Southern Oregon University (SOU) vs Missouri Southern State University (MSSU)

Southern Oregon University (SOU) and Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) are two distinct institutions of higher learning with unique characteristics. SOU, located in Ashland, Oregon, boasts a scenic campus nestled amidst the Siskiyou Mountains, while MSSU is situated in Joplin, Missouri, offering a vibrant urban setting. Both universities offer a diverse range of academic programs, but they differ in terms of acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. This side-by-side comparison will delve into these key differences, providing valuable insights for prospective students seeking the best fit for their educational journey. Explore the comprehensive table below to discover which university aligns better with your academic aspirations, personal preferences, and future career goals.

	Missouri Southern State University	Southern Oregon University
Overview
Location	Joplin, Missouri	Ashland, Oregon
Campus setting	City: Small	Suburb: Midsize
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Public	Public
Calendar system	Semester	Quarter
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	59.0%	69.0%
Common app member	Yes	No
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	96.9%	89.7%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $30 Graduate: $35	Undergraduate: $60 Graduate: $60
SAT range	950 - 1170	980 - 1230
ACT range	18 - 24	18 - 25
Students submitting SAT score	6.0%	32.0%
Students submitting ACT score	80.0%	21.0%
Total number of applicants	1,695	1,913
Total number of admissions given out	1,642	1,716
Admitted students who chose to enroll	578	519
Yield rate	35.2%	30.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Not required	Not required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	In state: $19,321 Out of state: $26,913	In state: $25,142 Out of state: $42,962
Average net price	$9,703	$12,134
Tuition	In state: $7,244 Out of state: $14,836	In state: $9,045 Out of state: $26,865
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $4,400 Meal plan: $5,652	Room/dormitory: $8,235 Meal plan: $5,925
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	94.0% Average amount $6,885	75.0% Average amount $5,932
Students receiving federal student loan	46.0% Average amount $4,602	42.0% Average amount $4,778
Students taking out private loans	2.0% Average amount $8,077	0.0% Average amount $0

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	4,245 Men 38.9% Women 61.1%	4,396 Men 38.7% Women 61.3%
Graduate students	107 Men 32.7% Women 67.3%	783 Men 30.3% Women 69.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Low
Out-of-state students	22.1%	N/A
International students	2.5%	1.1%
Campus local/setting	City: Small	Suburb: Midsize
Dormitory capacity	735	1,000
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	Missouri Kansas Arkansas Oklahoma Texas	N/A

Academics
Popular study areas	Business Health Professions Law Enforcement and Firefighting Education Liberal Arts	Education Business Visual & Performing Arts Kinesiology & Leisure Studies Multidisciplinary Studies
Students to faculty ratio	15:1	20:1
Institutional accreditation	Higher Learning Commission	Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome
Graduation rate	37.0%	41.0%
Dropout rate	32.2%	55.3%
Transferred out	27.4%	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $57,318 Year 3: $64,678 Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $51,482 Year 3: $54,298 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $53,753 Year 2: $54,515 Year 3: $54,231 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $50,466 Year 2: $47,930 Year 3: $52,943 Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $47,016 Year 2: $43,426 Year 3: $49,539 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $42,123 Year 3: $42,995 Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $38,297 Year 2: $38,946 Year 3: $42,227 Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,440 Year 2: $26,121 Year 3: $40,971 Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $26,859 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $40,702 Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,697 Year 2: $32,391 Year 3: $37,967	Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $46,797 Year 2: $47,729 Year 3: $50,405 Education, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $45,167 Year 2: $47,650 Year 3: $50,120 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $38,975 Year 2: $40,017 Year 3: $47,745 Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $45,536 Year 2: $47,260 Year 3: $47,221 Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,746 Year 2: $33,192 Year 3: $42,371 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $34,398 Year 2: $29,322 Year 3: $40,135 Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $26,901 Year 2: $31,042 Year 3: $34,974 Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $28,131 Year 2: $25,194 Year 3: $33,557 Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $28,663 Year 2: $26,739 Year 3: $32,403 Visual and Performing Arts, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $25,082 Year 2: $21,312 Year 3: $26,467

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