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Southern Oregon University
Ashland, OR 2,751 Undergrads 49.6% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$27,636
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,732
After Aid
Median Earnings
$52,911
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$16,732
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$52,911Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$49,175Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate49.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age24.5
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients38.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS64.3%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
88.6%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: -56575th: -
SAT Math
25th: -54075th: -
ACT Composite
25th: -2275th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$478k
+$11k
-$7k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$418k
-$49k
-$67k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$378k
-$88k
-$106k
ROI Efficiency Metrics⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
Never
-111%
Full Cost$28k/yr
Never
-107%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-93%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-76%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Bachelor's Degrees
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,940
Earnings (4yr)
$63,008
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,171
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
BachCIP: 5299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$20,363
Earnings (4yr)
$49,511
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$26,546
Earnings (4yr)
$75,596
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,008
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$21,833
Earnings (4yr)
$38,487
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$49,706
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$29,325
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$274k
Food Science and Technology
BachCIP: 0110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,873
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other
BachCIP: 1699
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,580
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,195
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics and Computer Science
BachCIP: 3008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,943
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,748
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (4yr)
$52,763
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,201
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$20,793
Earnings (4yr)
$44,945
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,135
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,021
Earnings (4yr)
$48,217
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,526
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Sociology and Anthropology
BachCIP: 4513
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$43,982
Natl Median: $46,959
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$307k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,350
Earnings (4yr)
$57,299
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,584
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$20,833
Earnings (4yr)
$43,044
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$76,336
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$32,483
Earnings (4yr)
$64,128
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$58,517
Earnings (4yr)
$69,359
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
MastCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
-$415k
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies
MastCIP: 3101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,313
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
MastCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,671
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$41,182
Earnings (4yr)
$60,530
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.