Southern Adventist University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Southern Adventist University charges a net price of $24,345/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $97,380. Graduates earn a median $53,723 ten years after entry, $5,363/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 18.2 years — a 20-year net return of $9,880, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Southern Adventist University's 18.2-year payback ranks #1,031 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 20% of them, and #13 of 91 in Tennessee.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $24,345/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $97,380 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $53,723 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $5,363/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $24,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 18.2 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $9,880 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Southern Adventist University's own numbers. Net price $24,345 × 4 years = $97,380 total. Median earnings $53,723 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $5,363 a year of premium. $97,380 ÷ $5,363 = 18.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $9,880. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Southern Adventist University students graduate with?
A median $24,500 in federal loans among completers, or 46% of the $53,723 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Southern Adventist University students graduate?
49% finish their degree — 51% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $97,380 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $198,735 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Southern Adventist University expensive compared with other Tennessee colleges?
Its $24,345 net price runs $9,076 above the $15,269 median across the 91 Tennessee colleges we profile, or $36,304 more across the full degree.