acceptance ratearts and business focustest optional admissions

Southern Oregon University is a public university in Ashland, OR, known for its public masters university, high acceptance rate, and arts and business focus. With an acceptance rate of 88%, Southern Oregon is accessible for most qualified applicants, typically enrolling around 567 students each year. Southern Oregon is test optional; submitting a strong score can strengthen an application, though it is not required for consideration. Southern Oregon offers merit scholarships regardless of financial need, with awards averaging $7,898 per year; the sticker price of $41,178 may look very different from what your family actually pays.

Admissions

Southern Oregon University acceptance rate and admitted student profile

accessible for most qualified applicants

88%
Overall Accept Rate

Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to Southern Oregon University

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Essay Strategy
Ashland is home to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and SOU has deep ties to theater, the arts, and environmental sustainability. If any of those intersect with your interests, name them specifically in your application materials to show you have done your homework on what makes this campus distinctive.
Extracurriculars
SOU is a smaller regional university where faculty actually know their students by name. Highlight any independent research, mentorship relationships, or leadership roles you have had, since those experiences signal you will thrive in a hands on, community oriented environment.

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Financial Aid & Cost

What Southern Oregon University actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Family IncomeSticker PriceAvg. Net Cost / yr
0-30k~$41k/yr$11.8k
30k-48k~$41k/yr$12.5k
48k-75k~$41k/yr$15.8k
75k-110k~$41k/yr$22.4k
110k+~$41k/yr$24.2k

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Compare your profile to Southern Oregon University's admitted class

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Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

44%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$39k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
20:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
3,032
Undergrad Enrollment

Student Body

Student body composition

Race & Ethnicity

53%White
16%Unknown / Unreported
14%Hispanic
10%Two or More Races
2%Black / African American
2%Asian
2%American Indian / AK Native
1%International
1%Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
Gender37% Men · 63% Women
Citizenship / Immigration Status99% Citizens and Immigrants · 1% International
Southern Oregon, Ashland Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch