Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, TN · SoutheastQuad's selectivitySelective

Known forVery diverseFaith-centered

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

7 in 10 applicants admitted

Southern Adventist admits about 7 in 10 applicants (66%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 70% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

66%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivitySelective

Applied

2,907

Admitted

1,904

Yield

37%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1020–1300

8001600

ACT middle 50%

19–25

1836

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 2,773 undergrads, where 31% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

2.8K

undergrads · larger than 67% of colleges

Diversity index

0.76

Pell Grant

31%

below the median

First generation

18%

below the median

Large suburbStudy abroad

More diverse · index 0.69 → 0.76 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (20% of graduates). 19 students for every faculty member, more than at 87% of colleges. 100% of faculty are full-time. Spends $11,547 a year on instruction per student.

19 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 87% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $26,717 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $2.4K more than the national median. The 99% who received grants paid $25,753 on average; the other 1% paid the full sticker price of $39,500.

32%

$26.7K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $2.4K above the national median

Full price: $39,500 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid: 43% · avg $11K; of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)

Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 32% of full price

Federal loans

42%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −8% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $53,723 ten years after enrolling, more than at 49% of colleges; 61% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.0 years of that salary.

61%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$53.7K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$24.5K

≈ $260/month for 10 years

Retention

83%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 52% → 49% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 3% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 8%, because grants grew faster.

Cost
Falling
−8% after inflation
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.69 → 0.76

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Adelphi University

66% admit · SAT 1230 · 5.3K undergrads

Similar selectivityAlso private

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Jacksonville University

57% admit · SAT 1197 · 2.9K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso SoutheastAlso private

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Mount St. Mary's University

74% admit · SAT 1163 · 1.8K undergrads

Similar scoresAlso private

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Lynn University

73% admit · SAT 1120 · 2.9K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso SoutheastAlso private

Compare side-by-side

Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
Southern Adventist University (2026)
Southern Adventist University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 221661 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything