Samford University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who prefer a mid-size campus. no major red flags in the data. solid earnings of $59,800 within 10 years; strong 77% graduation rate.
About This School
Samford University is a private nonprofit institution located in Birmingham, Alabama with approximately 4,206 undergraduate students enrolled. Samford University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 82%. The average net price after financial aid is $32,622 per year. The graduation rate is 77%, and the typical graduate earns $59,800 within 10 years of enrollment.
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.
This is a strong option for students seeking a smaller, faith-based university experience in Birmingham, where an 80% graduation rate and a $15,750 median debt at graduation suggest students are finishing and not drowning in loans. The $59,800 median earnings at 10 years is solid rather than standout, so it's worth thinking carefully about your intended major and career path before committing to the $30,795 annual net price. The 82% acceptance rate means admission isn't highly selective, which is fine, but motivated students should push for merit aid to make the value case even stronger.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 0% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Samford University graduates earn most above the national rate in Accounting and Related Services ($90,572 vs $76,194 nationally), and most below it in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($72,517 vs $88,910).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 105 | $72,517 | $88,910 | −$16,393 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 66 | $119,888 | $116,539 | +$3,349 |
| Marketing | 65 | $70,839 | $69,303 | +$1,536 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 53 | $93,444 | $83,343 | +$10,101 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 41 | $52,171 | $47,382 | +$4,789 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 34 | $76,584 | $68,257 | +$8,327 |
| Journalism | 33 | $50,652 | $56,278 | −$5,626 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 30 | $90,572 | $76,194 | +$14,378 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 29 | $50,809 | $48,568 | +$2,241 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 20 | $47,117 | $54,562 | −$7,445 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (4,206 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in Alabama
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Tuskegee, AL · Private nonprofit
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville
Hanceville, AL · Public
Southern Union State Community College
Wadley, AL · Public
Alabama State University
Montgomery, AL · Public
Coastal Alabama Community College
Bay Minette, AL · Public
Faulkner University
Montgomery, AL · Private nonprofit
See How Colleges Compare
Samford University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Samford University?
Samford University has an acceptance rate of 82%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Samford University hard to get into?
Not especially. Samford University has an acceptance rate of 82%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Samford University cost?
The average net price at Samford University is about $32,622 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Samford University?
Samford University has a graduation rate of 77%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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