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Southern Adventist University is a small college located in Collegedale, TN. The student body is comprised of 2,500 undergraduate and approximately 300 graduate students. Since the school is affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, SAU is private so as to fully integrate its religious mission into the curriculum.

Students at Southern Adventist are able to pick from a wide selection of majors. Students should be able to find the field that suits them, as the school offers degrees in areas such as technology, healthcare, literature, sciences, and art. For those who are eager to start a career as soon as possible, Southern offers two year certifications. However, they currently only offer two certification programs.


Overview of Southern Adventist University


Southern students do more than study, however. There are loads of clubs, sports, and other activities to help broaden one's non-academic faculties. The campus hosts clubs that help students explore their academic or professional aspirations but also clubs for outdoor adventurers, cultural explorers, and religious life. For sports, the intramural program supports sports such as softball, tennis, and futsal, among others. There are also musical and acrobatic groups that can add a new level of enrichment to campus life.

General Information


School Type Private not-for-profit
Campus Setting Suburb: Large
Campus Housing Yes
Student Faculty Ratio 13:1
Graduation Rate 55%
Year Founded 1892

Student Enrollment


Total Students2,834

Undergraduate
2,448
Graduate
386

Undergraduate Student

Male 1,053
1,053
Female 1,395
1,395

Graduate Student

Male 166
166
Female 220
220

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Southern Adventist University Acceptance Rate & Admissions


APPLICATIONS2,281

Male 926
Female 1,355

ACCEPTANCE1,688

Male 675.98
Female 1,016.25

Acceptance Rate74%

Male 73%
Female 75%

Enrollment NA

Male NA
Female NA
Admissions
Application Fee $25
High School GPA Required
High School Rank NA
High School Transcripts Required
College Prep Courses Considered But Not Required
Recommendations NA
SAT/ACT Considered But Not Required
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) NA
Application Deadline October 1
Common Application Accepted No

Southern Adventist University Tuition Cost & Financial Aid


Though it's impossible to place a monetary value on academic and personal growth, even spiritually minded students at Southern Adventist University need to pay for college and then have their degrees pay off. Since Southern is a private institution, its up-front costs may seem a bit high. Tuition, fees, books, and supplies for a year at Southern will run an individual student $24,000. When living expenses are added, the gross price is around $35,500 for on-campus living. The school estimates an additional $1,000 for those who live off campus.

However, once all financial aid is tallied, students have a more affordable net cost. In fact, the average net cost per student is $24,000 per year. The lowest income bracket students pay $19,000 and then highest income households pay close to $29,000. This is due, in part, to generous grants and scholarships that provide and average of $11,000 per student to 98% of the student body.

Average net price 2018-2019
Net Price $23,623
Average Total Aid $11,367
Students Receiving Financial Aid 99%
Room & Board $7,640

Sticker Price


  • Tuition In-State - $22,520
  • Tuition Out-of-State - $22,520
  • Books and Supplies - $1,100
  • Room & Board - $7,640
  • Other - $4,250

Academics


Southern Adventist University is a terrific place to study. Their small size allows for a great student-to-faculty ratio, their degree offerings are extensive, and their educational statistics add up to a tremendous success for everyone. In particular, Southern's retention and graduation rates reflect their excellent academics.

The retention rate indicates how satisfied first-year students are with the curriculum, campus resources, and even the social life on campus. Since Southern students return to campus at a rate of 81%, the majority clearly is enthusiastic with what they've found on campus.

The graduation rate is likewise impressive. The overall graduation rate is 55%, just under the national average, to which is added a 22% transfer rate. Since those transfers are assumed to have moved on to other schools for their eventual diploma, Southern's strong academics prepares 77% of students for success.

All of this could be attributed, in part, to the student-to-faculty ratio. There are 13 students for every one faculty member on the Southern campus. That means that students are sure to receive individualized attention. Smaller classes often correlate with a greater ability for students to pursue individual curiosities in their chosen field.

Student Population Total


Student Population 2,834

Undergraduate
2,448
Graduate
386
Evening Classes : Yes
Online Learning : Yes

Most Popular Programs & Majors

(# of Diplomas Awarded by Subject)


Health Professions and Related Programs 107 Total Graduates / 22%
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 101 Graduates
Health/Health Care Administration/Management 3 Graduates
Art Therapy/Therapist 2 Graduates
Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist 1 Graduates
All Business Majors 65 Total Graduates / 13%
Business Administration and Management, General 27 Graduates
Finance, General 13 Graduates
Marketing/Marketing Management, General 9 Graduates
Accounting 5 Graduates
International Business/Trade/Commerce 5 Graduates
All Biological & Biomedical Majors 54 Total Graduates / 11%
Biomedical Sciences, General 28 Graduates
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 19 Graduates
Biochemistry 6 Graduates
Biophysics 1 Graduates
Visual and Performing Arts 35 Total Graduates / 7%
Graphic Design 12 Graduates
Cinematography and Film/Video Production 10 Graduates
Music, General 5 Graduates
Art/Art Studies, General 3 Graduates
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies 33 Total Graduates / 7%
Kinesiology and Exercise Science 27 Graduates
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies, Other 3 Graduates
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 3 Graduates
All Other Diplomas 40%

Outcome & Salary


After graduation, Southern's well-rounded, knowledgeable students find that they receive a healthy return on their educational investment dollar. Though there aren't many statistics reflecting the financial outcomes for Southern's alumni, their nursing students tend to do quite well. The median earnings for those graduates hovers between $47,000 for RNs with an associate degree and $53,000 for RNs who graduate from Southern with a bachelor's degree.

Graduates Salary
College Grads Early Career Salary $45,000
College Grads Average Salary $61,475
College Grads Mid Career Salary $65,300
Return on Investment (ROI)
10 Year Salary Earnings Potential $614,750
20 Year Salary Earnings Potential $1,267,750
Cost of Education (Net Price) 4 Year $94,492
10 Year Projected ROI $520,258
20 Year Projected ROI $1,173,258
No College Education Salary Comparison
National Average Salary $38,792
10 Year Projected Income $387,920
20 Year Projected Income $775,840

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