Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Collegedale, Tennessee
66.6% Acceptance Rate
Southern Adventist University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
66.6%Acceptance Rate
3.59Avg GPA
1116Avg SAT
22Avg ACT
$37,875Annual Cost
$53,723Grad Salary
30.9%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
66.6%
Avg GPA
3.59
Avg SAT
1116
Avg ACT
22
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
970–1270
ACT Middle 50%
18–26
Need-Based Aid
30.9% receive Pell
Southern Adventist University, established in 1892 in Collegedale, Tennessee, is a private Christian university affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Ranked #38 in Regional Universities South by U.S. News, it offers a faith-based education with programs in nursing, business, and theology. The 1,300-acre campus features modern labs, a broadcasting station, and a scenic location near the Smoky Mountains.
Southern Adventist University Acceptance Rate
Southern Adventist University takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 66.6% each year.
What Southern Adventist University Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 66.6% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.59 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.39 – 3.58
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.14
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Southern Adventist University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Southern Adventist University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Southern Adventist University reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (March 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Southern Adventist University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Southern Adventist University is 3.59. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.29 and 3.59? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.79–3.99.Southern Adventist University GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective, with solid academic performance as the expectation.
Recommended Strategy: A clear, defined strength in one activity or research area matters more than breadth.
This range is a rough map. Where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application.:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.59 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.39 – 3.58
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.19 – 3.38
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.18
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Test-optional pathways exist via homeschool GPA (2.75+) or GED score (670+) - otherwise ACT 18 / SAT 960 minimum.
- Religion course required every semester, all majors.
- Nursing admission is a separate, competitive step after general university acceptance.
- ASAP tutoring program specifically supports nursing student success and NCLEX prep.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself. A 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average. The trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Southern Adventist University
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Southern Adventist University's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Southern Adventist University Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Southern Adventist University. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Southern Adventist University Without SAT or ACT?
Southern Adventist University considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Southern Adventist University Average SAT Score: 1116
Admitted students at Southern Adventist University average a 1116 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1116 — Less Competitive
A 1116 average leaves meaningful room above it for a competitive application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1270 SAT or 26 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Southern Adventist University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 970? A retake is worth it at Southern Adventist University. Two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 545 | 470 | 620 |
| SAT Reading | 575 | 500 | 650 |
| SAT Composite | 1116 | 970 | 1270 |
A score under 970 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1270+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1100
Can I get into Southern Adventist University with a 1250 SAT?
At 1250, your SAT is squarely in Southern Adventist University's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file. GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
Southern Adventist University ACT Requirements
Southern Adventist University's admitted students average an ACT of 22.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 22 — Slightly Competitive
An average of 22 tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 21 | 17 | 25 |
| ACT English | 23 | 18 | 27 |
| ACT Composite | 22 | 18 | 26 |
Can I get into Southern Adventist University with a 26 ACT?
At 26, you're in the top quarter of Southern Adventist University's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections, English, Math, Reading, and Science, are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, Southern Adventist University weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily. The ACT opens the door, and the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Southern Adventist University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Southern Adventist University is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Route around the test-score requirement via homeschool/dual-enrollment GPA
Southern waives ACT/SAT (18 ACT / 960 SAT minimums otherwise) for homeschooled applicants with a 2.75+ cumulative GPA and 6+ dual-enrollment credits at a 3.0 GPA, or for a GED score of 670+. This is a genuinely useful alternate path for homeschooled students who haven't tested.
Plan for the required-every-semester religion course as a real academic load item
Southern requires a religion course every single semester regardless of major - this isn't a one-time general-ed box to check. Build it into the four-year course plan from day one so it doesn't crowd out major requirements senior year.
Treat nursing admission as a second, separate gate
Getting into Southern doesn't get a student into the nursing program - Admission to Nursing is a distinct, competitive step with its own GPA threshold and committee review, and meeting minimums doesn't guarantee a clinical seat. Counsel nursing-track students to have a backup major in mind for the gap semester if not admitted on the first try.
Use the ASAP tutoring program as a retention safety net for nursing
Southern's Assisting Students to Achieve Professionally (ASAP) program is a structured tutoring pipeline specifically built around nursing coursework and standardized test prep. Mentioning intent to use ASAP proactively in an interview signals realistic self-awareness about the program's difficulty.
Expert Insight:
Students sometimes assume "Adventist" affiliation means a strict admissions religious test - it doesn't function as a doctrinal gate the way some Bible colleges do. The real friction point is academic: nursing's competitive internal admission process, not a faith screening.
Southern Adventist University Profile
Full Name
Southern Adventist University
City
Collegedale
State
Tennessee
ZIP Code
37315-0370
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a Southern Adventist University Degree Worth It?
Whether Southern Adventist University is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $60,100, and graduates see a 3.23% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Southern Adventist University Cost?
Listed tuition runs $37,875/year at Southern Adventist University. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At Southern Adventist University, 30.9% receive a Pell Grant and 43.7% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Southern Adventist University on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Southern Adventist University Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Southern Adventist University graduates report a median income of $53,723, about 32% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Southern Adventist University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
| University of the Ozarks | Clarksville, AR | 1088 | 21 |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin, CA | 1093 | 22 |
| Fort Lewis College | Durango, CO | 1084 | 20 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | 1077 | 22 |
| Central Connecticut State University | New Britain, CT | 1091 | 24 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Southern Adventist University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Southern Adventist University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
Degree Programs at Southern Adventist University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Southern Adventist University Admissions
Southern Adventist University graduates earn a moderate median salary of $53,723/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Southern Adventist University is moderate, around $37,875/year; many students supplement with aid.
30.9% of Southern Adventist University students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Southern Adventist University's acceptance rate is 66.6%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Southern Adventist University students is 3.59, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.29 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Southern Adventist University. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.19 or below makes admission tougher at Southern Adventist University, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Southern Adventist University weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1116, and within the 970–1270 range, keeps you competitive.
Southern Adventist University follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before March 1, 2026. That's Southern Adventist University's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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