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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.
Located in Birmingham, AL and set in a suburban environment, Samford University is a private university. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 82%. The freshman retention rate at Samford University is 93% and the six-year graduation rate is 77%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is May 1. Explore this school's profile to find out all the essential things about Samford University.
Quick Facts
4,210
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$40,760
Tuition
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
77%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Learning as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. Discover some essential facts about admission policy and requirements at Samford University.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 3,755 in 2025. Samford University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the student. 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
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 25% and ACT scores 66%. 5% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 31% between 1,200 and 1,399, 54% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 10% between 800 and 999. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 18, 46 between 24-29, 33 in the range between 18-23, and 3 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 25 while the average GPA was 3.88. 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 SAT Critical Reading average score was 594 for the enrolled first-year students, while the average SAT Math score was 564.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by May 1.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university first-year students who return for their sophomore year. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Samford University was 93% in 2025, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
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 graduation rate at this institution stands at 77%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the right place for you is not a simple task. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Samford University in 2025 was 6,101.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 72% for that year. There was a total of 4,210 undergrad students, including 45 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 245.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 1,981 male and 3,863 female full-time students in 2025. 590 full-time graduate men and 1,252 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Samford University.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 56, while the number of Black American students was 202. 208 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 91 identified with more than one race. The school also had 4 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 13 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 33 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Samford University is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $40,760 in 2025. As Samford University is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $1,150 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to consider is the estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to pay about $1,200 for books and supplies during their time at Samford University.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do schools typically charge for room and board?
At Samford University, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $14,260. If you only needed a dorm room, it cost $7,600 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $14,688.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 40,760 |
| Room and Board | $ 14,260 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 56,220 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial support can be a great deal for many students. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Samford University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 499 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students equaled $28,784.
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.
1,490 students were given some form of need-based financial aid. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 1,498. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $2,787,660, and state $994,917. The students of Samford University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $26,594,694, and external in the amount of $1,264,176.
$18,179
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 400 students overall (including freshmen) at Samford University in 2025. 152 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $40,810,376. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $2,295,271 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
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Majors
Faculty
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
In 2025, this ratio at Samford University was 13:1. That means that there were 13 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 634 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 293 male and 341 female faculty members. 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 information about campus life at Samford University.
Its campus is 247 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Participating in different student organizations can make your educational experience more interesting and fulfilling.
This school has 211 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. That includes sororities and fraternities. Those interested in music can join the Samford University band or chorus. If drama is your thing, there is a club dedicated to acting that you can join. For students who have a passion for 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 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is 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, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset 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 40,760 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Samford University is 82%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Samford University is 93%.
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.
