National university
#2 Best colleges in AlabamaSamford University
Birmingham, AL · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $32,622 a year
Median debt at graduation: $19,500 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for criminal justice in America#64 of 1,046
- Best colleges for social work in America#59 of 605
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in America#97 of 950
- Best colleges for nursing in America#111 of 1,068
- Best colleges for accounting in America#125 of 1,132
- Best colleges for marketing in America#98 of 834
Show 21 more
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#238 of 1,829
- Best colleges for business in America#204 of 1,563
- Best colleges for education in America#177 of 1,318
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#172 of 1,238
- Best colleges for finance in America#105 of 744
- Best colleges for psychology in America#232 of 1,418
- Best colleges in America#303 of 1,829
- Best colleges for English in America#220 of 1,283
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#233 of 1,358
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in America#123 of 693
- Best test-optional colleges in America#263 of 1,481
- Best colleges for history in America#231 of 1,247
- Best colleges for art and design in America#220 of 1,187
- Best mid-size colleges in America#124 of 667
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#231 of 1,215
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#233 of 1,162
- Best colleges for music in America#217 of 1,063
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#230 of 1,116
- Colleges with the lowest student debt in America#149 of 684
- Best colleges for computer science in America#165 of 750
- Best colleges for engineering in America#173 of 749
In Alabama
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in Alabama#1 of 14
- Best colleges in Alabama#2 of 26
- Best colleges for business in Alabama#2 of 26
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Alabama#2 of 26
- Best colleges for psychology in Alabama#2 of 24
- Best colleges for accounting in Alabama#2 of 23
Show 21 more
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Alabama#2 of 23
- Best colleges for education in Alabama#2 of 23
- Best colleges for English in Alabama#2 of 23
- Best test-optional colleges in Alabama#2 of 23
- Best mid-size colleges in Alabama#1 of 11
- Best colleges for history in Alabama#2 of 22
- Best colleges for mathematics in Alabama#2 of 22
- Best colleges for chemistry in Alabama#2 of 21
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in Alabama#2 of 21
- Best colleges for music in Alabama#2 of 21
- Best colleges for criminal justice in Alabama#2 of 20
- Best colleges for art and design in Alabama#2 of 19
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in Alabama#2 of 19
- Best colleges for marketing in Alabama#2 of 17
- Best colleges for finance in Alabama#2 of 16
- Best colleges for nursing in Alabama#2 of 16
- Best colleges for social work in Alabama#2 of 16
- Best colleges for computer science in Alabama#2 of 11
- Best colleges for engineering in Alabama#2 of 11
- Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in Alabama#2 of 10
- Best colleges for economics in Alabama#2 of 8
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.77%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.93%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,201 · ACT 25
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.14 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$16,043
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $57,456 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 3,832 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 35% · Women 65% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 14% |
| First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023 | 77% |
| Total students | 5,791 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $32,622 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $57,456 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $19,500 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 77% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 64% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 61% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 78% |
| First-year retention | 93% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $58,469 |
| Admission rate | 82% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $40 |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $1,155 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 11% |
| Average SAT | 1201 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 550–640 |
| SAT math | 520–610 |
| ACT composite | 22–28 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Good (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | |
| Finance | |
| Accounting | |
| Business administration | |
| Nursing | |
| Marketing | |
| Teacher education | |
| Family and human development | |
| Journalism | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Allied health, Architecture, Bible/Biblical Studies, Biochemistry, Biology, Business (general), Chemistry, Classics, Communication studies, Computer science, Computing and information science, Criminal justice, Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis, Design, Ecology and evolutionary biology, Economics, Engineering Physics, English, Entrepreneurship, Fine arts, Foods, Nutrition,, General studies, Geography, German, Global studies, Health administration, Health sciences, History, Interdisciplinary studies, International relations, Liberal arts, Managerial economics, Mathematics, Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology, Music, Natural resources and conservation, Neuroscience, Other health professions and related clinical sciences, Other visual and performing arts, Paralegal studies, Pastoral counseling, Philosophy, Philosophy and Religious Studies, Physics, Political science, Pre-health, Pre-law and legal studies, Psychology, Public administration, Public health, Religious Music and Worship, Religious studies, Romance languages, Secondary education, Social work, Sociology, Speech-language pathology, Theatre.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Health professions | |
| Business | |
| Communication | |
| Visual and performing arts | |
| Education |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | Suburb |
| Part-time undergraduates | 1% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 1% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $13,056 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Southern Conference |
| ROTC | Army · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 14 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 16%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 99%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $78,560IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 62% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)About 7 miles away · about 20 minutes by car |
| Nearest major airport | Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)About 137 miles away |
| Town population | 198,173Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | AtlantaAbout 138 miles away · about 2 hours 45 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 45°F in January · 82°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Birmingham Airport, AL, about 8 miles away |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.16 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.08 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.00 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Samford University’s Compass Score?
- Excellent (grade A-). It ranks in the top 17% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Samford University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $32,622 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Samford University?
- Samford University admitted 82% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Samford University’s graduates do?
- 77% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $58,469; the median federal debt at graduation is $19,500.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 102049
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral/professional university
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Baptist
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Colleges like this one
The same kind of school first, then the closest in selectivity, size and cost.
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