Samford University — College Profile

About

Samford University is a premier private Christian institution in Birmingham, Alabama, recognized for its strong academic reputation and standout programs within the Brock School of Business, Cumberland School of Law, and the Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing. The university provides an intimate, student-centered learning environment set on a picturesque Georgian-colonial campus, emphasizing undergraduate teaching quality, mentorship, and high post-graduation placement rates. Campus culture is close-knit and faith-informed, enriched by competitive NCAA Division I athletics, active Greek life, and cherished campus traditions like "Step Sing," a massive, student-led musical theater competition.

Wikipedia:Samford University is a private Christian university in Homewood, Alabama, United States. Homewood is an inner-suburb of Birmingham. Samford was founded by Baptists in 1841 as Howard College and located until 1887 in Marion, Alabama. It is governed by an independent board of trustees, which requires board members to be Baptists.

Location

Birmingham, AL, 35229-2240 · Suburb campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

ATL · Atlanta

137 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

YoursEveryone

Tuition & fees$40,150

Housing & food (on campus)$13,056

Books & supplies$1,200

Cost of attendance$59,170

Average net price$32,622

Same price for all students

Tuition & fees$40,150

Housing & food (on campus)$13,056

Books & supplies$1,200

Cost of attendance$59,170

Average net price$32,622

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.samford.edu

How it’s made up · 2026-27

Samford University’s own figures for 2026-27, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$42,590

Fees$1,200

Housing$8,130

Food$7,250

Total published by the school$59,170

Source: www.samford.edu · checked Sep 13, 2026

Net price by family income · 2023-24

$0–30k

$22,716

$30–48k

$24,812

$48–75k

$31,527

$75–110k

$34,206

$110k+

$36,235

Your family's actual price → Samford University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2024-25

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$19,212

First-years who got one555

Source: Samford University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

78%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

68%

Back for yr 2

93%

Transferred

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

78% graduated · 18% transferred · 3% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$49,466

10 yrs after entry$58,469

Debt

Median at graduation$19,500

Monthly payment$207

Middle 50% owe$7.5k–$26k

90th percentile$34,000

Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral/Professional University: 58% graduate within 6 yrs, $55,545 earned 10 yrs after entry.

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

82%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1201

R 550–640 · M 520–610

ACT midpoint

Comp 22–28 · E 22–30 · M 19–26

SAT middle 50%: 1070–1250

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If Samford University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 35%Women 65%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

14 : 1

Pell grant

11%

First-gen

14%

Family income

$87,745

Independent

13%

Age at entry

21.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

85%

Hispanic

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division I-FCS · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Soccer
Women's
Softball
Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$49,466

After 10 yrs

$58,469

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing105

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration66

Marketing65

Finance and Financial Management Services53

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods41

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General41

Health/Medical Preparatory Programs39

Business Administration, Management and Operations34

Journalism33

Design and Applied Arts33

Accounting and Related Services30

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services29

Psychology, General25

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft22

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness20

Communication and Media Studies19

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$470M

Full-time faculty

99%

Faculty salary

$10,188/mo

Teaching spend

$16,043

per student

Federal loans

27%

Classification

Carnegie type

Doctoral/Professional University

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, selective admissions