Southern Oregon: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Southern Oregon University · Ashland, Oregon · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
Ranked #68 (tie) in Regional Universities WestU.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by Southern Oregon University (see the source).
Is Southern Oregon a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Southern Oregon against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Southern Oregon is a public university in Ashland, Oregon that admits about 89% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $16,732 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Radio, Television, and Digital Communication, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 6.9 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Southern Oregon is a public institution located in Ashland, Oregon. For the most recent reporting cycle, Southern Oregon admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 89%. Admitted students typically post an ACT composite around 22. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $16,732 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Southern Oregon?
Southern Oregon has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
Compare Southern Oregon with the other schools on your list
Open Southern Oregon in College Search to set it beside up to three other colleges on cost, admission odds and outcomes, and save it to a shortlist when you are ready.
SAT and ACT scores Southern Oregon typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year, so check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
| 25th percentile | n/a |
| 50th percentile | 22 |
| 75th percentile | n/a |
How much does Southern Oregon actually cost?
Published tuition is $12,762 for in-state students and $31,887 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $16,968 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $16,732 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 25% of students receive Pell Grants.
| Average net price (after aid) | $16,732 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Southern Oregon
Most popular majors at Southern Oregon
The most popular undergraduate programs at Southern Oregon, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. Across all programs, Southern Oregon confers roughly 466 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $61,883 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 110 | $61,883 |
| Psychology, General | 102 | $51,304 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 52 | n/a |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 47 | n/a |
| Communication and Media Studies | 44 | $44,790 |
| Education, General | 38 | n/a |
| Biology, General | 38 | n/a |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 35 | $52,622 |
Is Southern Oregon safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Southern Oregon disclosed 19 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 6.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 4 violent offenses and 5 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
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Next steps for Southern Oregon
Common questions parents ask about Southern Oregon
What GPA do I need for Southern Oregon?
Southern Oregon has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does Southern Oregon typically admit?
Southern Oregon does not publish standardized test ranges in the most recent reporting cycle. Scores are optional here, and a strong one can still help when the rest of the application is borderline.
How much does Southern Oregon actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Southern Oregon after grants and scholarships is $16,732 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $12,762 and $31,887 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Southern Oregon realistic for my child?
Southern Oregon admits 89% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $16,732 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Southern Oregon?
Southern Oregon accepts about 89% of applicants. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Southern Oregon a public or private school, and where is it located?
Southern Oregon is a public institution located in Ashland, Oregon.
What are the most popular majors at Southern Oregon?
The largest undergraduate majors at Southern Oregon by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. The school awards about 466 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Southern Oregon safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Southern Oregon reported 19 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 6.9 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Southern Oregon University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers