Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Southeastern University #1351 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Southeastern University sits in the 13.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Southeastern University #1313 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Southeastern University combines strong financial outcomes with a distinctive theological focus, delivering above-average earnings beyond expectations relative to similar institutions. The university's composite ranking reflects this balance of access, affordability, and return on investment at a faith-based institution.
Azimuth ranks Southeastern University #1351 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Lakeland, FL, Southeastern University enrolls roughly 4,813 undergraduates. 21.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 34.6% are first-generation college students. Retention stands at 69.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 42.5%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a faith-based institution serving a mixed enrollment. Southeastern University builds its composite strength on return on investment and affordability. Azimuth ranks Southeastern University #1313 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $13,238 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Southeastern University in the 13.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's concentration in Theology — a field where outcomes depend heavily on individual career trajectory and graduate school pathways — shapes the earnings profile and reflects the university's mission-driven academic focus. Access and mobility sit lower in the composite. Southeastern University sits in the 60.6 percentile for access and the 7.8 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. These positions reflect the institution's smaller enrollment scale and the specialized nature of its program portfolio, which concentrates on preparing students for ministry, religious leadership, and faith-informed professional roles rather than broad labor-market pathways. For students aligned with the university's theological mission and career outcomes, Southeastern University delivers meaningful financial returns relative to the cost of attendance and the earnings trajectories typical for graduates in faith-based fields.
Southeastern University's published cost of attendance is $49,329. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $29,498, middle-income families pay around $31,185, and higher-income families pay approximately $34,482. Azimuth ranks Southeastern University #1138 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Southeastern University meets demonstrated financial need through a combination of need-based grants, merit scholarships, and federal student loans. Families apply using the FAFSA and institutional aid forms; work-study is available as part of the aid package for qualifying students. The institution's aid structure prioritizes need-based support, with institutional grants covering a meaningful share of cost for students who qualify. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,632; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at Southeastern University's median four-year earnings of $50,572, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Southeastern University is a strong fit for students drawn to theology and ministry fields who want a private nonprofit university experience in Lakeland, FL. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $50,572, placing Southeastern University in the 10.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $13,238 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Southeastern University in the 13.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 21.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 34.6% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Southeastern University in the 8.3 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 53.0% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors theology-oriented fields over applied-professional ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory among the strongest in the region.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Southeastern University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
46 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
148 graduates
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
27 graduates
Communication and Media Studies
37 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
13 graduates
Southeastern University's program mix is anchored in theology and religious studies, reflecting the institution's faith-based mission and identity. Theological and Ministerial Studies is the largest program with 230 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Psychology, General, Kinesiology, and Nursing.
Across 30 programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering strong four-year earnings outcomes. The earnings pattern reflects the institution's concentration in faith-formation and applied-ministry fields.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $61,909 four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, followed by Business Administration with $55,827, Radio, Television, and Digital Communication with $55,318, Communication and Media Studies with $52,899, and Social Work with $52,194. These outcomes reflect the career pathways available to graduates in ministry, education, counseling, and related service-oriented professions.
Many of Southeastern University's dominant programs are pathway-dependent fields where four-year earnings reflect early-career roles in ministry, education, and nonprofit work, with many graduates continuing to graduate study or advanced professional credentials. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with labor-market trends and long-term career sustainability in faith-based and service sectors.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Southeastern University's published cost of attendance is $49,329. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $29,498, middle-income families pay around $31,185, and higher-income families pay approximately $34,482.
Azimuth ranks Southeastern University #1138 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Southeastern University meets demonstrated financial need through a combination of need-based grants, merit scholarships, and federal student loans. Families apply using the FAFSA and institutional aid forms; work-study is available as part of the aid package for qualifying students.
The institution's aid structure prioritizes need-based support, with institutional grants covering a meaningful share of cost for students who qualify. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,632; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at Southeastern University's median four-year earnings of $50,572, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Southeastern University earn median 4-year earnings of $50,572, placing Southeastern University in the 10.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $13,238 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Southeastern University in the 13.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Southeastern University #1313 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Southeastern University's concentration in theology and religious studies.
Theological and Ministerial Studies is the largest program with 230 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $44,106, representing 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 148 students with median 4-year earnings of $55,827, while Psychology, General and Kinesiology round out the core academic portfolio with 86 and 48 graduates respectively.
These outcomes reflect the institution's mission-driven focus and the career pathways available to graduates in faith-based and nonprofit sectors.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stetson University Higher acceptance rate (12.1 percentage points higher) and located 79 miles away; similar graduate earnings | FL | 86% | $51,642 | Compare |
Moody Bible Institute Higher acceptance rate (23.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | IL | 98% | $45,399 | Compare |
Manhattan Christian College Higher acceptance rate (25.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | KS | 100% | $48,860 | Compare |
Warner University Same state (24 miles away) with nearly identical earnings; same institution type | FL | 48% | $46,086 | Compare |
Saint Leo University Same state (30 miles away) with nearly identical earnings; same institution type | FL | 72% | $48,364 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Palm Beach Atlantic University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#36134 ranked) | FL | 82% | $49,232 | #36134 | Compare |
Culinary Institute Of America Similar quality tier (#36126 ranked) | NY | 91% | $47,475 | #36126 | Compare |
Flagler College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#36122 ranked) | FL | 81% | $49,483 | #36122 | Compare |
Taylor University Similar quality tier (#36116 ranked) | IN | 74% | $52,198 | #36116 | Compare |
North Greenville University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#36145 ranked) | SC | 67% | $43,035 | #36145 | Compare |
