For the 2022-23 academic year, tuition at Southern Adventist University rose by 2.8%, based on the latest available information, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Students enrolled at the four-year private nonprofit institution paid $23,870 this year, an increase of $660 from the $23,210 charged during the 2021-22 academic year.
Approximately 18% of the undergraduate student body are residents of Tennessee, while about 77% come from other states. International students make up roughly 1% of the undergraduate population.
Data indicates that every full-time undergraduate who began studies at Southern Adventist University in 2022-23 received some form of student financial aid. A total of 616 students were awarded grants or scholarships amounting to $7.7 million, and 277 students obtained student loans exceeding $2.2 million.
Across the entire undergraduate population, 2,280 students received grants or scholarships totaling $27.9 million. Additionally, 1,124 students borrowed $7.2 million in federal student loans.
Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.
According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.
Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.
Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.
| Type of Aid | Number of students awarded aid | Percent awarded aid | Total amount of aid awarded | Average amount of aid per student |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal grants | 194 | 31% | $1 million | $5,325 |
| State / local grant or scholarship | 95 | 15% | $552,041 | $5,811 |
| Institutional grants or scholarships | 616 | 100% | $6.1 million | $9,922 |
| Grant or scholarship aid total | 616 | 100% | $7.7 million | $12,495 |
| Federal student loans | 274 | 44% | $1.8 million | $6,748 |
| Other student loans | 27 | 4% | $308,305 | $11,419 |
| Student loan aid | 277 | 45% | $2.2 million | $7,788 |
| Total student aid | 617 | 100% | $9.9 million | $15,970 |
