Birmingham Southern College vs. Southern Adventist University

Should I go to Birmingham Southern College or Southern Adventist University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Birmingham Southern 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Birmingham Southern College vs. Southern Adventist University comparison
Birmingham Southern College Southern Adventist University College 3 College 4
Birmingham Southern College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Birmingham Southern College Southern Adventist University
Location Birmingham, AL Collegedale, TN
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 975 2,903
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #563
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Seventh Day Adventists - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bsc.edu southern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Birmingham Southern College Southern Adventist University
Tuition (In State) $20,000 $22,980
Tuition (Out of State) $20,000 $22,980
Room & Board $14,000 $8,330
Avg Net Price $21,153 $24,332
Avg Grant Aid $14,163 $14,000
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Birmingham Southern College Southern Adventist University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,019 2,490
Admitted 1,726 1,638
Acceptance Rate 57.2% 65.8%
Enrolled % 14.1% 38.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.59
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 22/29 19/26
SAT Range 1150/1280 980/1280
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

Academics

Birmingham Southern College Southern Adventist University
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (36%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (5%)

Outcomes

Birmingham Southern College Southern Adventist University
Graduation Rate 62% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,000 $44,600
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,850 $26,500
Median Loan Payment $277 $274

Diversity

Birmingham Southern College Southern Adventist University
% Men 53% 43%
% Women 47% 57%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 79% 48%
% Black 11% 11%
% Hispanic 2% 21%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 1% 4%
% International 0% 5%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Birmingham Southern College Southern Adventist University
% In-State 55% 18%
% Out-of-State 44% 77%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Southern Adventist University is larger than than Birmingham Southern College based on total student enrollment (2,903 students vs. 975 students)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Southern Adventist University Cost Comparison

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

  • Southern Adventist University is 14.9% more expensive to attend than Birmingham Southern College for in-state tuition ($22,980.00 vs. $20,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14.9% higher at Southern Adventist University than Birmingham Southern College ($22,980.00 vs. $20,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Birmingham Southern College than Southern Adventist University ($21,153 vs. $24,332)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Adventist University are 68.1% lower than costs at Birmingham Southern College ($8,330 vs. $14,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Birmingham Southern College than Southern Adventist University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Birmingham Southern College students is 1.2% larger than aid received Southern Adventist University ($14,163 vs. $14,000)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Southern Adventist University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Birmingham Southern 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 Birmingham Southern College .

  • Accepted freshman Birmingham Southern College students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Southern Adventist University (3.59)
  • Southern Adventist University has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than Birmingham Southern College (57.2%)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Southern Adventist University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Birmingham Southern 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 Birmingham Southern College.

  • The graduation rate at Birmingham Southern College is higher than Southern Adventist University (62% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from Birmingham Southern College earn on average $6,400 more per year than Southern Adventist University graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $44,600)
  • Southern Adventist University students graduate with a $350 lower median federal student loan debt than Birmingham Southern College graduates. ($26,500 vs. $26,850)
  • Southern Adventist University graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Birmingham Southern College graduates. ($274 vs. $277)
  • More Birmingham Southern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern Adventist University students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 63%)

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