Head-to-head comparison
Southern Oregon University vs Corban University: which has better ROI?
Option A Ashland, OR
Southern Oregon University
- Net price / year
- $16,732
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,175
- Payback
- 82.1 yrs
Option B Salem, OR
Corban University
- Net price / year
- $28,035
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,917
- Payback
- 201.3 yrs
Southern Oregon University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $66,928 in 82.1 years versus 201.3 years at Corban University, on median earnings of $49,175 vs $48,917 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern Oregon University | Corban University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,732 | $28,035 |
| Total net cost | $66,928 | $112,140 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,175 | $48,917 |
| Median debt | $20,332 | $22,625 |
| Payback | 82.1 yrs | 201.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$50,628 | -$101,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Southern Oregon University or Corban University?
Southern Oregon University, at $16,732 a year after aid versus $28,035 — a gap of $11,303 a year, or $45,212 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Southern Oregon University or Corban University graduates earn more?
Southern Oregon University graduates report a median $49,175 ten years after entry, $258 more than the $48,917 at Corban University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Southern Oregon University or Corban University?
Southern Oregon University: its completers carry a median $20,332 in federal loans versus $22,625 at Corban University, a difference of $2,293. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
61% of students finish at Corban University, against 43% at Southern Oregon University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.