Southern Oregon University

• Location: Ashland, USA
• Year of foundation: 1872
• Language of instruction: English
• Number of students: more than 6000
• Type: mixed.

Southern Oregon University (SOU) is a public university located in Oregon.

The history of the institution begins in 1896, when local residents formed the Educational Society. Within a few years, they raised the funds with which the Ashland Academy, the predecessor of the university, was founded, which opened its doors in 1872. Having changed several names, in 1997 the institution received the title of university and its current name.

Now about 6,000 students study at SOU on the proposed bachelor's, master's and specialized training programs. In total, more than 40 options for basic degrees are presented in the institution.

Departments of the university:

• Oregon Center for the Arts,
• Business
• Communication, environment,
• Education, health and leadership,
• Humanities, culture,
• Social sciences,
• Science, technology, engineering, mathematics.

The institution places its students in dormitories and homes, provides assistance in finding housing off campus.

SOU dormitories are located next to the academic buildings, which gives students the opportunity not to be late for classes, use the campus infrastructure and keep abreast of all university events. Living conditions in dormitories:

• Single, double rooms with bathrooms,
• Utilities are included in the price,
• Classrooms, gyms, lounges,
• Free laundries,
• Storage of bicycles is allowed in each room,
• Round-the-clock security,
• Round-the-clock access to the building and premises by key-card,
• Many canteens and cafes, special dinners, brunches and receptions,
• Free participation in all events of the university,
• The opportunity to live together by international, religious and LGBT groups.

Features of dormitories:

• Shasta Hall – junior suites mainly for freshmen,
• McLoughlin Hall – suites mainly for transferred and returning students, as well as for high school students,
• Madrone Hall is for everyone except freshmen.

Annual cost of accommodation in a single or double room:

• Shasta Hall: $9657 and $11,763 , respectively,
• McLoughlin Hall: from 12 363 to 14 181$,
• Madrone Hall: up to $13,197 

Students staying for summer classes are accommodated in Madrone Hall. Weekly accommodation will cost the student $ 280, and meals will be offered according to the following plans:

• 5 meals, extra 25$ for 85$ per week,
• 10 meals, $35 for spending for $140 a week,
• An additional $250 for on-campus spending for $250.

Standard meal plans for the school year include 5 to 17 meals per week, $100 to $400 to pay for groceries on campus+ a few lunches for student guests. The institution also offers a plan with unlimited meals in local canteens. The price for the plan ranges from 2700 to 5115 $ per year.

Accommodation in student apartments is convenient for the most independent students. The residential complexes are located two blocks from the campus and accommodate more than 200 students, faculty, staff and their families. Small studios with one to four bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms are available for accommodation. The apartments are not furnished, but equipped with household appliances.

The cost of living per person per month:

• Studio – 785$,
• One bedroom – 890$,
• Two rooms – 1000$,
• Townhouse with two bedrooms – 1025$,
• Townhouse with three bedrooms – 1150$,
• Three bedrooms in an apartment – 1250$,
• Four-room apartments – 1325$.

The Oregon Center for the Arts at SOU educates students interested in the arts: music, theater, painting, and others. Thanks to cooperation with public art organizations, students have the opportunity to participate in many events: festivals, art exhibitions, music concerts, film screenings. In addition, the center is considered regional and includes:

• Schneider Art Museum,
• Chamber Music Concerts Department,
• The Shakespeare Institute, which holds forums for practitioners, scholars, teachers and students.

SoU also has men's and women's sports:

• Team games: basketball, football, volleyball, softball,
• Athletics
• Bike racing,
• Golf
• Struggle.

Students can practice in gyms and dance halls under the guidance of experienced specialists, participate in inter-university and district competitions.

The Outdoor Program provides the opportunity to explore the Southern Oregon region on trips and walking tours. Students are offered:

• Climbing center with a wall of 44 feet,
• Trips with the practical application of climbing, rafting, snowshoeing and many others.

The program allows students to rent the equipment they need - more than 1200 items for outdoor activities are stored in warehouses.

• The ratio of teachers and students is 1:19.
• The university is in the gold rating for sustainable development in higher education.
• The first university in the country to receive a Bee Campus USA certificate.
• One of the 20 best schools in the United States according to Outside Magazine.
• One of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the United States and Canada according to The Princeton Review.
• The first U.S. university to offer a transgender studies program.

The city of Ashland was selected by Outside magazine as a finalist in the nomination "Best City in America". It is both lively and calm, allowing tourists, locals and students to diversify their lives as much as possible. The university's location provides easy access to a variety of natural attractions, including Mount Ashland, the Roeg River, and Crater Lake National Park.

The campus covers an area of 175 acres, there are dozens of buildings for different purposes:

• Buildings of classrooms, laboratories and self-study areas,
• Center for Visual Arts,
• Hannon Library,
• Dormitories, canteens,
• Sports and recreation center with halls of individual, group classes, team games and trainings,
• A theater with jefferson's public radio broadcasting center, art studios.

There are several semesters in the academic year:

• Autumn: September-December,
• Winter: January-March,
• Spring: March-June,
• Summer session: June-August.

Additional annual expenses for foreigners:

• Fees – 2286$,
• Books, consumables – 999$,
• Accommodation, meals – from 11 985 to 15 819$,
• Personal expenses – 1500$

Additional costs of online training in MBA programs:

• Fees – $155,
• Accommodation, meals – 10 166$,
• Personal expenses – 1690$,
• Books, consumables – 999$,
• Transport – $999.

To enroll in an SOU, you must:

• Fill out an online application on the official website by creating a personal account,
• Attach the required documents to the application,
• Pay a registration fee of $60,
• Check the status of the application after submitting the application within two to three weeks.

About 500 new students are admitted to SOU every year. In 2020-2021, 574 applicants entered the university.

According to statistics for 2020-2021, about 85% of graduates work in their specialty or continue their postgraduate studies. 68% of them found a job in their field, and 17% entered master's and doctoral programs.

Requirements for admission to most specialized programs:

• High school diploma with an average score of 3.2,
• Official transcripts,
• GPA 3.0,
• ACT (from 23) or SAT (from 25, score in mathematics more than 490),
• Passed test for reading, writing, mathematical calculations, language knowledge.

For admission to undergraduate programs, international applicants must provide:

• Official transcripts, high school diploma,
• Average GPA score – 2.5 out of 4,
• Results of knowledge of English: TOEFL iBT (from 68), TOEFL PBT (from 520), IELTS (from 5.5).

Future students of postgraduate programs should have:

• English language results: TOEFL iBT (from 76), TOEFL PBT (from 540), IELTS (from 6.0),
• Bachelor's degree with evaluation sheet,
• GRE or GMAT results.

Applications are accepted throughout the year, but it is better for foreigners to apply as early as possible. Priority application deadlines:

• Autumn – February 1,
• Winter – December 12,
• Spring – March 3,
• Summer is May 23.

SOU provides a variety of scholarship programs and financial support options. For international students are open:

• CARES Emergency Grants – over $1,700,000  in coronavirus support,
• Ashland Rotary Scholarship – $1000 for academically successful students,
• Cascade Scholarship – $1,000 to $9,000 per year for particularly distinguished students,
• Federal assistance: Pell grant, payment for additional education, teacher training, remuneration for service in Iraq and Afghanistan,
• Government Grants: Oregon Opportunity Grant awards undergraduate students,
• Subsidized, unsubsidized loans,
• Project "Work-Study" – employment on campus and beyond,
• Financial aid for the summer semester.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision