Head-to-head comparison
Southern Adventist University vs Lincoln Memorial University: 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 Harrogate, TN
Lincoln Memorial University
- Net price / year
- $20,406
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,956
- Payback
- 51.1 yrs
Southern Adventist University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,380 in 18.2 years versus 51.1 years at Lincoln Memorial University, on median earnings of $53,723 vs $49,956 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern Adventist University | Lincoln Memorial University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,345 | $20,406 |
| Total net cost | $97,380 | $81,624 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,723 | $49,956 |
| Median debt | $24,500 | $20,000 |
| Payback | 18.2 yrs | 51.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $9,880 | -$49,704 |
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 Lincoln Memorial University?
Lincoln Memorial University, at $20,406 a year after aid versus $24,345 — a gap of $3,939 a year, or $15,756 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 Lincoln Memorial University graduates earn more?
Southern Adventist University graduates report a median $53,723 ten years after entry, $3,767 more than the $49,956 at Lincoln Memorial 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 Lincoln Memorial University?
Lincoln Memorial University: its completers carry a median $20,000 in federal loans versus $24,500 at Southern Adventist University, a difference of $4,500. 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 Lincoln Memorial 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.