Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, TN 37315-0370
About Southern Adventist University
Southern Adventist University is a private research university in Collegedale, Tennessee, serving roughly 2,773 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 65.50% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $53,723 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Southern Adventist University charges 7% below the national private non-profit median tuition ($27,300).
- Versus the Tennessee median, sticker tuition is about 1.8×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 49.39%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $53,723.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Southern Adventist University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 452% 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.
Finding
Southern Adventist University awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 82 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Adventist University | $27,300 | $24,345 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Tennessee (state median) | $15,120 | $7,802 | 69 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| 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.
Average net price is 11% below published tuition at Southern Adventist University
Key findings
- Southern Adventist University's average net price ($24,345) is 11% below published tuition ($27,300).
- Southern Adventist University charges 7% below the national private non-profit median tuition ($27,300).
- Versus the Tennessee median, sticker tuition is about 1.8×.
Southern Adventist University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $27,300
Finding Southern Adventist University charges 7% below the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $27,300. That is 7% below the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Tennessee median ($15,120), sticker tuition is about 1.8×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 2.3×.
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 non-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 Southern Adventist University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Southern Adventist University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Southern Adventist University is $24,345.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $24,345 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $16,543 above the Tennessee median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $5,645 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 Southern Adventist University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 11% lower after grants and scholarships.
Southern Adventist University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Southern Adventist University—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
$27,300
Avg. net price
$24,345
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $19,123 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $20,421 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $22,849 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $26,679 |
| $110,001+ | $30,751 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $109,200. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Southern Adventist University is known for
Top program completions
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse181
- Biomedical Sciences, General38
- Social Work33
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology26
- Business Administration and Management, General26
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 42% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1129
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Southern Adventist University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Southern Adventist University 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 Southern Adventist University.
Campus
Location
Collegedale, TN
City / state
- ZIP
- 37315-0370
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 30% above the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
Size
Enrollment
2,773
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 4,088
- Graduate
- 300
- Full-time share
- 89%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$24,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 30.63%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Southern Adventist University.
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 Southern Adventist University 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 Southern Adventist University 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 | $19,790 | $19,790 | $18,668 |
| 2014 | $20,240 | $20,240 | $20,026 |
| 2015 | $20,650 | $20,650 | $19,767 |
| 2016 | $21,150 | $21,150 | $20,680 |
| 2017 | $21,550 | $21,550 | $20,762 |
| 2018 | $21,950 | $21,950 | $25,016 |
| 2019 | $22,520 | $22,520 | $22,661 |
| 2020 | $22,930 | $22,930 | $23,733 |
| 2021 | $23,210 | $23,210 | $23,232 |
| 2022 | $23,870 | $23,870 | $23,439 |
| 2023 | $25,590 | $25,590 | $24,334 |
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
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1129 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Southern Adventist University reported total enrollment of about 2,773 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 46% male and 54% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (36.6%), Hispanic or Latino (26.0%), and Asian (14.2%). About 30.63% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 18.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
89.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Southern Adventist University in 2024 is 2,773 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 4,088 students. Graduate enrollment is about 300 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
82.8%
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
34.59% 100% Completion Time
49.39% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 34.59% of students graduating from Southern Adventist University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 25% male / 75% female
- Biomedical Sciences, General: 47% male / 53% female
- Social Work: 15% male / 85% 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.
Southern Adventist University graduates earn a median of $53,723 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Southern Adventist University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $53,723. Median federal loan debt: $24,500. Average net price used in cost models: $24,345.
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 Southern Adventist University graduates report median earnings of $53,723 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 Southern Adventist University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (82 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Southern Adventist University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Southern Adventist University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Southern Adventist University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$57.7M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Tennessee median 1.9× the median ($30.3M)
- Southeast median 3.0× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 2.2× the median ($26.4M)
- Tennessee median 1.3× the median ($17,566)
- Southeast median 2.4× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 1.9× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Tennessee median 35.6 pp above median (64.4%)
- Southeast median 40.6 pp above median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 42.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $6,732
- Tennessee median near the median ($7,010)
- Southeast median near the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median 0.88× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $11,547
- Tennessee median 1.7× the median ($6,831)
- Southeast median 1.7× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 1.6× 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.
Southern Adventist University at a glance
Southern Adventist University
Southern Adventist University is a private non-profit institution in Collegedale, TN, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Registered Nursing/Registered NurseBiomedical Sciences, GeneralSocial Work
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian36.6%Hispanic or Latino26.0%Asian14.2%
Schools near Southern Adventist University
Other campuses in Collegedale, TN when available, plus nearby institutions in Tennessee.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within Tennessee, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Southern Adventist University located?
Southern Adventist University is located in Collegedale, TN.
What is Southern Adventist University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Southern Adventist University is 65.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 2,731 applicants and 1,819 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Southern Adventist University's tuition?
Southern Adventist University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $27,300 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $24,345 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Southern Adventist University cost?
Reported tuition is $27,300 and average net price is $24,345 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $8,900 annually.
Why is Southern Adventist University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Southern Adventist University, published tuition is $27,300 while average net price is $24,345—about 11% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Southern Adventist University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($24,345), completion (49.4% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($53,723). 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 Southern Adventist University?
Southern Adventist University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 4,088 students, White (36.6%), Hispanic or Latino (26.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Southern Adventist University?
About 18.2% of students at Southern Adventist University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Southern Adventist University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Southern Adventist University reports midpoint SAT about 1129.
What do graduates of Southern Adventist University earn?
Median earnings are $44,818 six years after entry and $53,723 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Southern Adventist University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 49.4% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Southern Adventist University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,500.
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
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.