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Southern Adventist University
Southern Adventist University says yes to 65.5% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $53,723 median earnings.
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Southern Adventist University occupies suburban Collegedale, TN — a private campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat. The school maintains its Seventh Day Adventist affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $83,525 four years out. 30.6% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 2,773 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 82.8% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 970 and 1270 — near the TN middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Southern Adventist University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Southern Adventist University received 2,731 applications and admitted 1,819 (66.6%), with 758 enrolling.
Southern Adventist University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 970–1270 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Southern Adventist University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 500 | 570 | 650 |
| SAT Math | 470 | 540 | 620 |
| ACT Composite | 18 | 22 | 26 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Southern Adventist University compares
| Southern Adventist University | Tennessee median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 65.5% | 69.4% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $27,300 | $21,400 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $53,723 | $48,382 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Southern Adventist University: $53,723 median at year ten, versus $48,382 across Tennessee institutions.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $27,300 regardless of where you're from. At Southern Adventist University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
At 2,773 undergrads, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
49.4% graduate within six years. Roughly 51% don't — ask a Southern Adventist University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Southern Adventist University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $83,525 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $59,895 |
| Social Work | $51,516 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $50,119 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $48,307 |
Median earnings for these 5 Southern Adventist University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $53,723 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 87 additional Southern Adventist University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Southern Adventist University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 970–1270 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 65.5% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Southern Adventist University's acceptance rate?
66.6% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,819 admitted from 2,731 applicants.
How much does Southern Adventist University cost?
At Southern Adventist University, published tuition is $27,300 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Southern Adventist University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Southern Adventist University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $53,723 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Tennessee
- Tennessee Wesleyan University — 68.8% admitted
- The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga — 81.1% admitted
- Tennessee State University — 70.1% admitted
- Tennessee Technological University — 76.1% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.