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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.
Samford University is a private university located in Birmingham, AL and set in a suburban environment. This educational institution operates on 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%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is May 1. Read more about what Samford University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
4,210
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$40,760
Tuition
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
77%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to discover as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the institution in order to improve your chances of being accepted. Discover some vital data about admission at Samford University.
According to the newest 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 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
Out of the number of students 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 first-year students 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 freshmen 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 admitted students in 2025 was 25 and 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 new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 594 and an average SAT Math score of 564.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by May 1.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic 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.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Samford University was 93%, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 77%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. Gaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
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 undergraduate students, including 45 international students. 245 students were accepted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 1,981 male and 3,863 female full-time students in 2025. There were 590 full-time graduate male and 1,252 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 56, while the number of Black American students was 202. 208 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 91 as multirace. The school also had 4 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 13 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 33 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into account. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Samford University? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition in 2025 was $40,760 for 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 $1,150 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to take into consideration is the estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to set aside about $1,200 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 do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Samford University was $14,260 per academic year. If you only wanted a dormitory 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
There are different types of financial help: 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.
The most recent records show that 499 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students totaled $28,784.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 1,490 students who secured need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 1,498. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed 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
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for 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.
400 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school 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. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $2,295,271 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
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
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. According to the most recent information, there are 634 faculty members at this school. 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
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some details about campus life at Samford University.
It has a campus size of 247 acres.
Student Organizations
Joining multiple student organizations can provide you a more interesting and dynamic experience.
There are 211 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. If you are interested in music, you can join the Samford University band or chorus. For those interested in acting, there is a drama club you can become part of. 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 pleasant and safe.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. The late-night transport/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. There is 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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According to the latest information, the tuition for Samford University is 40,760 USD a year.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Samford University is 82%.
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The most recent data indicate that the 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.