Southern Adventist University

SAU offers 50+ undergraduate majors, with nursing, biomedical sciences, and business dominating student preferences. The 13:1 student-faculty ratio ensures intimate class sizes—58% have fewer than 20 students—while programs like allied health and computing leverage hands-on learning. The curriculum balances professional preparation with Adventist values, requiring religion courses and chapel attendance. Unique offerings include a biomedical sciences track tailored for pre-med students and a robust education and psychology department serving future teachers and counselors.

Life at SAU orbits around the Bietz Center for Student Life, a 43,000-square-foot hub with study lounges, dining options, and student services. The campus culture prioritizes spiritual growth—mandatory convocations and Sabbath observance shape weekly rhythms—while clubs and intramurals foster camaraderie. Dining halls adhere to Adventist dietary principles (vegetarian-friendly, no pork). Reviews highlight a tight-knit, respectful community where ‘difference’ is embraced, though social life leans quieter, with no Greek system and alcohol-free policies.

SAU reports a 94% placement rate for graduates (employment or further education), though its 6-year graduation rate lags at 51%—below national averages. Pell Grant recipients graduate at 53%, slightly outpacing their peers. The university emphasizes career-ready outcomes, with nursing and business alumni often securing roles within Adventist healthcare systems or schools. While retention rates aren’t published, the modest graduation metrics suggest some students transfer or pause studies, common at faith-based institutions with non-traditional populations.

Tuition runs $38,300 annually, but 58% of students receive aid, slashing the average net price?Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. to $25,374. The university awards $16,300 in average scholarships/grants, with additional work-study opportunities (typically $2,500/year). Adventist students often qualify for denominational grants. The net price calculator helps families budget, though SAU’s cost remains steep for a regional university—justified, administrators argue, by its faith-integrated education and high job-placement rates.

SAU carves a niche as the Adventist South’s academic anchor, blending conservative theology with career-focused majors. Its nursing program feeds into Adventist Health System hospitals, while the weekend Sabbath observance (no classes or work from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) creates a distinct rhythm. The university’s 94% job-placement rate defies its modest graduation stats, suggesting graduates who persist land firmly on their feet. For students seeking a faith-infused education with strong professional networks—and don’t mind meatless Mondays—SAU delivers.