Samford University

Birmingham, AL · Private · Large suburb

Private institution in Birmingham, AL · 3,828 undergraduates · 82% acceptance rate · $58,469 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Top 11%Graduation rate (4-year)
Top 18%Full-time retention

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $30,7951,756th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $38,1441,598th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $38,1441,557th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $53,9341,585th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $19,500574th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $58,469614th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $49,466568th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 79.9%222nd highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 87.6%327th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 82.2%986th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: 1203398th highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT: 26270th highest of 954 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates: 3,828602nd largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 14.0:11,172nd smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 10.8%2,052nd highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 137 mi (ATL)

On 1 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Most Selective Colleges in Alabama#16

Applying

EANov 1
Rollingopen

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: $50
Personal essay: Required
Writing supplement: No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 69 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness	bachelors	$55,964	$41,937
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professions	bachelors	$54,346	$54,948
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBusiness	bachelors	$49,436	$52,941
MarketingBusiness	bachelors	$39,369	$37,748
JournalismCommunications	bachelors	$36,077	$34,704
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsEducation	bachelors	$35,327	$37,088
Political Science and GovernmentSocial Sciences	bachelors	$32,925	—
Design and Applied ArtsVisual & Performing Arts	bachelors	$30,409	$33,993
Health and Physical Education/FitnessParks, Recreation & Fitness	bachelors	$29,685	$29,250
English Language and Literature, GeneralEnglish Language & Literature	bachelors	$28,019	—
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesFamily & Consumer Sciences	bachelors	$24,730	$24,035
MusicVisual & Performing Arts	bachelors	$19,227	—

Campus facts

Religious affiliation: Baptistsource
Founded in 1841source
Athletic nickname: "Bulldogs"source
Pete Hanna Stadium seats about 6,700source
Competes in Southern Conferencesource
Mascot: Samsource
Motto: "(Latin) / "For God, For Learning, Forever" / (prior to 2001)"source
Campus size: about 247 acressource
Formerly known as "Howard College"source
Formerly known as "(1841–1965)"source
Fight song: ""Samford Fight Song""source
Notable alum: Tony Halesource
Notable alum: Mary Andersonsource
Notable alum: Doug Jonessource
Notable alum: R. G. Armstrongsource

Athletics — 9 sports

NCAA Division I-FCS · NCAA Division I

Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $10,494,364 (M $6,080,995 · W $4,413,369)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.