SOU Raises Tuition as Budget Challenges Continue
Southern Oregon University approves another tuition increase while leaders weigh deeper financial changes tied to state funding and enrollment concerns
ASHLAND, Ore. — Southern Oregon University has approved another tuition increase as campus leaders continue working through a growing financial challenge that they say cannot be solved through tuition hikes or budget cuts alone.
According to reporting by Jefferson Public Radio, total tuition and fees for in-state undergraduate students will rise by just under 5% next academic year. The increase is the maximum allowed before additional approval from the state is required.
University officials have cited declining enrollment, rising operating costs, and limited state funding as key drivers behind the university’s budget strain.
Trustee Liz Shelby said the university loses money with each additional student under its current financial structure, meaning enrollment growth by itself is not enough to close the gap.
“We can't cut ourselves out of it,” Shelby said, according to JPR. “We have to find the right combination of a number of different solutions.”
Shelby also said some academic programs are serving fewer students and may need further review to determine long-term sustainability.
The university is currently working with outside consultants from Deloitte to build a financial recovery plan. A draft is expected later this month, with final approval required by mid-May. Completion of that plan is tied to $15 million in state support.
Deloitte is expected to present the draft publicly during a virtual meeting on May 4 or 5, followed by a board presentation on May 5.
Trustees also received an update on efforts to boost enrollment. Benton Brown of EAB, an enrollment management firm assisting the university, said student engagement trends are changing and institutions must adapt.
EAB plans to evaluate university goals this spring, with expanded outreach to prospective students expected to begin by August. Brown said partner universities working with the firm average a 21% increase in applications during the first year.
JPR noted that while it is licensed to Southern Oregon University, its newsroom operates independently and no university officials reviewed or edited the story before publication.
Cover image: sou.edu
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