Southern Adventist University
A good fit for students who prefer a mid-size campus. no major red flags in the data. a private nonprofit school with 2,773 students.
About This School
Southern Adventist University is a private nonprofit institution located in Collegedale, Tennessee with approximately 2,773 undergraduate students enrolled. Southern Adventist University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 66%. The average net price after financial aid is $24,345 per year. The graduation rate is 49%, and the typical graduate earns $46,300 within 10 years of enrollment.
Southern Adventist University is a private Seventh-day Adventist university in Collegedale, Tennessee. It is owned and operated by the Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. It was founded in 1892 in Graysville, Tennessee, as Graysville Academy and was the first Adventist school in the southern U.S. Due to the need for additional space for expansion the school relocated in 1916 and was renamed Southern Junior College. In 1944, Southern began awarding baccalaureate degrees and was renamed Southern Missionary College. In 1996 the institution started conferring master's degrees and adopted its current name.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: a 51% graduation rate is notably low, meaning nearly half of students who start don't finish, which is worth taking seriously before committing. On the plus side, median debt at graduation is a relatively manageable $18,000, and the tight-knit Seventh-day Adventist community in Collegedale offers a structured, faith-centered environment that genuinely suits students who thrive in that culture. This is a worth considering if you're aligned with Adventist values and want an affordable small-college experience, but students who aren't a strong fit for religious campus life may struggle to stay engaged through graduation.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 1% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,773 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in Tennessee
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · Public
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN · Public
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN · Public
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · Public
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN · Public
South College
Knoxville, TN · Private for-profit
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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