Tuition Equity

On April 2, 2013, Governor John Kitzhaber signed into law the legislative bill on tuition equity, House Bill 2787, directing the Oregon State Board of Higher Education to provide tuition equity at Oregon’s public universities.

The law, effective July 1, 2013, states that undocumented students who earn a high school diploma or GED in Oregon and meet certain other requirements will be allowed to pay Oregon resident tuition rates, and will not be required to pay nonresident tuition rates for five years after initial enrollment at a public university in Oregon.

Request Form for Exemption from Nonresident Tuition and Fees
Q&A- Questions and Answers for Students on Tuition Equity
Información en Español

Who is eligible for the exemption from nonresident tuition and fees (tuition equity)?
A student needs to meet the following requirements in order to be eligible for the exemption:

• Student received a high school diploma or GED in Oregon no more than three years before initially enrolling in an OUS institution
• Student attended an elementary school or secondary/high school in Oregon during each of the three years prior to earning a high school diploma or leaving school before earning a diploma
• Student attended an elementary school or secondary/high school in a state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in each of the five years prior to earning a high school diploma or leaving school before earning a diploma
• Student shows intention to become a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States

How does a student demonstrate the required “intention to become a citizen or permanent resident?”
The student needs to provide documentation in order to show this intention. The statements required are included in the Request Form for Exemption from Nonresident Tuition and Fees. Students should note that part of this form must be completed in the presence of a Notary Public and notarized.

Complete and submit the Request Form and all other documents to:
Office of Admissions
Southern Oregon University
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520

Questions?
Download the Tuition Equity Q&A

Contact Us:
Johnathan Chavez-Baez
Coordinator for Minority Outreach Programs
541.552.6478
chavezbjo@sou.edu