Head-to-head comparison
Southern Adventist University vs Bryan College-Dayton: which has better ROI?
Option A Collegedale, TN
Southern Adventist University
- Net price / year
- $24,345
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,723
- Payback
- 18.2 yrs
Option B Dayton, TN
Bryan College-Dayton
- Net price / year
- $20,614
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,434
- Payback
- 13.6 yrs
Bryan College-Dayton has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $82,456 in 13.6 years versus 18.2 years at Southern Adventist University, on median earnings of $54,434 vs $53,723 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern Adventist University | Bryan College-Dayton |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,345 | $20,614 |
| Total net cost | $97,380 | $82,456 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,723 | $54,434 |
| Median debt | $24,500 | $23,000 |
| Payback | 18.2 yrs | 13.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $9,880 | $39,024 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Southern Adventist University or Bryan College-Dayton?
Bryan College-Dayton, at $20,614 a year after aid versus $24,345 — a gap of $3,731 a year, or $14,924 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 Southern Adventist University or Bryan College-Dayton graduates earn more?
Bryan College-Dayton graduates report a median $54,434 ten years after entry, $711 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, Southern Adventist University or Bryan College-Dayton?
Bryan College-Dayton: its completers carry a median $23,000 in federal loans versus $24,500 at Southern Adventist University, a difference of $1,500. 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?
50% of students finish at Bryan College-Dayton, 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.