Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, Tennessee · Private Nonprofit · 65.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 41/100 · Poor Value
Southern Adventist University earns a 41 ROI score and a Poor Value tier rating, a result driven by an underwhelming combination of moderate tuition, weak schoolwide earnings, and below-average completion. Sticker tuition runs $27,300 -- relatively modest for a private university -- but the net price of $24,345 reflects only a thin aid discount, pushing four-year cost of attendance to $97,380. Median earnings six years out hit just $35,400, climbing to $53,723 by year ten, producing a soft 19 percent earnings premium. The 0.692 debt-to-earnings ratio is heavy and stretches the payback period to 12.7 years. Completion at 49.4 percent is low for a moderately selective faith-affiliated school. The bright spot is the 76.3 percent five-year repayment rate -- graduates do service their loans even when earnings are modest, possibly reflecting the Adventist community support network and conservative financial culture. The nursing program rescues some of the value story; outside of healthcare pipelines, the cost-to-outcome math is weak.
The data raises concerns about Southern Adventist University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score41/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
Southern Adventist University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $27,300/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $27,300/yr |
| Average net price | $24,345/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $97,380 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,723 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $260 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 49.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,773 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Southern Adventist University is $27,300/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $24,345/year, or roughly $97,380 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $19,123/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,751/year.
The median graduate leaves with $24,500 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $260 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $53,723 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.69 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $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 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Lowest-income families pay $19,123 net annually -- roughly $76,000 over four years against $35,400 six-year earnings is a heavy lift for Pell-eligible students. Low-income applicants should aggressively pursue Adventist denominational scholarships and external aid before committing, particularly if entering majors outside the nursing pipeline.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets pay $20,421 ($30K-$48K), $22,849 ($48K-$75K), and $26,679 ($75K-$110K) -- a steep progression with no aid breaks for the middle tier. Roughly $80K-$107K over four years is significant against the school's modest median earnings outcomes; middle-income families set on a faith-aligned college should compare carefully with other Adventist or Christian options.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families pay $30,751 net annually, or roughly $123K over four years -- close to full sticker. With median 10-year earnings of $53,723, the math is genuinely difficult to justify outside the nursing track. Wealthier families committed to Adventist education for non-financial reasons should still budget realistically for the gap between cost and earnings outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at Southern Adventist University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $83,525 | B |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $59,895 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $48,307 | - |
| Social Work | $51,516 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $50,119 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is Southern Adventist's strongest program, with 63 graduates and median first-year earnings of $66,005 climbing to $83,525 by year four. Median debt of $28,191 against those earnings produces a 0.427 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. Career paths flow into the regional Adventist health system, Erlanger Health, and broader Tennessee/Georgia hospital networks. This program is the principal reason any portion of the school's value math works, and represents the clearest financial recommendation for prospective students.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology graduates 21 students with $59,895 four-year earnings and median debt of $25,975 -- a 0.434 debt-to-earnings ratio earning a B ROI grade. Most strong career paths require graduate study (PT, OT, athletic training), so prospective students should plan their full education trajectory rather than treating the bachelor's as terminal.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education graduates 15 students annually with $43,283 first-year and $50,119 four-year median earnings. Median debt of $24,250 produces a 0.56 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C ROI grade -- a tough number against the relatively modest teaching salaries in this region. Many graduates likely teach within the Adventist school network, where wages may run below comparable public-school positions.
Social Work
Social Work graduates 15 students with $51,516 four-year earnings and median debt of $24,575 producing a 0.477 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ ROI grade. As with teacher education, most strong career paths require graduate study (LCSW licensure), so the bachelor's is best viewed as a stepping-stone to a master's program.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.0% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 76.3% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 70.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 74.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 65.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 490-640 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-25 |
| Enrollment | 2,773 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 30.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,732 |
Southern Adventist admits 65.5 percent of applicants, putting it in the moderately selective range. SAT mid-50 percent ranges run 490-640 in Math and 530-660 in Reading, while ACT Composite spans 19-25. The wide range suggests substantial variation in incoming preparation, and the 49.4 percent completion rate is consistent with that profile -- selective enough to filter most applicants but not so rigorous that retention is automatic. The Adventist faith community plays a major role in matriculation patterns.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Southern Adventist's nearest peers include American Baptist College and Uta Mesivta of Kiryas Joel -- both small denominational schools with very different missions. Baptist Health Sciences University is a healthcare-focused private with strong nursing outcomes, the most useful direct comparison. University of Indianapolis and Florida Southern College are mid-sized regional privates with substantially better ROI scores. Within this peer set, Southern Adventist's 41 ROI score lags meaningfully behind the secular regional privates, with the nursing program offering the only genuinely competitive outcomes.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Adventist University (this school) | 41 | $24,345 | $53,723 |
| Baptist Health Sciences University | 69 | $11,212 | $72,529 |
| Florida Southern College | 46 | $28,551 | $55,294 |
| University of Indianapolis | 43 | $21,602 | $53,610 |
| Uta Mesivta of Kiryas Joel | 39 | $4,156 | $31,853 |
| American Baptist College | 32 | $9,216 | $41,216 |
Who Thrives Here
Southern Adventist fits Seventh-day Adventist students seeking a faith-aligned residential college experience in the Southeast, particularly those targeting healthcare careers. Enrollment is small at 2,773 undergraduates and Pell rate runs 30.6 percent, suggesting a relatively middle-income student body. Strongest student outcomes come from nursing, where four-year earnings exceed $83K. Students choosing the school primarily for its faith environment should plan their major carefully and budget for the cost premium, since outside healthcare the financial returns lag.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Southern Adventist University. With a net cost of $24,345 per year and median graduate earnings of only $53,723 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 12.7 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 49.4% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $24,500 against $53,723 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.