Berea College vs. Southern Adventist University

Should I go to Berea College or Southern Adventist University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Berea College or Southern Adventist University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Berea College vs. Southern Adventist University comparison
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Berea College
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Overview

Berea College Southern Adventist University
Location Berea, KY Collegedale, TN
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,487 3,154
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #592
Religious Affiliation - Seventh Day Adventists - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website berea.edu southern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Berea College Southern Adventist University
Tuition (In State) $48,600 $24,350
Tuition (Out of State) $48,600 $24,350
Room & Board $7,892 $8,460
Avg Net Price $4,379 $25,374
Avg Grant Aid $51,923 $12,495
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Berea College Southern Adventist University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,073 2,731
Admitted 678 1,819
Acceptance Rate 32.7% 66.6%
Enrolled % 60.9% 41.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.59
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition High Low
ACT Range 24/27 18/26
SAT Range 1156/1335 970/1270
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Mar 31, 2026

Academics

Berea College Southern Adventist University
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (36%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (5%)

Outcomes

Berea College Southern Adventist University
Graduation Rate - 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,100 $44,600
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $5,800 $26,500
Median Loan Payment $59 $274

Diversity

Berea College Southern Adventist University
% Men 1% 3%
% Women 0% 7%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 60% 48%
% Black 16% 11%
% Hispanic 8% 21%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 8% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Berea College Southern Adventist University
% In-State 44% 20%
% Out-of-State 46% 77%

Campus

Berea College Southern Adventist University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Southern Adventist University is larger than than Berea College based on total student enrollment (3,154 students vs. 1,487 students)

Berea College vs. Southern Adventist University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berea College or Southern Adventist University?

  • Berea College is 99.6% more expensive to attend than Southern Adventist University for in-state tuition ($48,600.00 vs. $24,350.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 99.6% higher at Berea College than Southern Adventist University ($48,600.00 vs. $24,350.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Berea College than Southern Adventist University ($4,379 vs. $25,374)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Berea College are 7.2% lower than costs at Southern Adventist University ($7,892 vs. $8,460)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Berea College as Southern Adventist University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Berea College students is 315.6% larger than aid received Southern Adventist University ($51,923 vs. $12,495)

Berea College vs. Southern Adventist University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Berea College or Southern Adventist University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Southern Adventist University or Berea College .

  • Accepted freshman Berea College students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at Southern Adventist University (3.59)
  • Southern Adventist University has a higher acceptance rate (66.6%) than Berea College (32.7%)

Berea College vs. Southern Adventist University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Berea College or Southern Adventist University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Southern Adventist University and Berea College.

  • Graduates from Southern Adventist University earn on average $8,500 more per year than Berea College graduates after ten years. ($44,600 vs. $36,100)
  • Berea College students graduate with a $20,700 lower median federal student loan debt than Southern Adventist University graduates. ($5,800 vs. $26,500)
  • Berea College graduates are paying $215 less per month on federal student loans than Southern Adventist University graduates. ($59 vs. $274)
  • More Southern Adventist University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Berea College students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/