Southern Oregon University (SOU) vs Oregon State
Southern Oregon University (SOU) and Oregon State University (OSU) are two distinct institutions of higher learning in Oregon, each offering unique educational experiences. SOU, located in Ashland, is a small public university with an acceptance rate of 88%, while OSU, situated in Corvallis, is a large public research university with an acceptance rate of 78%. Both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with popular majors at SOU including Psychology, Business Administration, and Elementary Education, and popular majors at OSU including Computer Science, Engineering, and Business Administration. While SOU boasts a diverse student body with 43% female and 57% male students, OSU has a slightly more balanced gender ratio with 48% female and 52% male students. Additionally, SOU has a graduation rate of 48%, while OSU has a graduation rate of 68%. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table
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![]() Oregon State University |
![]() Southern Oregon University |
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Overview |
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Location | Corvallis, Oregon | Ashland, Oregon |
Campus setting | City: Small | Suburb: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Quarter | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 87.0% | 69.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 89.2% | 89.7% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$65
Graduate:
$75
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Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$60
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SAT range | 1120 - 1370 | 980 - 1230 |
ACT range | 21 - 28 | 18 - 25 |
Students submitting SAT score | 25.0% | 32.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 13.0% | 21.0% |
Total number of applicants | 23,188 | 1,913 |
Total number of admissions given out | 20,687 | 1,716 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 3,965 | 519 |
Yield rate | 19.2% | 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 |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$29,393
Out of state:
$48,784
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In state:
$25,142
Out of state:
$42,962
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Average net price | $20,318 | $12,134 |
Tuition |
In state:
$10,065
Out of state:
$29,456
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In state:
$9,045
Out of state:
$26,865
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$10,260
Meal plan:
$4,500
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Room/dormitory:
$8,235
Meal plan:
$5,925
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
87.0%
Average amount $9,156 |
75.0%
Average amount $5,932 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
28.0%
Average amount $4,944 |
42.0%
Average amount $4,778 |
Students taking out private loans |
4.0%
Average amount $18,709 |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
27,564
Men 52.0% Women 48.0% |
4,396
Men 38.7% Women 61.3% |
Graduate students |
5,629
Men 46.2% Women 53.8% |
783
Men 30.3% Women 69.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 35.8% | N/A |
International students | 7.6% | 1.1% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Suburb: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 5,055 | 1,000 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Oregon California Washington Hawaii Colorado | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 18:1 | 20:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 68.2% | 41.0% |
Dropout rate | 10.0% | 55.3% |
Transferred out | 18.9% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Construction Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Manufacturing Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Visual and Performing Arts, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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