C+
Above Average
Score: 61/100
Overall (traditional)
B+
Outcome Rating
81/100 · earnings-weighted

Samford University

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 Birmingham, Alabama 35229
Outcomes
A
86/100
Affordability
F
19/100
Resources
C+
58/100
Experience
A+
95/100
Prestige
C
48/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

5,791
Total Enrollment
80%
Graduation Rate
88%
Retention Rate
14.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
82%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Samford University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$58,469
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$49,466
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$19,500
Median debt at graduation
77%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,201
Average SAT
26
Median ACT
11.1%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 33% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 80th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (AL wage index 0.78). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Samford University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration—$119,888+3%#17 of 29#3$11,000
Finance and Financial Management Services$53,059$93,444+12%#93 of 452#33$19,000
Accounting and Related Services—$90,572+19%#111 of 796#29—
Business Administration, Management and Operations—$76,584+12%#200 of 1176#75$22,800
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$64,226$72,517-18%#925 of 966#755$25,000
Marketing$47,565$70,839+2%#176 of 516#74$18,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$44,644$52,171+10%#160 of 680#34$20,500
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services—$50,809+5%#54 of 172#12—
Journalism$30,311$50,652-10%#135 of 187#68$18,120
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness—$47,117-14%#492 of 610#340—
Design and Applied Arts$41,323————$23,250
Communication and Media Studies$39,690—————

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Samford University Town Property Report

  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 35211 (14.6% cap, Birmingham)

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🏆 Where Samford University Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#16
Pharmaceutical Sciences
of 27 schools
#19
Nurse Anesthetist
of 33 schools
#21
Divinity/Ministry
of 69 schools
#21
Nursing Administration
of 48 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $37,144 $37,144
Room $6,558
Board $5,602
Total Cost (On-Campus) $57,456 $57,456

Financial Aid

100%
Receive Any Aid
11%
Receive Pell Grants
34%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Student Demographics

5,791
Total Students
66%
Women
98%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 81%
Hispanic 5%
Black 8%
Asian 2%
Two or More 2%
Non-Resident 1%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 91%
Hybrid (Some Online) 8%
Fully Online 1%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 98%
25-64 (Adult) 1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Samford University?
Samford University has an acceptance rate of 82%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Samford University?
Tuition at Samford University is $37,144 for in-state students and $37,144 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at Samford University?
The graduation rate at Samford University is 80%. This is considered an excellent graduation rate, indicating strong student success and support systems.
Is Samford University a good school?
Samford University has a Repit College Score of 61/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (A): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Samford University?
Samford University has a total enrollment of 5,791 students. Most students (98%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

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🎓 Similar Colleges to Samford University

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

B
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee, AL · 2,846 students
C
University of Mobile
Mobile, AL · 1,911 students
C
Faulkner University
Montgomery, AL · 2,933 students
C+
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL · 21,160 students
C+
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville, AL · 8,743 students
C+
University of North Alabama
Florence, AL · 10,059 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology