Private not-for-profit · Suburb: Large
Samford University
Birmingham, Alabama
Detailed ICP profile · Partial Common Data Set research. Each figure has its own reporting year. This is a research snapshot, not a live update.
At a glance
- Admission rate
- 82.4%
- Fall 2024 · federal IPEDS · past applicant pool, not your chances
- Details about admission rate ↓
- 2026–27 published cost
- Partial only
- The college publishes only part of its budget
- Details about 2026–27 published cost ↓
Admissions
Historical admissions describe the reported applicant pool, not your chances. Early-plan applicants form different pools.
Applicants admitted · federal
82.4%
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 first-time applicant pool reported to IPEDS; not your admission chances.
About this number: Applicants admitted · federal
Admission offers divided by applications, both as reported to the U.S. Department of Education. It is a separate source and year from any institution Common Data Set rate and does not predict an individual decision.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: First-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate applicants (includes early decision and early action)
First-year applications · federal
4,559
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 first-time, degree/certificate-seeking applicants reported to IPEDS.
About this number: First-year applications · federal
An application count, including early plans; not the size of the entering class.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: First-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate applicants (includes early decision and early action)
More admissions statistics (2)
First-year admission offers · federal
3,755
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 offers reported to IPEDS, not enrolled students.
About this number: First-year admission offers · federal
Admitted and enrolled populations differ.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: First-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate applicants (includes early decision and early action)
New first-year students · federal
1,087
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 admitted first-time students who enrolled, full or part time.
About this number: New first-year students · federal
This is neither all undergraduates nor all admitted students.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Admitted first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who enrolled (full or part time)
Academic profile of entering students
Scores and GPA describe past students, not current requirements. Reporting methods and populations differ.
SAT middle 50%
1,090–1,230
Fall 2025
Enrolled students who submitted SAT scores. Not a required range or personal admission prediction.
About the 25th percentile: SAT 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Samford University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted SAT scores
About the 75th percentile: SAT 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Samford University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted SAT scores
ACT middle 50%
22–29
Fall 2025
Enrolled students who submitted ACT scores. Not a required range or personal admission prediction.
About the 25th percentile: ACT 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Samford University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted ACT scores
About the 75th percentile: ACT 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Samford University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted ACT scores
Average reported high-school GPA
3.87
Fall 2025
Among GPA reporters. Weighting and scale may vary; not a required or verified unweighted GPA.
About this number: Average reported high-school GPA
Schools report GPA differently. This mean cannot be compared as a universal scale or used as an admission cutoff.
Samford University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: first year enrollees reporting high school gpa
More academics statistics (15)
SAT reading/writing · 25th percentile
550
Fall 2025
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: SAT reading/writing · 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Samford University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted SAT scores
SAT reading/writing · 75th percentile
640
Fall 2025
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: SAT reading/writing · 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Samford University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted SAT scores
SAT math · 25th percentile
520
Fall 2025
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: SAT math · 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Samford University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted SAT scores
SAT math · 75th percentile
610
Fall 2025
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: SAT math · 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Samford University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted SAT scores
Federal ACT composite · 25th percentile
22
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal ACT composite · 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Federal ACT composite · 75th percentile
28
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal ACT composite · 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Federal SAT reading/writing · 25th percentile
550
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal SAT reading/writing · 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Federal SAT reading/writing · 75th percentile
640
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal SAT reading/writing · 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Federal SAT math · 25th percentile
520
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal SAT math · 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Federal SAT math · 75th percentile
610
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal SAT math · 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
SAT submitter share
26.0%
Fall 2025
Share of the source-defined enrolled group submitting this test.
About this number: SAT submitter share
Submission rates depend on the reported population and policy at that time, not today’s testing requirement.
Samford University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted SAT scores
ACT submitter share
65.0%
Fall 2025
Share of the source-defined enrolled group submitting this test.
About this number: ACT submitter share
Submission rates depend on the reported population and policy at that time, not today’s testing requirement.
Samford University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted ACT scores
Federal SAT submitter share
25.0%
Fall 2024
Share of the source-defined enrolled group submitting this test.
About this number: Federal SAT submitter share
Submission rates depend on the reported population and policy at that time, not today’s testing requirement.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students
Federal ACT submitter share
66.0%
Fall 2024
Share of the source-defined enrolled group submitting this test.
About this number: Federal ACT submitter share
Submission rates depend on the reported population and policy at that time, not today’s testing requirement.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students
Share reporting GPA
100.0%
Fall 2025
Share of the entering group with reported GPA.
About this number: Share reporting GPA
The average reported GPA may describe only this subset; weighting and scale are source-specific.
Samford University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
Costs & financial aid
Compare the year and population before comparing prices. Published budgets, group averages and your actual aid offer are different.
2026–27 cost of attendance
Published by Samford University$43,790
Published tuition and fees only — not the full cost of attendance
- 2026–27
- Partial costs only
This budget assumes
- Any state of residence
- All undergraduates
The school does not publish a complete 2026–27 cost of attendance for this situation. Costs it leaves out are not zero — plan for housing, food, books, travel and personal expenses that are not listed here.
Not included in this amount
Housing/food, books, transportation, personal
This is the school’s budget before financial aid. It is not a bill, the federal average net price, or your own aid offer.
About this budget
- The school labels these figures 2026–27.
- ICP’s independent audit re-checked this total on the school’s page. The individual lines come from ICP’s original review of the same page.
- Read from the school’s PDF as text. The numbers matched, but the PDF layout was not visually inspected.
- Source: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Tuition & Fees (FY 2027) (Samford University Financial Services). Researched October 21, 2026; independently audited October 22, 2026.
Research notes: Published combined Tuition and Fees per year; individual fees vary by program
Understand the five kinds of college costs
- Tuition & fees
- Instruction and required college fees; living costs are additional unless explicitly included.
- Attendance budget
- College charges plus estimated living, books, travel and other included expenses, before aid.
- Average annual cost after grants & scholarships
- A historical average after federal, state/local and college grant aid for a specified federal-aid population. Outside private scholarships are not automatically deducted; loans and work-study are not discounts.
- Your net cost
- Your entered attendance cost minus selected grants and scholarships. Loans and work-study remain funding sources.
- Borrowing
- Debt to repay, not a discount. Work-study is earned over time, not an upfront bill reduction.
Average annual cost after grants & scholarships
$32,950
2024–25
Includes applicable federal, state/local and college grants and scholarships. First-time, full-time students receiving federal financial aid form the reporting population. The attendance budget includes estimated living expenses. Your actual cost may differ.
About this number: Average annual cost after grants & scholarships
Federal average net price: average attendance cost (tuition, fees, books, supplies and living expenses) minus qualifying federal, state/local and institutional grants and scholarships for this population. Federal aid defines the reporting population, not the only aid deducted; some included students receive federal loans or work-study but no grants. This is a historical average, not a personalized award. Outside private scholarships are not automatically deducted. Loans and work-study are not subtracted. This is not tuition alone, an individual award, a guaranteed price or necessarily a college bill.
U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25
Who or what this describes: First-time, full-time students receiving federal financial aid at private institutions
Tuition
$42,590
2026–2027
Historical published tuition; fees and living expenses may be additional.
About this number: Tuition
Tuition covers instruction under the source conditions. Do not treat it as a full attendance budget or subtract average net price from it.
Samford University Common Data Set · 2026–2027
Who or what this describes: First-year, full-time undergraduates
More costs statistics (9)
Required fees
$1,200
2026–2027
Separate source-defined fees; do not add to an amount already including fees.
About this number: Required fees
Review the same-year tuition definition before adding separate fees.
Samford University Common Data Set · 2026–2027
Who or what this describes: First-year, full-time undergraduates
Housing & food
$15,380
2026–2027
Source-defined living arrangement and year; not necessarily your college bill.
About this number: Housing & food
Living expenses vary by housing arrangement. Do not mix these with a total budget that already includes them.
Samford University Common Data Set · 2026–2027
Who or what this describes: First-year, full-time undergraduates
Tuition & fees · in-state
$41,910
2025–26
Historical federal amount, before aid and living expenses.
About this number: Tuition & fees · in-state
Tuition and required fees are combined here. Do not add the institution’s separate fees again or confuse this with total attendance cost.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: In-state tuition and fees
Tuition & fees · out-of-state
$41,910
2025–26
Historical federal amount, before aid and living expenses.
About this number: Tuition & fees · out-of-state
This combines tuition and fees for the reported residency. It is separate from a differently dated institutional tuition figure.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Out-of-state tuition and fees
Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants
14.9%
2024–25
Source-defined undergraduate recipients; not an eligibility prediction.
About this number: Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants
This describes reported recipients, not whether your family qualifies.
U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25
Who or what this describes: Percentage of undergraduates who receive a Pell Grant
Undergraduates receiving federal loans
48.3%
2024–25
Borrowing participation; loans are debt, not grants.
About this number: Undergraduates receiving federal loans
A loan must generally be repaid and does not reduce net price. This is not a measure of the amount each student borrows.
U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25
Who or what this describes: Percent of all undergraduate students receiving a federal student loan
Average need-based grant for recipients
$25,666
2024–2025
Source-defined first-year aid recipients, not all students.
About this number: Average need-based grant for recipients
An average grant is not an average net price or a promise of aid. Eligibility, institutional need definitions and award amounts vary.
Samford University Common Data Set · 2024–2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, full-time first-year students
Average need-based aid package for recipients
$30,504
2024–2025
Source-defined first-year need-based aid recipients, not all students.
About this number: Average need-based aid package for recipients
A package can combine grants, loans and work-study. It is not a grant total, an average net price or a promise of aid.
Samford University Common Data Set · 2024–2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, full-time first-year students
Average financial need met
74.8%
2024–2025
Institution-defined need among the reported aid population.
About this number: Average financial need met
The college’s definition of need may differ from a family budget or federal Student Aid Index. This percentage does not predict your award.
Samford University Common Data Set · 2024–2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, full-time first-year students
Campus & student outcomes
Enrollment, return rates and completion rates describe different source populations. They are not a measure of every student’s experience.
Undergraduate students
4,370
Fall 2025
Source-defined undergraduate headcount, not just first-year students.
About this number: Undergraduate students
Institutional reporting scope can include multiple schools or campuses. Federal and institutional counts can use different populations or dates.
Samford University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: All undergraduates in the report
Students per faculty member · federal
14
Fall 2024
A reporting ratio, not average class size.
About this number: Students per faculty member · federal
This federal measure uses its own student and instructional-staff definitions. It is separate from class size.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Student-to-faculty ratio
Returned after the first year · federal
92.9%
Fall 2023 bachelor’s-seeking cohort, reported in IPEDS DCY2024–25
First-time, full-time bachelor’s-seeking students in the reported cohort.
About this number: Returned after the first year · federal
Federal retention follows a specific entering group. It is not a measure of all students or eventual graduation.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2023 bachelor’s-seeking cohort, reported in IPEDS DCY2024–25
Who or what this describes: Full-time, first-time bachelor’s-seeking undergraduates (the IPEDS four-year retention cohort) enrolled at the institution in the fall one year after starting
Completed within 150% of program time
77.8%
Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019–20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025–26
Source-defined first-time, full-time entry cohort; not all enrolled students.
About this number: Completed within 150% of program time
For a four-year bachelor program, 150% of normal time is generally six years. Use the precise entry cohort and measurement definition in the research record.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019–20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025–26
Who or what this describes: Full-time, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates (total cohort, not only bachelor’s-seeking) who completed any degree or certificate at the institution within 150% of normal time
More campus and outcome statistics (6)
Undergraduate students · federal
4,210
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 undergraduate headcount, including full-time and part-time students.
About this number: Undergraduate students · federal
This is the source-defined institutional reporting unit, not a count of majors, degrees awarded or all graduate and undergraduate students.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Grand total
Reported academic calendar
Semester
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: Reported academic calendar
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
Undergraduate research in federal reporting
Not marked in this report
2025–26
Historical service reporting; an unmarked option is not proof that research is unavailable.
About this number: Undergraduate research in federal reporting
The source describes a reported co-curricular option, not the full current research opportunities available to students. Verify current offerings directly.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
Study abroad reported
Yes
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: Study abroad reported
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
Academic & career counseling reported
Yes
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: Academic & career counseling reported
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
AP credit reported
Yes
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: AP credit reported
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
What could you study?
These examples come from historical bachelor’s degrees awarded, not a verified current-major catalog. Confirm current programs, campus and entry conditions with the college.
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General
- Finance, General
- Journalism
- Accounting
Historical degree records & sources
Reported first-major bachelor’s credentials, not necessarily distinct graduates. Examples with the largest reported counts, including ties; no campus or classification totals are added together.
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
112 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
87 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General
61 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Finance, General
58 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Journalism
49 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Accounting
46 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Human Development and Family Studies, General
34 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Business Administration and Management, General
33 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Psychology, General
31 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
26 degrees awarded · 2024-25
Plan your application
Check current official instructions for testing, essays, recommendations and dates. Historical admissions outcomes are not application requirements. Early Decision can be binding; review the institution’s conditions before choosing it.
Samford University — SAT/ACT policy
Test-optional
Verified for fall 2027 · college page
Samford gives freshman applicants the option to be evaluated without a test score for the 2026-27 application cycle.
Fall 2027 · first-year domestic applicant. The college's page names this entry year. Confirm your program and circumstances.
Common App requirements grid · 2026–27
Listed as: Tests sometimes required for first-year U.S. applicants.
This is the Common App’s own category. “Tests never required” does not say whether a college is test-optional or test-free, and “always required” does not say which tests count. Read the college’s page for details.
Conditions to check
- Tests the page names: SAT, ACT.
If you submit scores
- Superscores ACT and SAT for admission consideration (SAT only for scholarship)
Official source checked 2026-10-28. Policies can change.
Different applicant situation?
SAT/ACT and English proficiency are different requirements. Program, recruitment and scholarship rules may need separate confirmation.
Sources & research
Institutional Common Data Sets and federal statistics have different reporting periods and populations. Research snapshot: October 16–19, 2026. Missing values can reflect nonreporting, conflict, ambiguity or incomplete review; they are never zero. Four-year earnings for colleges are withheld because of a documented October 15, 2026 correction to the federal source.
How ICP selects and explains data →