Samford University
Birmingham, AL
Samford University is a private Christian university located in Birmingham, Alabama. Established in 1841, the university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines. With a strong emphasis on academic excellence and spiritual development, Samford University provides a supportive and nurturing environment for its students.
One of the notable features of Samford University is its beautiful campus. Spanning over 180 acres, the campus is known for its picturesque green spaces and stunning architecture. The university also offers state-of-the-art facilities, including modern classrooms, research labs, a library, and a performing arts center. Students have access to a wide range of resources and services to support their academic and personal growth.
Samford University is renowned for its commitment to providing a holistic educational experience. The university's mission is to challenge its students to engage with the world and make a positive impact. Alongside rigorous academics, Samford emphasizes the development of moral character and values. Students have numerous opportunities to get involved in community service, social justice initiatives, and leadership programs, fostering a well-rounded education that prepares them for success in their careers and personal lives. Overall, Samford University is a place where students can grow intellectually, spiritually, and socially, ensuring a transformative college experience.
Samford University is a private university located in Birmingham, AL and set in a suburban environment. Its campus spans 212 acres. This school follows a 4-1-4 calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 83%. The freshman retention rate at Samford University is 91.06% and the six-year graduation rate is 78%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is May 1. Read more about what you can expect if you get into Samford University.
Quick Facts
3,672
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
83%
Acceptance Rate
$35,750
Tuition
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
78%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Knowing as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission maximizes your chances of getting admitted. Check out some important data about admission policy and requirements at Samford University.
According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 3,611 in 2023. Samford University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the applicant. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
26% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 64% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 3.1% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 40.5% between 1,200 and 1,399, 48.3% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 8.1% between 800 and 999. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 19.6, 49 between 24-29, 29.1 in the range between 18-23, and 2.3 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2023 was 26 while the average GPA was 3.8. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Samford University; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 600 and an average SAT Math score of 570.
Deadlines
The last day for submitting applications to Samford University is May 1.
83%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university freshmen who return for their sophomore year. When you create your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
The freshman retention rate for Samford University was 91.06% in 2023, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 78%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Making the decision of which school is the best match for you is not simple. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a clearer picture of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2023, the school enrolled 5,682 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 72. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 3,672, 34 of which were foreign students. The number of transfer students at this school was 89.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 1,752 male and 3,699 female full-time students in 2023, which is indicative of the importance this institution places on gender equality. 590 full-time graduate men and 1,252 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2023, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 53, while the number of Black American students was 196. 150 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 76 as multirace. The school also had 6 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 3 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 30 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Samford University.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
In 2023, tuition amounted to $35,750 for all full-time domestic students. Samford University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $975 in 2023.
Books and Supplies
The approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another important financial element. Most students have to give about $1,000 for books and supplies during their time at Samford University.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Samford University was $11,624 in 2023. If you only needed a dorm room, it cost $6,336 for the 2023 academic year.
| Tuition | $ 35,750 |
| Room and Board | $ 11,624 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 48,374 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial support: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Samford University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
According to the most recent data, 417 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $25,550 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 1,301 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 1,315. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $2,204,100, and state $727,120. The students of Samford University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $19,967,015, and external in the amount of $716,326.
$15,660
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
350 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2023. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 141 full-time freshmen. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $33,582,245. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $850,775 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
Majors
Faculty
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Samford University was 13:1: that means 13 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. This school has recently reported to have 500 faculty members. This number included 208 men and 292 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Samford University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Samford University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some info about social life at Samford University.
Student Organizations
Exploring a variety of student organizations can contribute to a more vibrant and rewarding educational experience.
There are 142 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. At this school, 40% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 58 for female students. The most popular student organization is League of Women Voters, followed by International Justice Mission and International Club. Other popular organizations among the students at Samford University are Latino Club and SGA.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Samford University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? Samford University publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
At Samford University, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Samford University.
All in all, campus life at Samford University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Samford University.
Career Counselling
At Samford University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Samford University is located in Birmingham, AL.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Samford University is 35,750 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Samford University is 83%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Samford University is 91.06%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.