Southern Adventist University offers six (6) scholarships for incoming freshmen that are awarded over four years. These scholarships are available only to future Southern Adventist University freshmen who have just graduated from high school within the past nine months OR who have taken no more than ten semester hours of college credit. These scholarships will not exceed the amount of 12-16 credit hour tuition rate.
Eligibility is based on a combination of the student's ACT or SAT score and cumulative high school GPA. This scholarship will automatically be awarded once transcripts and test scores are received. Once given, the Academic Scholarship will renew at 100 percent each year by maintaining a 2.0 GPA and full-time student status. The cumulative GPA is determined after the first semester at Southern Adventist University and then yearly after the fall semester. Southern Adventist University does not round up numbers for this scholarship.
| POINTS | SCHOLARSHIP | AWARDED PER YEAR |
| 4,800 - 5,700 | Honors | $2,000 |
| 5,701 - 6,600 | Dean | $4,000 |
| 6,601 - 7,300 | Presidential | $6,000 |
| 7,301 & above | 50% Tuition | 50% Tuition for 12-16 hrs |
Call the Admissions office at 1.800.SOUTHERN for help converting a SAT score to an ACT Score for calculating this scholarship.
*GPA is capped at a 4.00.
**Superscoring is used for the Renewable Academic Scholarship.
Students that do not have an ACT score can qualify for a scholarship based on their cumulative GPA only. Students can continue to receive this scholarship each year by maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.00 and full-time student status. The cumulative GPA is determined after the first semester at Southern Adventist University and then yearly after the fall semester. Southern Adventist University does not round up numbers for this scholarship.
| CUMULATIVE GPA | SCHOLARSHIP | AWARDED PER YEAR |
| 2.90-3.49 | Bronze Circle Scholarship | $2,000 |
| 3.50-3.89 | Silver Circle Scholarship | $4,000 |
| 3.90 & higher | Gold Circle Scholarship | $6,000 |
Eligibility is achieved by meeting one of the following high school GPA and ACT composite score combinations. The test score composite must be from a single test date (not superscored). Once given, the Full Tuition Scholarship will renew at 100 percent each year by maintaining a 2.0 GPA and full-time student status. The cumulative GPA is determined after the first semester at Southern Adventist University and then yearly after the fall semester.
| GPA Range | Minimum | Minimum |
| 4.000+ | 33 | 1450 |
| 3.900 - 3.999 | 34 | 1490 |
| 3.800 - 3.899 | 35 | 1530 |
| 3.700 - 3.799 | 36 | 1570 |
Call the Admissions office at 1.800.SOUTHERN for help converting a SAT score to an ACT Score for calculating this scholarship.
| SCHOLARSHIP | AWARDED PER YEAR | 4-YEAR TOTAL |
| Full Tuition | Full-Tuition for | Over $95,000 |
Full Tuition Scholarship amount includes tuition for 12-16 credit hours plus the general fee. Lab fees are not covered by this scholarship.
Students from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, or South Carolina and have a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 may qualify for $12,000 Southern Union Scholarship (awarded $3,000 per year for four years). The home address on the undergraduate application will be used to determine the state of residence. This scholarship will renew at 100 percent each year by maintaining a 2.0 GPA and full-time student status. The cumulative GPA is determined after the first semester at Southern Adventist University and then yearly after the fall semester.
NOTE: Students that receive employer tuition assistance are not eligible for this scholarship.
Students who have attended at least two years and graduated from a public high school, home school, or a private high school not run by an Adventist organization, may qualify for $8,000 Lightbearer Scholarship (awarded $2,000 per year for four years) provided to encourage Adventist education. This scholarship will renew at 100 percent each year by maintaining a 2.0 GPA and full-time student status. The cumulative GPA is determined after the first semester at Southern Adventist University and then yearly after the fall semester.
Option 1: High School Leadership Scholarship - This scholarship is for seniors at an Adventist Academy who held an elected leadership position. No application is required for the High School Leadership Scholarship. Each Adventist academy can nominate up to 9 individuals for this scholarship. This scholarship will renew at 100 percent each year by maintaining a 2.0 GPA and full-time student status. The cumulative GPA is determined after the first semester at Southern Adventist University and then yearly after the fall semester.
| POSITION | AWARDED PER YEAR | 4-YEAR TOTAL |
| Senior Class President | $1,500 | $6,000 |
| Student Association President | $1,500 | $6,000 |
| All Other Positions | $1,000 | $4,000 |
Option 2: Church Leadership Scholarship - This scholarship is for students who provide a service to their church for a minimum average of two times per month, during the past 12 months prior to submitting the scholarship application. Students eligible for the Church Leadership Scholarship will receive $4,000 over four years (awarded $1,000 per year). This scholarship will renew at 100 percent each year by maintaining a 2.0 GPA and full-time student status. The cumulative GPA is determined after the first semester at Southern Adventist University and then yearly after the fall semester.
Note: Students can only receive one type of leadership scholarship.
Students who are finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Competition, or are selected as recipients of the National Achievement Scholarship Program for African Americans or National Hispanic Recognition Program, may qualify for a full tuition scholarship. This scholarship amount will be capped at the 12-16 credit hour tuition rate. The National Merit Scholarship will renew at 100 percent each year by maintaining a 2.0 GPA and full-time student status. The cumulative GPA is determined after the first semester at Southern Adventist University and then yearly after the fall semester.
Please Note: The first step for entering the National Merit Program is for students to take the PSAT test their junior year of high school. Students who qualify as a National Merit Semi-Finalist or a PSAT Commended Scholar will be notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The list of qualifying students is published and sent to U.S. colleges and universities. Semi-finalists may advance to finalist status by taking the SAT during their senior year and by meeting other requirements outlined by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Each year performance scholarships are awarded by the School of Music (for the Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and choirs), Gym-Masters, and Destiny Drama Company. Some of these performance scholarships are by audition only. The scholarships may be renewable for each year the student is enrolled as long as participation in the performing group continues. For more information, call the School of Music at 423.236.2880, the Gym-Masters director at 423.236.2673, or the Destiny Drama Company coordinator at 423.236.2835.
Upon acceptance to the Southern Scholars Honors Program, highly-motivated students will qualify for a financial scholarship to enrich their studies. After successfully completing one year in Southern Scholars, a student will be awarded the following:
| SCHOLARSHIP | AWARDED PER YEAR |
| Sophomore | $1,500 |
| Junior | $2,500 |
| Senior | $3,500 |
For more information, email scholars@southern.edu.
This scholarship is $1,500 and is available to qualified students who attend Southern Adventist University the year following their term of service. For more information, call the Chaplain's Office at 423.236.2787. Not available to freshmen or those with less than eight months of service.
These scholarships are available to any student who works during the summer at a Seventh-day Adventist conference-sponsored summer camp or one of the other ministries listed below and then attends Southern Adventist University during the next academic year. The Student Finance Office will verify with the student's employing organization that contractual obligations have been met over the course of the summer. A student who participates in multiple summer ministry projects is eligible to receive only one of the scholarships below. Southern Adventist University will choose the larger of the two scholarships. December graduates may request the full scholarship be applied to their account in the fall semester upon submission of approved degree audit and contract for graduation to the Student Finance Office before the end of fall semester. The amount applied is subject to a maximum aid cap.
Literature Evangelism Scholarship - Scholarship amount is determined by the amount of summer earnings from LE that is placed on the student's account. Southern Adventist University will match earnings at 50%, with a max of $2,000.
Summer Camp Scholarship - Scholarship amount is determined by the number of full weeks worked. Students may qualify for $175 per week, with a max of $2,100. To apply for this scholarship, the camp director must submit the number of weeks worked, based on the camp contract, to the Student Finance Office.
Summer in Ministry Internship Scholarship - Scholarship amount is determined by the number of full weeks worked in the program. Students may qualify for $175 per week, with a max of $2,100.
Students who have earned more than ten hours of college credit may qualify for a Transfer Academic Scholarship. This scholarship is renewable and is based on the combination of the student's ACT score* and cumulative college GPA. This scholarship will automatically be awarded once all college transcripts and test scores are received. Students can continue to receive this scholarship each year by maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.00. The cumulative GPA is determined after their first semester at Southern Adventist University and then yearly after the fall semester. Southern Adventist University does not round up numbers for this scholarship.
| POINTS | SCHOLARSHIP | AWARDED PER YEAR |
| 4,800-5,700 | Bronze Scholarship | $2,000 |
| 5,701-6,600 | Silver Scholarship | $4,000 |
| 6,601 & higher | Gold Scholarship | $6,000 |
Call the Admissions office at 1.800.SOUTHERN for help converting a SAT score to an ACT Score for calculating this scholarship.
*GPA is capped at a 4.00.
Transfer students that do not have an ACT score can qualify for a scholarship based on their cumulative GPA only. Students can continue to receive this scholarship each year by maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.00. The cumulative GPA is determined after their first semester at Southern Adventist University and then yearly after the fall semester. Southern Adventist University does not round up numbers for this scholarship.
| CUMULATIVE GPA | SCHOLARSHIP | AWARDED PER YEAR |
| 3.00-3.39 | Bronze Circle Scholarship | $1,000 |
| 3.40-3.79 | Silver Circle Scholarship | $2,000 |
| 3.80 & higher | Gold Circle Scholarship | $3,000 |
Students may qualify for scholarships from national and community organizations like the YMCA and Rotary Club, or from parents' employers, or even from a local church. Scholarship and financial aid information can be found at www.finaid.org. There are several searchable databases with lots of private scholarships, fellowships, grants, and loans at websites such as www.fastweb.com or www.scholarships.com.