Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, Tennessee · Private Nonprofit · 65.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 41/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Southern Adventist University scores 41 (Below Benchmark). Average earnings six years out hit just $35,400, climbing to a median $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. 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.
How Southern Adventist University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score41/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 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 |
| Average 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 first number you'll see is the sticker price: $27,300/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $24,345/year, or roughly $97,380 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $19,123/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,751/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,500, which works out to about $260 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,400) and comes to 0.69, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families pay $30,751 net annually, or roughly $123K over four years - close to full sticker. Median 10-year earnings are $53,723 school-wide. 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.
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 | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 76.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 70.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 74.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Southern Adventist University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
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 ROI score is 41.
| 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 |
| American Baptist College | 32 | $9,216 | $41,216 |
| Uta Mesivta of Kiryas Joel | 29 | $4,156 | $31,853 |
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: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Southern Adventist University scores 41/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $24,345 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $53,723 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 12.7 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 49.4% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $24,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Southern Adventist University: Common Questions
Is Southern Adventist University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Southern Adventist University scores 41/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $24,345 a year after aid against $53,723 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 12.7 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Southern Adventist University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $24,345 a year, or roughly $97,380 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Southern Adventist University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $53,723 ten years after enrolling, roughly $11,923 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Southern Adventist University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 12.7 years for Southern Adventist University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Southern Adventist University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,500, against average earnings of $35,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Southern Adventist University?
The six-year graduation rate is 49.4%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.