Samford University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Birmingham, Alabama. It enrolls 4,206 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic Calendar4-1-4 Plan
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
60/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes87
Value12
Affordability7
Selectivity51
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 82.4%, Samford University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
82.4%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1070 – 1250
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
22 – 28
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Samford University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
1.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Samford University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $32,622 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$32,622
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
11%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
27%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$40,150
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,056
Room & Board (off-campus)
$21,106
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,335
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,996
Total Cost of Attendance
$57,456
Application fee: $40 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$22,716
$30,001 – $48,000
$24,812
$48,001 – $75,000
$31,527
$75,001 – $110,000
$34,206
Over $110,000
$36,235
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,09610%percentile
$7,54525%percentile
$19,500Medianpercentile
$26,04075%percentile
$34,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,125
↓ $375
No Pell $14,250
↓ $5,250
Dependent students $15,750
↓ $3,750
Independent students $17,044
↓ $2,456
Female students $17,247
↓ $2,253
Male students $14,000
↓ $5,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($19,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
69% of full-time students who enrolled at Samford University graduate within six years, and 90% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
69%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
90%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Samford University earn a median of $58,469 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$58,469
Earning > $25K
81%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$51,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$74,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$59,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$57,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$61,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $22,700, about 31% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
10.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 89% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Samford University is home to 4,206 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
4,206
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
14%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 84.5%3,554
Hispanic 5.0%208
Black 4.8%201
Other 2.6%108
Asian 1.3%56
International 1.1%45
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Samford University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbBirmingham, Alabama
Housing
Mostly residential2,375 beds on campus
Adult Learners
1%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Samford University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
84 distinct programs across
24 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Samford University is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$518M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$88,449
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
372 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
136
37%
$106,046
Associate Professors
90
24%
$85,698
Assistant Professors
119
32%
$76,418
Instructors
27
7%
$62,010
Pros & Cons of Samford University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Samford University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Samford University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Samford University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Samford University.
Is Samford University hard to get into?
Samford University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 82.4%.
What is the acceptance rate at Samford University?
Samford University has an acceptance rate of 82.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Samford University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Samford University scored between 1070 and 1250 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Samford University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Samford University scored between 22 and 28 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Samford University cost?
The average net price after aid at Samford University is $32,622 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Samford University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $58,469 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $32,622 per year. That's roughly 1.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Samford University known for?
Samford University is best known for its programs in Law, Pharmacy, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Samford University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Samford University are $58,469, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Samford University accredited?
Yes. Samford University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Samford University?
Samford University enrolls 4,206 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Samford University?
Samford University graduates 69% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Samford University a public or private college?
Samford University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Samford University located?
Samford University is located in Birmingham, Alabama.
What programs does Samford University offer?
Samford University offers 84 distinct programs. The most popular include Law, Pharmacy, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Samford University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Samford University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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