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Collegedale, TN · Nashville, TN
| Southern Adventist University | Vanderbilt University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $24,345/yr | $15,846/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $19,123/yr | $3,414/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $24,500 | $14,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $20,421/yr | $1,876/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $22,849/yr | $4,498/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $26,679/yr | $12,153/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $30,751/yr | $45,145/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $260/mo | $148/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $8,900/yr | $22,054/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $12,600/yr | No data reported |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,100/yr | $1,194/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $5,000/yr | $3,396/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $38,618/yr | $89,590/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $27,300/yr | $67,498/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $27,300/yr | $67,498/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 31% | 20% |
| Students taking federal loans | 42% | 9.6% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 66% | 5.9% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1020–1300 | 1500–1570 |
| SAT average | 1129 | 1549 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 19–25 | 34–35 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 18–26 · Math 17–25 | English 35–36 · Math 32–35 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 2,731 | 45,313 |
| Students accepted | 1,819 | 2,844 |
| Students who enrolled | 758 | 1,622 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 42% | 57% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 42% | 25% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 64% | 26% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Required |
| Class rank | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 49% | 94% |
| Freshmen who come back | 83% | 96% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $53,723/yr | $91,565/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $33,870–$85,229 | $59,554–$138,460 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 60% | 93% |
| White students graduating | 51% | 94% |
| Black students graduating | 30% | 89% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 45% | 93% |
| Asian students graduating | 65% | 97% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $44,818/yr | $73,909/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 66% | 89% |
| Graduate on time | 35% | 87% |
| Pell students who graduate | 40% | 89% |
| First-gen students who finish | 41% | 90% |
| Low-income students who finish | 44% | 92% |
| Students who transfer out | 5.3% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $49,257/yr | $84,542/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Health Professions 33% · Business, Management & Marketing 12% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 10% | Social Sciences 31% · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies 16% · Engineering 12% |
| Most popular program | Health Professions — 33% of degrees | Social Sciences — 31% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 12% of degrees | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies — 16% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degrees | Engineering — 12% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 7% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 6% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $105,170/yr | Law — $156,307/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 16% | 32% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 2,773 | 7,208 |
| Students per professor | 19 : 1 | 8 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 300 | 6,354 |
| Average professor pay | $6,732/mo | $16,361/mo |
| Full-time professors | 100% | 85% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $50,894 | $58,118 |
| Setting | Suburb (large) | City (large) |
| Location | Collegedale, TN | Nashville, TN |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1892 | 1873 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 7.7% | 11% |
| Men | 46% | 48% |
| Women | 54% | 52% |
| White students | 37% | 39% |
| Black students | 5.6% | 9.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 26% | 11% |
| Asian students | 14% | 19% |
| Two or more races | 6.6% | 5.7% |
| Other / not reported | 3.3% | 4.9% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | None |
| First-generation students | 18% | 12% |
| Part-time students | 11% | 0.6% |
| Students age 25+ | 6.7% | 0.2% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $11,547/yr | $34,184/yr |
| Endowment | $64.7M | $10.2B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,500 | 6,009 |
| Required to live on campus | No | Yes — for first-year students |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $5,140/yr | $13,484/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $3,720/yr | $7,570/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | 21 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Seventh Day Adventists | No data reported |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | No | Yes — Army, Navy, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | Yes |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | Yes |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | No |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | No |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | Yes | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | No data reported | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | No intercollegiate athletics reported | NCAA Division I-FBS |
| Football team | No data reported | Yes |
| Varsity teams | No data reported | 14 |
| Student athletes | No data reported | 453 |
| Athletic scholarships | No data reported | $21.5M |
| Athletics budget | No data reported | $146.4M |
| Athletics revenue | No data reported | $146.4M |
| Recruiting spend | No data reported | $2.9M |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.