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When Southern Adventist University students graduate, their achievements extend far beyond receiving diplomas. They leave equipped to impact their chosen fields. Whether in hospitals, boardrooms, or research labs, Southern graduates consistently stand out for their knowledge, skill, and commitment to excellence.

Last school year, students studying biology, business, and physics scored above the 90th percentile on comprehensive Major Field Tests (MFTs), which assess the effectiveness of education programs across the country by measuring students’ critical knowledge, performance, and problem-solving skills. Southern’s nursing graduates also excelled with the 2024 graduating class achieving a 99% pass rate for associate degrees and a 95% pass rate for bachelor’s on the National Council Licensure Examination, well above national averages.

These outstanding academic outcomes are part of a broader story of growth and momentum at Southern, where enrollment has reached a record high of 3,360 students—the largest in the university’s 134-year history. Undergraduate enrollment alone climbed to 2,991 this year, setting another milestone.

The results don’t happen by chance. For instance, in the Biology and Allied Health Department, faculty analyze test results to guide course improvements. For several years, biology professors noticed that their students were performing at lower levels in one section of the national test. These outcomes prompted more intentional application of ecology principles, such as population genetics, within Southern courses. As a result, students’ MFT scores have risen in the past five years, now placing Southern in the 97th percentile nationwide.

“This field test helps us evaluate ourselves,” explains Keith Snyder, PhD, chair of the Biology and Allied Health Department. “We use the scores to guide improvements in our courses to better cover knowledge gaps.”

Strong results extend beyond test scores. Over the past four years, campus-wide rates of discipline-related employment and graduate school acceptance have remained strong at 95%. For business and nursing majors, the numbers rise to 98% and 99%, respectively.

Holly Gadd, PhD, dean of the School of Nursing, credits strong nursing employment rates to the program’s excellent reputation and its partnerships with healthcare organizations. Students are exposed to many potential employers through recruitment events and clinical rotations at local hospitals in the greater Chattanooga area. “Healthcare partners, including AdventHealth and Kettering Health, regularly come to our campus, meet with students, and discuss residency programs and employment benefits,” Gadd explains, noting that networking opportunities often translate directly into jobs in the region as well as beyond.

Southern’s academic excellence, with a focus on real-world application of skills and professional connections, equips students to thrive as they share their skills with the world beyond graduation.

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