SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville
Nashville, TN 37203
About SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville
SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville is a private for-profit trade school in Nashville, Tennessee, enrolling about 1,712 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. Typical net price after grant aid is about $24,700 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $17,514. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $39,544 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville charges 5% above the national private for-profit median tuition ($17,514).
- Versus the Tennessee median, sticker tuition is 16% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 41.73%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $39,544.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 300% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville | $17,514 | $24,700 | 1 |
| Private For-profit (national median) | $16,637 | — | 477 |
| Tennessee (state median) | $15,120 | $7,802 | 69 |
| Urban (City) (locale median) | $15,200 | $20,053 | 1,346 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville really?
Key findings
- SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville charges 5% above the national private for-profit median tuition ($17,514).
- Versus the Tennessee median, sticker tuition is 16% above.
SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $17,514
Finding SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville charges 5% above the national private for-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $17,514. That is 5% above the national private for-profit median ($16,637). Versus the Tennessee median ($15,120), sticker tuition is 16% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 47% above.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private for-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville is $24,700.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $24,700 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $16,898 above the Tennessee median net price. Versus urban (city) campuses, net price runs $4,647 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$17,514
Avg. net price
$24,700
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $23,154 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $24,394 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $25,089 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $27,006 |
| $110,001+ | $27,402 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $70,056. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville is known for
Top program completions
- Recording Arts Technology/Technician671
- Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, Other32
- Cinematography and Film/Video Production12
See earnings & programs for more.
Is SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville.
Campus
Location
Nashville, TN
City / state
- ZIP
- 37203
- NCES locale
- City
Compared with Urban (City) campuses nationally, net price is 23% above the median for Urban (City) campuses ($20,053 median).
Control
Institution type
Private For-profit
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or non-degree-granting)
Size
Enrollment
1,712
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 2,461
- Full-time share
- 100%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$9,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 60.56%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $18,532 | $18,532 | $29,517 |
| 2014 | $17,750 | $17,750 | $32,773 |
| 2015 | $18,731 | $18,731 | $29,278 |
| 2016 | $25,061 | $25,061 | $29,531 |
| 2017 | $25,061 | $25,061 | $37,605 |
| 2018 | $31,415 | $31,415 | $37,895 |
| 2019 | $33,199 | $33,199 | $41,105 |
| 2020 | $33,199 | $33,199 | $42,747 |
| 2021 | $33,199 | $33,199 | $27,037 |
| 2022 | $17,027 | $17,027 | $21,013 |
| 2023 | $17,027 | $17,027 | $21,299 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville reported total enrollment of about 1,712 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 81% male and 19% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Black or African American (59.5%), Hispanic or Latino (15.7%), and White (13.6%). About 60.56% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 33.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
100.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville in 2024 is 1,712 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,461 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
N/A%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
58.33% 100% Completion Time
41.73% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 58.33% of students graduating from SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Recording Arts Technology/Technician: 86% male / 14% female
- Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, Other: 69% male / 31% female
- Cinematography and Film/Video Production: 67% male / 33% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville graduates earn a median of $39,544 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $39,544. Median federal loan debt: $9,500. Average net price used in cost models: $24,700.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville graduates report median earnings of $39,544 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 3 programs by IPEDS completions (4 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 32.2%
- Tennessee median 32.2 pp below median (64.4%)
- Southeast median 27.3 pp below median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 25.8 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $4,494
- Tennessee median 0.64× the median ($7,010)
- Southeast median 0.66× the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median 0.59× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $2,804
- Tennessee median 0.41× the median ($6,831)
- Southeast median 0.42× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 0.38× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville at a glance
SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville
SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville is a private for-profit institution in Nashville, TN, classified as Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or non-degree-granting).
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Recording Arts Technology/TechnicianArts, Entertainment, and Media Management, OtherCinematography and Film/Video Production
- Largest enrollment groups
- Black or African American59.5%Hispanic or Latino15.7%White or Caucasian13.6%
Schools near SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville
Other campuses in Nashville, TN when available, plus nearby institutions in Tennessee.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within Tennessee, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville located?
SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville is located in Nashville, TN.
What is SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville's tuition?
SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $17,514 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $24,700 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville cost?
Reported tuition is $17,514 and average net price is $24,700 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $26,886 annually.
What explains SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($24,700), completion (41.7% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($39,544). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville?
SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville reports undergraduate enrollment of about 2,461 students, Black or African American (59.5%), Hispanic or Latino (15.7%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville?
About 33.9% of students at SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville earn?
Median earnings are $23,932 six years after entry and $39,544 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville?
The 150%-time completion rate is 41.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $9,500.
Is SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville public or private?
SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville is a private for-profit institution located in Nashville, TN.
Is SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville an HBCU?
No. SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville a tribal college?
No. SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Tennessee college profile
- Tennessee college costs
- Tennessee colleges by ROI
- Tennessee trade schools profile
- Nashville, Tennessee city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- Urban (City) college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Tennessee
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.