Southern Adventist University

What Southern Adventist University does

Southern Adventist University is a private, non-profit institution of higher education founded in 1892 and operated under the sponsorship of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Its 1,300-acre main campus is located in Collegedale, Tennessee, comprising 26 major buildings plus nearly 40 miles of hiking and biking trails. The university enrolls approximately 3,008 undergraduate and 352 graduate students drawn from 49 states and 35 countries (2025-2026), with 68% of students living on campus and a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio, supported by 172 full-time faculty. The institution is led by President Ken Shaw and is governed under the Seventh-day Adventist educational system.

The academic portfolio includes 75 baccalaureate majors, 20 associate majors, and graduate programs spanning the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), MBA, MS in Nursing (MSN), MSW, MSEd, MAT, MMin, MS in Computer Science, and Professional Counseling. Delivery modalities include on-campus instruction, online learning through the Online Campus and eClass LMS, dual enrollment for high school students, and study abroad. Southern Adventist University also issues Southern Advantage Digital Badges through Accredible, certifying durable soft skills in six categories, and offers a Southern Scholars honors program, student missions, and roughly 50 co-curricular organizations. Accreditation is held from SACSCOC for degree-granting programs at the associate through doctoral levels, with additional programmatic accreditations in nursing, social work, and business.

The business model is anchored in tuition, fees, and room and board, supplemented by donor contributions, endowment returns, and grant funding. For 2025-2026, undergraduate tuition is $28,900 (32% below the national private college average), with room and board at $9,400 and books estimated at $1,100; graduate tuition varies by program; dual enrollment is priced at $200 per credit hour. 98% of full-time undergraduates receive financial aid with an average package of $23,000 per year, and institutional funds exceeding $23 million annually support students. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via campus visits, PreviewSouthern events, virtual tours, online applications, the southern.edu website, Columns alumni magazine, and student journalism. Distribution is through on-campus instruction and online self-serve enrollment, with international student services supporting a geographically diverse applicant pool.

Name

Southern Adventist University

Legal name

Southern Adventist University

Website

https://southern.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Southern Adventist University is a private, non-profit Seventh-day Adventist university in Collegedale, Tennessee, serving roughly 3,360 undergraduate and graduate students across 75 baccalaureate majors, multiple graduate degrees, and online delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Residential Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAH)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate programs
• Online learning
• Faith-based education

Headquarters

HQ city

Collegedale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from tuition and general fees for undergraduate programs. Priced at $28,900 for 2025-2026 academic year, 32% below national average for private colleges.
2. Graduate Tuition and Fees: Graduate program tuition for master's and doctoral degrees including MBA, MSN, MSW, DNP, and other professional programs.
3. Room and Board: On-campus housing and dining services. Room and board priced at $9,400 for 2025-2026 academic year. 68% of students live on campus.
4. Student Fees and Services: Additional fees for specific programs, services, activities, and course materials including lab fees and textbook costs (estimated $1,100 annually).
5. Dual Enrollment Programs: Online dual enrollment courses for high school students at $200 per credit hour, providing college credit while still in high school.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Southern Adventist University is a private, Seventh-day Adventist-affiliated co-educational university offering 75 baccalaureate majors and 20 associate majors at the undergraduate level, plus doctoral and master's degrees (MBA, MSN, MSW, DNP, MSEd, MAT, MMin, MS in Computer Science, Professional Counseling). It delivers instruction through on-campus programs in Collegedale, Tennessee and through its Online Campus with the eClass LMS, and serves approximately 3,008 undergraduate and 352 graduate students from 49 states and 35 countries.

Product overview

Southern Adventist University operates as a comprehensive Seventh-day Adventist institution offering doctoral, master's, baccalaureate, and associate degrees across diverse disciplines. The university's academic portfolio includes 75 undergraduate baccalaureate majors and 20 associate majors at the undergraduate level, alongside graduate programs spanning Doctor of Nursing Practice, multiple master's degrees (MBA, MSN, MSW, MSEd, MAT, MMin, MS in Computer Science and Professional Counseling), and a Master of Arts in Religion. The institution extends its educational reach through the Online Campus, which delivers dual enrollment opportunities for high school students and fully online degree pathways. Southern Adventist University also offers the Southern Advantage Digital Badges program through Accredible, providing verified credentials for durable soft skills development. Student life programming encompasses approximately 50 organizations, music ensembles, intramural sports, and mission/service opportunities. The institution's main campus in Collegedale, Tennessee spans 1,300 acres with 26 major buildings and nearly 40 miles of hiking and biking trails.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of full-time undergraduates receive financial aid
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Tennessee's Dual Enrollment GrantminorOthersState of Tennessee grant program allowing eligible dual enrollment students to receive funding that is distributed as tuition reimbursement once grant funds are received by the university midway through each semester.
• Community Service PartnersminorOthersDozens of active community partners providing nonprofit opportunities to minister to refugees and the homeless, fight pediatric cancer and human trafficking, coach soccer, and mentor and tutor children. Core focus addresses vulnerable groups identified in Matthew 25.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lee University: Private faith-based university in Cleveland, Tennessee with comparable enrollment (~5,000 students), similar residential Christian liberal arts focus, and overlapping recruitment geography in the Southeast.
• Andrews University: Seventh-day Adventist institution in Berrien Springs, Michigan offering undergraduate through doctoral programs in the same denominational system, providing the most direct faith-affiliation and academic portfolio comparison.
• Walla Walla University: Seventh-day Adventist comprehensive university in College Place, Washington with similar mix of baccalaureate, graduate, and online offerings under the same Adventist educational system.
• Loma Linda University: Seventh-day Adventist university in Loma Linda, California with a health-sciences emphasis and doctoral programs, sharing the same Adventist affiliation, accreditation pathway, and value-driven tuition model.
• Union University: Private Baptist-affiliated university in Jackson, Tennessee offering undergraduate through doctoral programs with comparable residential enrollment, faith integration, and Southeast regional recruitment overlap.
• Carson-Newman University: Private Baptist-affiliated university in Jefferson City, Tennessee with similar enrollment size, faith-based liberal arts focus, and overlapping Tennessee/regional recruitment markets.
• Trevecca Nazarene University: Private Nazarene-affiliated university in Nashville, Tennessee offering undergraduate and graduate programs with comparable tuition positioning and faith-based residential model.
• Calvin University: Christian Reformed private university in Grand Rapids, Michigan with similar comprehensive undergraduate-to-graduate offering and faith-centered residential model, though in a different region.
• Biola University: Private Christian university in La Mirada, California with comparable faith-affiliated comprehensive academic portfolio, online program presence, and tuition positioning.

Regional players

• Belmont University: Nashville, Tennessee-based private Christian university with comparable graduate offerings and Nashville-area recruitment, though larger enrollment and broader program mix than Southern Adventist.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SouthernNews
• Facebookfacebook.com/212958875599
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southern-adventist-university

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southern Adventist University