Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Southern Adventist University

Southern Adventist's associate nursing program sits in the middle of Tennessee's pack—40th percentile statewide—but carries significantly higher debt than most in-state alternatives. At $25,000, graduates owe about $8,500 more than the Tennessee median for nursing programs, which matters when your first-year salary of $61,225 already trails the state median by nearly $4,000. Several community colleges in Tennessee produce nurses earning $70,000+ with roughly half the debt load.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates tracked) adds uncertainty, but the slight earnings decline from year one to year four is notable. While nursing typically offers stable income, the combination of below-average starting pay and above-average debt creates a tighter financial picture than competing programs. The 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic, but Tennessee families have access to stronger options at state community colleges.

If your child is specifically drawn to Southern Adventist's faith-based environment or campus culture, the premium might be worth it. Otherwise, programs like Dyersburg State or Southwest Tennessee Community College deliver better earnings outcomes at substantially lower cost—a meaningful difference when you're launching a nursing career.