Southern Adventist University is a private nonprofit 4-year college in Collegedale, Tennessee with 2,773 undergraduates. It admits 66% of applicants, costs an average of $25,979 a year after grants and graduates 56% of its students.
Figures from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, released October 15, 2026. What each number covers.
Southern Adventist University acceptance rate and admissions
Southern Adventist University admitted 66% of applicants for fall 2024. The median acceptance rate at 4-year colleges is 77%.
Test scores: Considered but not required (as reported for fall 2024 admission). That means you can apply without SAT or ACT scores. Check the admissions office for the current policy.
The colored band is the middle 50% of enrolled students in fall 2024 (reading and writing 530 to 660, math 490 to 640). The tick marks the typical 4-year college. Check how your scores fit.
Southern Adventist University tuition, cost and net price
| Tuition and fees (2025-26) | $28,900 |
|---|---|
| On-campus housing and food (2025-26) | $9,400 |
| Total cost of attendance (2024-25) | $41,335 |
| Average net price after grants (2024-25) | $25,979 |
Students who get federal aid pay an average of $25,979 a year after grants and scholarships, $15,356 less than the full cost of attendance.
What families pay, by income
Average yearly cost after grants for aided first-time students, by family income (2024-25):
Your own price depends on your family's full situation. Run Southern Adventist University's net price calculator for a personal estimate, or make a "what it costs us" card.
Southern Adventist University graduation rate, earnings and debt
- 56% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years (students who started in 2019).
- Former students earned a median of $58,780 a year, 10 years after they started (students who received federal aid and were working).
- Students who completed left with a median of $22,750 in federal student loans.
Earnings compared
Debt compared
Median debt is 39% of median earnings 10 years after entry. Many advisers suggest keeping total student debt below one year of expected pay. See the monthly payment.
Southern Adventist University majors and what graduates earn
Southern Adventist University awarded bachelor's degrees in 54 fields recently. The best-paid graduates four years out came from nursing ($83,525).
All 54 majors at Southern Adventist University
Four-year earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Fields with few graduates have no published earnings.
Graduate programs at Southern Adventist University
21 graduate programs awarded degrees recently. Largest first.
Show 21 graduate programs
| Program | Degree | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing | Master's | 27 | $107,938 | $41,000 |
| Social work | Master's | 21 | $49,408 | $30,058 |
| Clinical and counseling psychology | Master's | 15 | n/a | n/a |
| Divinity and ministry | Master's | 9 | n/a | n/a |
| Teacher education by grade level | Master's | 6 | n/a | n/a |
| Pastoral ministry | Master's | 5 | n/a | n/a |
| Education leadership | Master's | 4 | n/a | n/a |
| Nursing | Professional doctorate | 4 | n/a | n/a |
| Computer science | Master's | 3 | n/a | n/a |
| Teacher education by subject | Master's | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Teacher education by subject | Professional doctorate | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | Master's | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Business analytics and operations research | Master's | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Marketing | Master's | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Religious studies | Master's | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Bible/Biblical Studies | Master's | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology | Master's | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Health administration | Master's | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Public health | Master's | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Accounting | Master's | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Management information systems | Master's | 0 | n/a | n/a |
Trade and career programs at Southern Adventist University
Certificate and associate programs in the trades we track. One-year earnings are for graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, four-year earnings for graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, both in 2024 dollars.
| Program | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Culinary arts | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Medical assistant | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Construction trades | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Dental assisting and hygiene | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Students and location
- 2,773 degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2024)
- 54% women, 46% men
- 19 students for every faculty member
- Setting: large suburb
- Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Southern Adventist University?
Southern Adventist University admitted 66% of applicants for fall 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
How much does Southern Adventist University cost?
Tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $28,900. After grants and scholarships, aided students paid an average net price of $25,979 a year in 2024-25.
What SAT score do you need for Southern Adventist University?
The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 530 to 660 in reading and writing and 490 to 640 in math, and 19 to 25 on the ACT. Scores inside these ranges are typical for admitted students.
Is Southern Adventist University test-optional?
For fall 2024 admission, Southern Adventist University reported that test scores were: considered but not required. Policies change, so confirm with the admissions office.
What is the graduation rate at Southern Adventist University?
56% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years.
How much do Southern Adventist University graduates make?
Former students who received federal aid earned a median of $58,780 a year 10 years after they started, in 2024 dollars.
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More: all colleges in Tennessee · Southern Adventist University on the College Scorecard
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, data release of October 15, 2026. What each figure means and the year it covers.