Southern Adventist University vs WAU-DC

Southern Adventist University (SAU) and Washington Adventist University (WAU) are two highly regarded private Christian universities with distinct characteristics. SAU, located in Collegedale, Tennessee, boasts a higher acceptance rate (78%) compared to WAU's 68%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with SAU excelling in fields like nursing, biology, and business administration, while WAU is known for its strengths in theology, social work, and education. While SAU's student body is predominantly White (63%), WAU's student population is more diverse, with a significant proportion of African American (30%) and Hispanic (20%) students. Both universities boast impressive graduation rates, with SAU's rate at 63% and WAU's at 59%. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these aspects and more. Explore the table to discover which
Southern Adventist University logo

Southern Adventist University

Washington Adventist University logo

Washington Adventist University

Overview

Location Collegedale, Tennessee Takoma Park, Maryland
Campus setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 82.0% 65.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation Protestant Protestant

Admission

Acceptance rate 74.4% 61.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $40
$25
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 1,914 1,744
Total number of admissions given out 1,424 1,077
Admitted students who chose to enroll 571 56
Yield rate 40.1% 5.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $37,110 $32,200
Average net price $24,127 $13,414
Tuition $22,320 $23,400
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,760

Meal plan: $3,480
Room/dormitory: $4,470

Meal plan: $5,628
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

99.0%
Average amount $13,511
95.0%
Average amount $14,746
Students receiving federal student loan 43.0%
Average amount $6,616
47.0%
Average amount $7,102
Students taking out private loans 5.0%
Average amount $11,610
0.0%
Average amount $0

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,400
Men 44.9% Women 55.1%
690
Men 33.9% Women 66.1%
Graduate students 319
Men 21.9% Women 78.1%
95
Men 25.3% Women 74.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 80.6% 32.1%
International students 5.6% 9.8%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 1,600 400
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Tennessee California Florida Georgia North Carolina Maryland District of Columbia Virginia Florida New Jersey

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Business
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Psychology
  • Business
  • Education
  • Liberal Arts
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 7:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 47.7% 40.0%
Dropout rate 25.8% 57.1%
Transferred out 25.2% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $89,121
  • Year 2: $92,277
  • Year 3: $102,756
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,507
  • Year 2: $53,579
  • Year 3: $59,839
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,420
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Theological and Ministerial Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $32,925
  • Year 3: N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,217
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,098
  • Year 2: $38,829
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,554
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,843
  • Year 2: $34,530
  • Year 3: N/A
N/A