Adventist University of Health Sciences is a private health sciences university based in Orlando, Florida. It works closely with Florida Hospital in Orlando to provide healthcare degree students with the clinical experiences they need to succeed in their careers.
Favorite Features
Allied health degree programs are accredited by the CAAHEP
This university offers several associate and bachelor programs that are in the area of allied health, such as the associate’s degree in radiography and the bachelor’s degree in health sciences.
The gold standard for accreditation in allied health is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or CAAHEP. When you see that the program is accredited by this organization, you can have great confidence that your degree will be very valuable and will help you in your allied health career.
Occupational therapy programs are accredited by ACOTE
The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education or ACOTE is the most respected accreditation agency for occupational therapy education programs.
This university has an associate’s program in occupational therapy that is fully accredited by ACOTE. This indicates that the educational quality for this program is very high.
University is connected to Adventist Health System
A major advantage of getting your education at this university is that it is directly connected to to Adventist Health System. This system spans 10 states and provides care to more than 4.5 million people each year. The university is also affiliated with more than 350 healthcare facilities across America. It also is partnered with Guidewell, AstraZeneca and Florida Hospital Innovation Lab.
When you complete your degree, you can rely on Adventist University to be a helpful partner in your career search. You may be able to find good paying work within the Adventist Health System.
Least Favorite Features
College is not evaluated by US News and World Report
Most four year colleges or universities today are ranked by US News and World Report, or The Princeton Review. This ranking gives you a good measure of the quality of the school and its individual programs.
However, Adventist University is unranked by both publications, so it is harder to discern the level of quality of its educational offerings.
Nursing program pending accreditation by CCNE
The nursing programs at Adventist University of Health Sciences are pending accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or CCNE. This is a highly respected accreditation agency that has been recognized by the US Secretary of Education. CCNE ensures the integrity and quality of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in nursing.
The process of CCNE education both encourages and supports ongoing self-assessment by nursing educational programs. It also supports continuous growth and improvement for nursing education programs.
The fact that Adventist University is in the process of receiving CCNE accreditation is a good sign that its nursing programs are high quality. It also indicates that its nursing programs will provide you with a high quality nursing education that will help you to be very successful in your career.
And critically, CCNE accreditation will be a signal to potential employers that your degree program is of the highest educational quality.
However, it should be stressed that this health sciences college does NOT yet have CCNE accreditation, and there is no guarantee that it will. If you are a potential nursing student, you will want to weigh this fact carefully.
Only 70% of freshmen return for next year
Adventist University’s freshman retention rate is quite low at only 70%. This is under the national average of 70.9%.
A high freshman retention rate is often a sign that students are happy with their education and want to complete their degree. A lower freshman retention rate could indicate that the students are displeased with the quality of education.
Some of the freshmen may end up transferring to another school, which also calls into question whether they were happy with their education at Adventist.
Also, 42.9% of students fail to graduate within 150% of the expected time. This is likely because many of them transfer to other colleges.
It is worth considering why many students who start out at Adventist University end up going to another college.
Most courses are recorded and archived
The majority of the classes in this college’s programs are recorded and archived for viewing when it is most convenient for the student. This has the advantage of allowing students to take their classes whenever they have time. This can be key for those who work full time and have a family.
However, many students find that they get a better education by attending some or all live classes online with other students. There is more interaction with other students and professors, and this can be more stimulating for some students.
The Details
General Information
- Founded in 1913
- Application deadline: Rolling
- Application fee: $20
- School type: Private
- Term Schedule: Semester
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- Student-faculty ratio: 18:1
Tuition Rates
- Undergraduate: $430 per credit hour
- Graduate: $500 per credit hour for healthcare administration; inquire for other programs
Nursing and Health Degrees
- RN to BS Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences
- Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- Executive Master of Healthcare Administration
- Master of Healthcare Administration in Strategy and Innovation
Concentrations
- Advanced Imaging Certificate in Computed Tomography
- Advanced Certificate in Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Advanced Imaging Certificate
Class Profile
- 1806 total undergraduate students
- 5% women, 20.5% men
Graduation and Retention Rates
- Only 70% of students return for their sophomore year, which is below average when compared to other schools
US News Rankings
- This university is unranked by US News and World Report
