Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting: 788 Students

788Students

$62,978Earnings

Private forprofit2-yearData: 2023-24

About Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting

Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting trains students for one very specific career path: working alongside surgeons in operating rooms. The school enrolls 788 students in Nashville, where the healthcare industry offers plenty of job opportunities. This isn't a traditional college experience with dorms and football games. Students come here to master the technical skills needed to hand instruments to surgeons, manage surgical equipment, and help operations run smoothly.

The financial picture looks solid for a career training program. Students graduate with a median debt of just $6,840, which is remarkably low for professional training. Within five years of graduation, the median earnings reach $74,688. That means most graduates can pay off their modest debt quickly while earning a decent living. Only 21% of students receive financial aid, and monthly loan payments average just $73 for those who borrow.

The program attracts mostly women, who make up 78% of the student body. This reflects the broader healthcare field, where women often dominate support roles. The employment rate hits 99%, meaning almost everyone who completes the program finds work. The student-faculty ratio of 87:1 seems high, but much of surgical assisting training happens in clinical settings where students work directly with practicing professionals.

Academics & Faculty

Meridian Institute focuses entirely on training surgical assistants, a specialized healthcare role that helps surgeons during operations. The school operates with an 87:1 student-faculty ratio, which is high compared to most colleges but reflects the hands-on, clinical nature of surgical assisting education where students spend significant time in operating rooms and labs rather than traditional classrooms. The program prepares students for immediate entry into the workforce, evidenced by a 99% employment rate after graduation. This is career training, not a broad college education. Students learn anatomy, surgical procedures, sterile technique, and patient care through intensive coursework designed to meet the specific needs of operating rooms in hospitals and surgical centers.

Source: College Scorecard / U.S. Department of Education

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 87:1
Full-Time Faculty: 100.0%
Median Earnings (10 years): $62,978

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Campus Life

Nashville's medical district buzzes around Meridian's compact training facility, where 788 students focus intensely on surgical assisting skills. With 78% of students being women, the program reflects the gender makeup typical of healthcare support roles. The school operates more like a professional training center than a traditional college campus, with no dorms since students commute from across the Nashville metro area.

Nashville's mild winters mean you'll need a light jacket but rarely heavy coats, while summers get hot and humid. The city offers plenty to do on weekends, from the honky-tonk bars on Broadway to the growing food scene in neighborhoods like The Gulch. Students often study together at nearby coffee shops between their intensive lab sessions. The 87:1 student-faculty ratio means classes feel more like professional workshops than lectures. Most students work part-time jobs in healthcare while completing their training, preparing for the 99% employment rate the program boasts. The fast-paced, career-focused environment attracts students who want to enter the medical field quickly rather than spend four years in traditional college.

Setting: City-Large

Campus Safety (2023)

No reported Clery Act crimes in 2023.

Climate & Weather

January Avg: 27°–48°F
July Avg: 67°–89°F
Annual Precipitation: 53.2"
Annual Snowfall: 4.7"

Student Demographics

Students here are mostly women (78%) drawn to a field that has traditionally attracted more female professionals in healthcare support roles. The school serves a mix of working adults and career changers, with about one in five students receiving Pell Grants, indicating it attracts people from various economic backgrounds who see surgical assisting as a stable career path. Most students are white (69%) with meaningful representation from Black (11%) and Hispanic (14%) communities. The Nashville location draws students who want to stay in Tennessee's growing healthcare market, where surgical assistants earn solid middle-class wages.

Men: 21.7%
Women: 78.3%
White: 68.9%
Black: 11.0%
Hispanic: 14.1%
Asian: 0.0%
Pell Grant Recipients: 21.1%

Location

Meridian Institute sits in Nashville, Tennessee, the state's capital and second-largest city with about 700,000 people. Nashville is famous for its music industry, with the Grand Ole Opry and countless recording studios creating a culture where healthcare and entertainment intersect. The city offers major medical centers like Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Nashville General Hospital, giving surgical assisting students real-world exposure to operating rooms. With 788 students, Meridian operates in a large urban setting that provides internship opportunities at multiple hospitals and surgical centers. The city's growing healthcare sector means strong job prospects for graduates entering the field. Students considering colleges in Tennessee may also compare Meridian Institute with similar schools in the region.

Address: Nashville, Tennessee 37218

After College

Source: College Scorecard / U.S. Department of Education

Median Earnings (10 years): $62,978
Median Earnings (5 years): $74,688
Loan Repayment Rate: 60.0%
Monthly Loan Payment: $73/mo
Median Debt at Graduation: $6,840

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the admission requirements at Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting?

The school maintains a focused enrollment of 788 students in its specialized surgical assisting program. As a career-focused institute, admission typically requires a high school diploma and completion of prerequisite courses in anatomy and medical terminology.

How much does Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting cost after financial aid?

Students graduate with a median debt of just $6,840, making monthly loan payments of $73. Only 21.06% of students receive federal financial aid, suggesting the program is relatively affordable compared to traditional college programs.

What is the student-faculty ratio at Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting?

The student-faculty ratio stands at 87:1, reflecting the school's focus on efficient, industry-standard training. This specialized institute prepares surgical assistants through intensive, hands-on programs rather than traditional academic coursework.

What are the employment outcomes at Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting?

Graduates achieve a remarkable 99.0% employment rate with median earnings of $62,978 ten years after graduation. The strong job placement reflects high demand for trained surgical assistants in Nashville's robust healthcare sector.

Where is Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting located?

The institute operates in Nashville, Tennessee, a major medical center known as the healthcare capital of the South. Nashville's concentration of hospitals and medical facilities provides excellent clinical training opportunities and job prospects for graduates.

What is the gender breakdown at Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting?

Women comprise 78.30% of the student body while men make up 21.70%. This distribution reflects broader trends in allied health professions, where women traditionally dominate surgical assisting and related medical support roles.