More selective than 68% of Tennessee colleges we cover.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $38,618. College Scorecard.
Higher than 33% of Tennessee colleges we cover and 41% of colleges nationwide. U.S. median 54%.
Within 6 years · College Scorecard
Higher than 66% of Tennessee colleges we cover and 51% of colleges nationwide. U.S. median $53,263.
Median, 10 years after starting · College Scorecard
Southern Adventist University acceptance rate & admissions
Of 2,731 applicants, Southern Adventist University admitted 1,819 and 758 enrolled (IPEDS, Fall 2023 entering class). The middle half of enrolled first-year students scored 1020–1300 on the SAT or 19–25 on the ACT.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Test scores: College Scorecard, Fall 2024. Other figures: College Scorecard; IPEDS
Southern Adventist University tuition, cost & net price
What families actually pay per year, by income
Average net price after grants and scholarships for students who receive federal aid. Tap your income band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year (federal aid recipients)
Sticker price (before aid)
IPEDS 2023-24 cost items; total from College Scorecard
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
What Southern Adventist University costs to finish, and how fast it pays back
Graduates of Southern Adventist University took 4.5 years on average to finish, so the yearly price adds up to the total below. Payback compares former students' earnings with what high school graduates earn in Tennessee. The figures follow your residency and income choices above.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $19,123 | $86,054 | 4.5 years |
| $30–48k | $20,421 | $91,895 | 4.8 years |
| $48–75k | $22,849 | $102,821 | 5.4 years |
| $75–110k | $26,679 | $120,056 | 6.3 years |
| $110k+ | $30,751 | $138,380 | 7.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (38% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of former students 10 years after starting ($53,723) minus $34,518 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in TN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $19,205 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard (net price, earnings); IPEDS Graduation Rates (time to finish); U.S. Census Bureau ACS (high school earnings). Calculated by EducationGuide.
Southern Adventist University majors, earnings & careers
Southern Adventist University offers 92 bachelor's majors across 11 areas. Earnings below are for this school's graduates of each major, four years after finishing.
- Humanities & Languages · 19
- Business & Finance · 13
- Health & Medicine · 12
- Social Sciences & Public Service · 10
- Education · 7
- Engineering · 6
- Science & Math · 6
- Technology & Computing · 6
- Arts & Design · 5
- Communications & Media · 5
- Trades & Applied Technology · 3
Highest-earning majors at Southern Adventist University
| Major | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing | $83,525 | $28,191 |
| Kinesiology / Exercise Science | $59,895 | $25,975 |
| Social Work | $51,516 | $24,575 |
| Education (Elementary / Secondary) | $50,119 | $24,250 |
| Business Administration | $48,307 | — |
Quick list of all 92 majors
- Accounting—
- Allied Health (Imaging / Therapy / Tech)—
- Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services—
- Archeology—
- Bible Studies—
- Biochemistry—
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other—
- Biology—
- Building / Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection—
- Business Administration$48,307
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other—
- Chemistry—
- Communications—
- Communications Technologies / Technicians—
- Communications Technologies / Technicians and Support Services, Other—
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other—
- Computer Engineering—
- Computer Programming—
- Computer Science—
- Construction Management—
- Culinary Arts and Related Services—
- Curriculum and Instruction—
- Data Analytics—
- Dental Support Services and Allied Professions—
- Drafting / Design Engineering Technologies / Technicians—
- Economics—
- Education (Elementary / Secondary)$50,119
- Education (Subject Teaching)—
- Education, Other—
- Educational Administration and Supervision—
- Electrical Engineering—
- Engineering—
- Engineering Mechanics—
- English—
- Entrepreneurship—
- Ethnic / Gender Studies—
- Film and Photography—
- Finance—
- Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services—
- General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations—
- Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design—
- Health Administration—
- History—
- Human Development and Family Studies—
- Human Resources—
- Industrial Production Technologies / Technicians—
- Information Technology—
- International / Global Studies—
- International Business—
- International Relations—
- Journalism—
- Kinesiology / Exercise Science$59,895
- Legal Studies / Paralegal—
- Liberal Arts / General Studies—
- Linguistics—
- Literature—
- Management Information Systems—
- Management Science / Analytics—
- Marketing—
- Mathematics—
- Medical Laboratory Science—
- Middle / Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics—
- Missions / Missionary Studies and Missiology—
- Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies, Other—
- Museology / Museum Studies—
- Music—
- Nursing$83,525
- Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology, Other—
- Pastoral Counseling / Ministry—
- Physics—
- Political Science—
- Psychology—
- Psychology (Clinical / Counseling)—
- Psychology (Research)—
- Public Health—
- Public Relations and Advertising—
- Rehabilitation / Therapy Sciences—
- Religious Education—
- Religious Music and Worship—
- Religious Studies—
- Social Work$51,516
- Sociology—
- Software and Media Applications—
- Spanish / French / Romance Languages—
- Special Education—
- Speech-Language Pathology / Communication Disorders—
- Studio Art—
- Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language—
- Theology / Ministry—
- Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies / Technicians—
- Visual and Performing Arts—
- Writing—
— means too few graduates to report earnings.
College Scorecard field of study, latest release
All majors by area with earnings 1 and 4 years out, and debt →Nursing → Registered nurse
Median annual wage for all workers in this job, not only new graduates. U.S. jobs projected to grow 5.6% from 2025 to 2035.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Education (Elementary / Secondary) → Elementary school teacher
Median annual wage for all workers in this job, not only new graduates. U.S. jobs projected to shrink 0.4% from 2025 to 2035.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Living in Chattanooga
Overall prices in the Chattanooga, TN-GA area.
BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
2 bedrooms $1,340. Housing costs 23% below the U.S. average.
HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027
January and July average highs. 60 inches of rain a year, 4 inches of snow.
NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
Highest: tornado (relatively high); river flooding (relatively high); winter weather (relatively high).
FEMA National Risk Index, Hamilton County
Campus & students
IPEDS fall enrollment; Carnegie Classification; EADA via Urban Institute
Hamilton County at a glance
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2024
Compare Southern Adventist University with similar schools
Similar private colleges in Tennessee by selectivity, graduation rate and size. Tap “Why?” to see where the price difference comes from.
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Adventist University | 66% | $24,345 | 49% | $53,723 | This school |
| Cumberland University | 67% | $18,759 | 46% | $57,687 | |
| Lincoln Memorial University | 63% | $20,406 | 50% | $49,956 | |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | 69% | $16,813 | 53% | $49,378 | |
| Lee University | 71% | $18,878 | 63% | $43,222 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
Southern Adventist University would cost you $5,586 more per year than Cumberland University, on average.
- Lower sticker price at Southern Adventist University, mostly from lower housing & meal costs (−$1,900).
- Cumberland University gives aided families $10,326 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, Tennessee resident | Southern Adventist University | CU | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $27,300 | $27,840 | −$540 |
| Books & supplies | $1,100 | $1,200 | −$100 |
| Housing & meals | $8,460 | $10,360 | −$1,900 |
| Personal & travel | $4,350 | $5,340 | −$990 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$2,592 | −$1,382 | −$1,210 |
| Sticker price | $38,618 | $43,358 | −$4,740 |
| Average grants | −$14,273 | −$24,599 | +$10,326 |
| You pay | $24,345 | $18,759 | +$5,586 |
“+” means Southern Adventist University costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
Common questions about Southern Adventist University
What is the Southern Adventist University acceptance rate?
Southern Adventist University accepts 66% of applicants (College Scorecard). In the latest IPEDS admissions year, 1,819 of 2,731 applicants were admitted. The middle half of enrolled first-year students scored 1020–1300 on the SAT or 19–25 on the ACT.
How much does Southern Adventist University cost per year?
The sticker price (cost of attendance) is $38,618 a year. After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $24,345 a year on average; families earning $0–30k pay $19,123 and families earning $110k+ pay $30,751.
How much do Southern Adventist University graduates earn?
Former Southern Adventist University students earn a median $53,723 ten years after starting college, compared with a U.S. median of $53,263 across the colleges we cover.
What is the Southern Adventist University graduation rate?
49% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 83% return for their second year.
How long does a Southern Adventist University degree take to pay off?
For a family earning $48–75k, finishing at Southern Adventist University costs about $102,821 after grants ($22,849 a year for 4.5 years, the average time graduates took). Former students earn a median $53,723 ten years after starting, $19,205 more than high school graduates in Tennessee ($34,518), so the cost is repaid in 5.4 years of that gain, before taxes and interest (EducationGuide calculation).
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Sources on this page: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; U.S. Census Bureau (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, Employment Projections); Bureau of Economic Analysis; HUD; NOAA; FEMA; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By); Wikidata. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Averages are not quotes; confirm costs with the school. How we score
Data: download this school's data (JSON) · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Southern Adventist University: cost, admissions and outcomes,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/southern-adventist-university (College Scorecard and IPEDS data).