Southern Oregon University (SOU) vs Montana U

Southern Oregon University (SOU) and The University of Montana (UM) are two distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering unique opportunities and experiences to their students. SOU, located in Ashland, Oregon, is a public liberal arts university known for its strong academic programs and commitment to sustainability. UM, situated in Missoula, Montana, is a public research university with a rich history and a diverse range of academic offerings. While both universities share a commitment to providing quality education, they differ in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover the nuances that set these two institutions apart and make an informed decision about which university best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Southern Oregon University logo

Southern Oregon University

The University of Montana logo

The University of Montana

Overview

Location Ashland, Oregon Missoula, Montana
Campus setting Suburb: Midsize City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Quarter Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 69.0% 75.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 89.7% 82.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $60
SAT range 980 - 1230 1070 - 1280
ACT range 18 - 25 18 - 26
Students submitting SAT score 32.0% 9.0%
Students submitting ACT score 21.0% 41.0%
Total number of applicants 1,913 7,233
Total number of admissions given out 1,716 5,941
Admitted students who chose to enroll 519 1,542
Yield rate 30.2% 26.0%
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: $25,142

Out of state: $42,962
In state: $23,736

Out of state: $44,720
Average net price $12,134 $15,228
Tuition
In state: $9,045

Out of state: $26,865
In state: $5,352

Out of state: $26,112
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $8,235

Meal plan: $5,925
Room/dormitory: $4,730

Meal plan: $6,324
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

75.0%
Average amount $5,932
97.0%
Average amount $6,340
Students receiving federal student loan 42.0%
Average amount $4,778
44.0%
Average amount $5,401
Students taking out private loans 0.0%
Average amount $0
4.0%
Average amount $13,104

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 4,396
Men 38.7% Women 61.3%
7,223
Men 41.9% Women 58.1%
Graduate students 783
Men 30.3% Women 69.7%
2,883
Men 37.0% Women 63.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 1.1% 1.9%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Midsize City: Small
Dormitory capacity 1,000 2,886
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Business
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Natural Resources and Conservation
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 20:1 15:1
Institutional accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 41.0% 47.7%
Dropout rate 55.3% 49.1%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $114,396
  • Year 2: $113,016
  • Year 3: $118,046
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,692
  • Year 2: $55,286
  • Year 3: $71,476
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,746
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $65,366
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $65,302
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,886
  • Year 2: $62,707
  • Year 3: $64,764
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,287
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $61,703
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,687
  • Year 2: $52,433
  • Year 3: $59,094
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,412
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $52,044
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,236
  • Year 2: $39,729
  • Year 3: $50,914
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,604
  • Year 2: $45,852
  • Year 3: $48,041

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Colorado State University-Fort Collins Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Eastern Connecticut State University Eastern Connecticut State University
Southern Oregon University SOU vs University of Idaho University of Idaho
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Lewis-Clark State College Lewis-Clark State College
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Indiana University-South Bend Indiana University-South Bend
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Rasmussen University-Minnesota Rasmussen University-Minnesota
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Southwest Minnesota State University Southwest Minnesota State University
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Winona State University Winona State University
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Missouri Southern State University Missouri Southern State University
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Missouri Western State University Missouri Western State University
Southern Oregon University SOU vs The University of Montana The University of Montana
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Dickinson State University Dickinson State University
Southern Oregon University SOU vs University of North Dakota University of North Dakota
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Youngstown State University Youngstown State University
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Eastern Oregon University Eastern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Lewis & Clark College Lewis & Clark College
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Oregon Institute of Technology Oregon Institute of Technology
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Oregon State University Oregon State University
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Pacific University Pacific University
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Willamette University Willamette University
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Southern Oregon University SOU vs University of South Carolina-Upstate University of South Carolina-Upstate
Southern Oregon University SOU vs University of South Dakota University of South Dakota
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Texas A & M International University Texas A & M International University
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Midwestern State University Midwestern State University
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Dixie State University Dixie State University
Southern Oregon University SOU vs Washington State University Washington State University
Southern Oregon University SOU vs University of Wisconsin-Superior University of Wisconsin-Superior
Southern Oregon University SOU vs University of Wyoming University of Wyoming
Southern Oregon University SOU vs New College of Florida New College of Florida
Southern Oregon University SOU vs DeVry University-California DeVry University-California
Southern Oregon University SOU vs DeVry University-Nevada DeVry University-Nevada
The University of Montana Montana U vs University of South Alabama University of South Alabama
The University of Montana Montana U vs University of Alaska Fairbanks University of Alaska Fairbanks
The University of Montana Montana U vs Northern Arizona University Northern Arizona University
The University of Montana Montana U vs Arkansas State University Arkansas State University
The University of Montana Montana U vs University of Northern Colorado University of Northern Colorado
The University of Montana Montana U vs Idaho State University Idaho State University
The University of Montana Montana U vs Brigham Young University-Idaho Brigham Young University-Idaho
The University of Montana Montana U vs Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
The University of Montana Montana U vs University of Louisiana at Lafayette University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Montana Montana U vs University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
The University of Montana Montana U vs University of Southern Mississippi University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Montana Montana U vs Salish Kootenai College Salish Kootenai College
The University of Montana Montana U vs University of Nevada-Reno University of Nevada-Reno
The University of Montana Montana U vs SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
The University of Montana Montana U vs University of North Carolina Wilmington University of North Carolina Wilmington
The University of Montana Montana U vs University of South Dakota University of South Dakota
The University of Montana Montana U vs Sam Houston State University Sam Houston State University
The University of Montana Montana U vs Stephen F Austin State University Stephen F Austin State University
The University of Montana Montana U vs Texas State University Texas State University
The University of Montana Montana U vs Utah State University Utah State University
The University of Montana Montana U vs University of Vermont University of Vermont
The University of Montana Montana U vs Central Washington University Central Washington University
The University of Montana Montana U vs Eastern Washington University Eastern Washington University
The University of Montana Montana U vs Western Washington University Western Washington University