Tuition & Fees

Southern Oregon University (SOU) remains committed to providing high-quality, accessible, and affordable education. In June 2024, the Board of Trustees approved a new Mandatory Student Fee structure (see here), starting with the 2024-25 academic year. Students will now be charged a single mandatory fee of $104.22 per credit hour for all SOU-based courses, whether taken face-to-face or online, with the fee plateauing at the 8th credit hour.

This change eliminates the previous $75 per credit hour Online Delivery Fee, resulting in a more transparent and simplified billing process, and removes issues associated with students taking courses in multiple modalities in the same term. This new approach also makes low-credit courses more affordable and accessible, particularly benefiting working professionals and non-traditional students.

The components of the Mandatory Student Fee can be seen below. These will be adjusted annually in accordance with standard university practices and regulatory statutes (see here). Following Board of Trustees approval, the single fee rate may change each academic year based on the combined rates of these components at the eight (8) credit hour threshold.

What are Mandatory Fees?

Mandatory Enrollment Fees – Established by ORS 352.102, (see legislation here) includes the following: Building Fee, Health Services Fee, Matriculation Fee (1-time only).

Mandatory Incidental Fees – Established by ORS 352.105, (see legislation here) includes the following: Student Incidental Fee, Green Tag Fee, Student Recreation Center Fee.

Some students are exempt from mandatory fees because of the specific program and/or coursework they are taking. Examples might include students taking coursework in the Online MBA and Online MS.Ed programs, certain exchange programs, employees using staff rate, and students taking only specific self-support coursework.

Components of the Mandatory Student Fee

Building Debt-service Fee: $52.00

This mandatory enrollment fee is collected to pay debt-service associated with past construction and renovation projects on the SOU campus. Any additional funds collected are put into a reserve or used for small construction projects.

The Tuition Advisory Council is responsible for recommending the amount and allocation of the Building fee to the President who brings the recommendation before the Board of Trustees for adoption.

Technology Services Fee: $32.75

This mandatory enrollment fee is collected and used to support campus IT hardware, software and subscriptions specific to instruction and course-delivery. The fee also generates a reserve that is used to mitigate financial burdens stemming from periodic large IT projects like network upgrades.

The Tuition Advisory Council is responsible for recommending the amount and allocation of the Technology Services fee to the President who brings the recommendation before the Board of Trustees for adoption.

Health Services Fees: $187.00

The Health Services Fee is a mandatory enrollment fee that supports all of the services offered by the Student Health and Wellness Center (SHWC) both in-person and remote. Review the full listing of services at the SHWC.

The Tuition Advisory Council, in consultation with the service provider La Clinica, is responsible for recommending the amount and allocation of the Health Services fee to the President who brings the recommendation before the Board of Trustees for adoption.

Incidental Fee: $430.00

The Student Incidental Fee is a mandatory incidental fee which pays for a variety of different student life activities, including but not limited to athletics, certain administrative positions, operating costs and maintenance of the Stevenson Union, as well as clubs and services operations out of it, and a variety of smaller clubs managed through the Inter-Club Council. The purpose of the student incidental fee is to provide services and enriching experiences to the students at SOU.

The programs which are funded by the Student Incidental Fee must provide an extracurricular educational experience that develops student leadership, facilitates retention, and encourages community-based learning. The Student Fee Committee of the ASSOU is responsible for recommending the amount and allocation of the Incidental fee to the President who is authorized to modify the fee or bring it forward as a recommendation to the Board of Trustees. Read more about the Student Incidental Fee on ASSOU’s webpage.

Green Tag Fee: $14.00

The Green Tag fee is a dedicated component of the mandatory incidental fee which directly supports the Green Fund. The ASSOU Environmental Affairs Committee (EAC) oversees and allocates the Green Fund. The Green Fund provides students with the funding to execute sustainable and environmentally regenerative initiatives on campus, in addition to supporting renewable energy generation and offsetting the campus water footprint. Read more about the Green Tag.

The Student Fee Committee of the ASSOU is responsible for recommending the amount and allocation of the Green Tag fee to the President who is authorized to modify the fee or bring it forward as a recommendation to the Board of Trustees.

Student Rec Center Fee: $118.00

This mandatory incidental fee covers the debt services for the Student Rec Center (SRC) building (principal and interest) and some overhead expenses (utilities, reserves, etc.). The fee was established by student referendum in 2012 and the debt service payments will end in 2047. Review the full listing of services at the SRC.

The Student Fee Committee of the ASSOU is responsible for recommending the amount and allocation of the SRC fee to the President who is authorized to modify the fee or bring it forward as a recommendation to the Board of Trustees.

One-time Matriculation Fee Excluded from the Mandatory Student Fee

Academic Year 2024-25: $350.00
Academic Year 2025-26: $375.00

The Matriculation Fee is a one-time mandatory enrollment fee of $350, assessed to all new and incoming transfer students. The fee is designed to reduce (but not eliminate) other administrative student fees (e.g orientation, scheduling, transcripting, degree applications, re-enrollment). It also supports first-year student interest groups and campus engagements.

The Tuition Advisory Council is responsible for recommending the amount and allocation of the Matriculation fee to the President who brings the recommendation to the Board for consideration and approval.