Southern Adventist University
Southern Adventist University
Southern Adventist University
AdventHealth University
AdventHealth University
Oakwood University
Oakwood University
Oakwood University
Every year, thousands of Adventist students step onto the campuses of our colleges and universities with hopes, questions, and a desire to grow. These young adults are seeking not only strong academics, but also a place where their faith can flourish and their sense of purpose can deepen. A recently released landmark study affirms a clear and powerful truth: Adventist higher education significantly strengthens the faith and spiritual commitment of Adventist young adults.
In the Southern Union, we see this every day at AdventHealth University, Oakwood University, and Southern Adventist University. We witness students’ lives changing as they experience Christ-centered learning, nurturing friendships, engaged faculty, and campus communities committed to faith and service.
The study conducted by Strategic Resource Partners for the Association of Adventist Colleges and Universities was shared at the association’s year-end meetings in October 2025. After surveying Adventist alumni from Adventist colleges and universities in North America, along with Adventist alumni who attended non-Adventist institutions, the research revealed that the environment offered by Adventist universities is not merely educational — it is transformational.
For our churches and parents, these findings matter deeply. They show that Adventist colleges are not just places of learning, they are communities of discipleship. The study identified 31 core benefits, grouped into five major themes, where Adventist-college alumni consistently reported stronger outcomes than those who attended non-Adventist institutions.
These five major themes reflect the heart of Adventist education and the environment it intentionally creates.
Theme 1: Adventist Education Deepens Faith and Strengthens Belief
Adventist higher education has always placed the spiritual growth of students at the heart of campus life. Whether in the classroom, residence halls, or small-group worship settings, students encounter daily opportunities to grow closer to Christ. The spiritual differences between Adventist-college alumni and Adventists who attended non-Adventist schools were striking, showing the powerful spiritual environment created on Adventist campuses.
• Worship engagement: 1.4 times greater.
• On-campus worship opportunities: Nearly 2 times greater.
• Deepened spirituality: Over 2 times greater.
• Opportunities for spiritual development: Over 2.5 times greater.
• Understanding of Adventist beliefs: Over 2.5 times greater.
• Shared faith values: Over 4 times greater.
• Christ-centered learning: 8 times greater.
Theme 2: Adventist Campuses Produce Stronger Christian Friendships
Beyond worship experiences and spiritual instruction, students often describe the relationships they form on Adventist campuses as some of the most meaningful and faith-affirming of their lives. These friendships provide steady encouragement, shared experiences, and a sense of belonging that continue well beyond their young adult years. Adventist-college alumni reported friendships that continue to anchor their spiritual lives long after graduation. These peer relationships provide a support system that promotes faithfulness and ministry involvement.
• Friends who strengthened their walk with Christ: Over 1.6 times greater.
• Friends who attended worship together: Nearly 2 times greater.
Theme 3: Faculty Serve as Spiritual Mentors and Role Models.
A defining strength of Adventist higher education is the commitment of its professors—not only to academic rigor but to personal mentorship rooted in Christian faith. Faculty members serve as guides who intentionally invest in students’ character, calling, and walk with God. Adventist professors serve not only as academic guides but as Christian mentors and role models.
• Values and ethics integrated in class: Over 1.6 times greater.
• Personal interaction with professors: Nearly 1.6 times greater.
• Engaged faculty interested in student success: Over 1.7 times greater.
• Professors who knew students personally: Nearly 2 times greater, with alumni from Adventist institutions stating that 92% of their professors knew their names.
• Faculty who shaped their spiritual lives: Nearly 4.5 times greater.
Theme 4: Development of the Whole Person
Adventist colleges recognize that true education addresses far more than intellectual growth. Students are encouraged to develop emotionally, socially, physically, and spiritually, preparing them for a balanced, meaningful life of service. Adventist education offers an environment where the development of the whole person is a priority. The study found stronger outcomes among Adventist-college alumni in whole-person development and integration of faith.
• Development of the whole person: Nearly 1.5 times.
• Integration of faith with other aspects of life: Over 2 times greater.
Theme 5: Purpose, Calling, and Commitment
Perhaps the most lasting impact of Adventist higher education is the way it helps students discover God’s calling for their lives. Surrounded by mentors, peers, worship communities, and service opportunities, young adults gain clarity about who they are and how God can use them to make a positive impact on the world. A vital part of our church congregations, Adventist-college alumni graduate with purpose, calling, and commitment.
These are the future Sabbath School teachers, youth leaders, elders, deacons, musicians, pastors, missionaries, and servant-leaders in our churches.
• Sense of purpose: Over 1.2 times greater.
• Strong moral principles: Nearly 1.3 times greater.
• Sense of God’s calling: Nearly 2 times greater.
From Students to Disciples
As the findings of this research come into focus, a larger picture emerges — one that reflects the very mission of Adventist education. Across campuses and generations, young adults are not simply earning degrees; they are encountering Christ, discovering their identity in Him, and learning what it means to live out their faith with purpose. This study demonstrates what many of us have witnessed for decades: Adventist education is one of the most effective ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for forming lifelong disciples of Jesus. It is a ministry that quietly, consistently, and powerfully shapes the spiritual landscape of our local churches. Our colleges and universities strengthen the future of Adventist congregations — one student at a time.
For families prayerfully considering the next steps in their child’s educational journey, these findings offer reassurance and hope. They affirm that when students enter environments where faith is nurtured, community is intentional, and mission is central, they flourish. For parents seeking an education rooted in Scripture, strengthened by community, and aligned with God’s calling, the message of this study is unmistakable: Adventist colleges and universities provide a transformative educational experience — one that shapes students today and for eternity. In every sense, the investment is an eternal one.
AdventHealth team members also donated monetary funds to support relief efforts, resulting in a total of nearly $97,000 to date.
Southern Union | February 2026
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