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Education

Higher education represents a large portion of Ashland’s economy. Southern Oregon University, with more than 6,200 students, and faculty and staff totaling about 750 people, is the largest employer in Ashland. Total revenue from the University is almost $95 million. S.0.U. contributes greatly to a highly-educated workforce and citizenry in Ashland.

Education in Ashland is held in very high regard. An estimated 97.2 percent of people in Ashland over 25 years old have at least graduated from high school and 57.8 percent have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Ashland schools consistently score above the national average on State and National assessments and U.S. News and World Report ranked Ashland High in the top 10 percent of all high schools in the United States. The school’s graduating class of 2015 sent 88 percent of its graduates on to two or four year colleges. (Statistics are from the Ashland Chamber of Commerce)