Head-to-head comparison
Lipscomb University vs Southern Adventist University: which has better ROI?
Option A Nashville, TN
Lipscomb University
- Net price / year
- $24,739
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,541
- Payback
- 13.8 yrs
Option B Collegedale, TN
Southern Adventist University
- Net price / year
- $24,345
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,723
- Payback
- 18.2 yrs
Lipscomb University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $98,956 in 13.8 years versus 18.2 years at Southern Adventist University, on median earnings of $55,541 vs $53,723 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lipscomb University | Southern Adventist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,739 | $24,345 |
| Total net cost | $98,956 | $97,380 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,541 | $53,723 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $24,500 |
| Payback | 13.8 yrs | 18.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $44,664 | $9,880 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lipscomb University or Southern Adventist University?
Southern Adventist University, at $24,345 a year after aid versus $24,739 — a gap of $394 a year, or $1,576 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Lipscomb University or Southern Adventist University graduates earn more?
Lipscomb University graduates report a median $55,541 ten years after entry, $1,818 more than the $53,723 at Southern Adventist University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Lipscomb University or Southern Adventist University?
Lipscomb University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $24,500 at Southern Adventist University, a difference of $5,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
72% of students finish at Lipscomb University, against 49% at Southern Adventist University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.