Founded in 1841, Samford University. is a Private college. Located in Alabama, which is a city setting in Alabama, the campus itself is Suburban. The campus is home to 3,341 full time undergraduate students, and 2,130 full time graduate students.
The Samford University Academic calendar runs on a Four-one-four plan basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 12:1. There are 352 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Samford University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
91%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
40
SAT Range
1020-1238
ACT Range
23-29
Admissions at are considered Less Selective, with ,25% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 27 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
84% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 61% were in the top quarter, and 33% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Samford University.
74 Students rated on-campus housing 3.7 stars. 11 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
55 Students rated off-campus housing 3.6 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
77 Students rated campus food 3.2 stars. 10 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
76 Students rated campus facilities 4.1 stars. 36 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
76 Students rated class size 4.7 stars. 71 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
76 Students rated school activities 4.1 stars. 33 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
76 Students rated local services 4.6 stars. 68 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
76 Students rated academics 4 stars. 38 % gave the school a 5.0.
Samford University REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of Samford University?
27 Students rated Samford University
Edie
I LOVE SAMFORD. The community at Samford is unlike any community I have ever been a part of. People are genuine and want to get to know you on a deep level. Professors and advisors are always there to help pick you up and encourage you along your career. There are so many ways to get involved at Samford including be definitely not limited to greek life, outdoor clubs, global missions clubs, and so many more. Growing leadership skills is also very prominent at Samford and there are many ways for you to do so. Finding your place is so easy and there are many different things that you can be involved in at once.
jimmy
It reminds me of kids that never left high school and are extremely sheltered. No concept of real life or failure. If kids get knocked down, they have zero clue how to get up. Worst college experience, feel like I am in a religious cult. Would not recommend for anyone looking for a college experience.
Elly
This school honestly when you walk in it gives the best feelings ever. You feel so welcome there, and if you ever need help with anything, your teachers are always very available to you. I would not want to go anywhere else . I have learned so much attending this place.
Anne Madison
I love Samford University. I feel safe on campus, Birmingham is full of activities to do, and the people are very authentic. The professors are always state available to help and they truly mean it. The students are fun, good, and intelligent. I cannot recommend the school Samford University, the people, or the environment enough. Go bulldogs!
Hayden
Samford University is a school that a lot of people overlook. I had never even heard of it until my mother brought it up to me and made me apply. I visited for the first time on Christmas morning my senior year of high school and instantly felt a connection with it. I find that people either really love or really dislike Samford. I am an introvert at heart, don't enjoy big class sizes nor getting lost in a sea of campus students. Which is why I found Samford perfect for me. However if you are really into the "sports culture" or the "party scene" that a bigger state school will provide I wouldn't recommend attending. Samford is my home, i've made lifelong friends here and have had the privilege of making amazing memories in my three years thus far. I wouldn't trade that for anything. Even if that means dealing with sub-par cafeteria food and being put under the pressure of hard academic scales. Samford is a community, traditional and certainly isn't for everyone. However I found that this university was very much for me.
Peighton
Samford is an amazing school! It is the perfect size where I often see people walking around that I know but I don't feel like I know every person there. The professors are amazing and never fail to be of help and make time for you. Greek life is big but no one is shamed for not joining and the sense community I have felt there is unmatched. Our president, Andrew Westmoreland, really works hard to connect with all students and is so involved. This makes you feel like you really belong. On top of Samford being a great university, Birmingham makes it even better with its endless things to do and beautiful sights to see. I love it!
Haddiyah
It's a great school. Anyone can come here and find their place, and their people. Although it is a private Christian university, people from all ethnic and religious backgrounds come and make Samford their home. This school isn't a place of conformity or judgement, it's really just a place where they want you to do your best, so you can achieve the best, while you learn your own way.
Halee
Samford is one of the most welcoming schools I have ever visited. Being from out of state, they make it feel like home and allow you to get involved as soon as you walk on campus. The staff and Professors are the most caring people who really do want you to succeed.
Taylor
I absolutely love Samford University! I'm a freshmen this year, and you would not believe all of the crazy stories I have. We all get along so well! Even if there are a few people who I would rather not see, you do not see them all the time. Yes, this is a small school, but it's a community. Everyone is always smiling, and you can not go anywhere on campus without seeing at least one person that you know.
Lauren
I really do enjoy my school. The academics are amazing and the teachers are really challenging. The one thing I really like is how it is a small school but has the atmosphere of a big school. For example we have sports and sororities. the campus is beautiful and the birmingham area is great for exploring and eating. I wanted to go to a small school but the ones I looked at were in a small area too with not much to do or did not have thing that Samford does. Class sizes average to about 20-30 max.
Lorynn
I love Samford University! I believe you can have the best four years of your life here if you so choose to attend. The professors here are friendly and are there to help you whenever you need any. Samford is amazing and beautiful, and I couldn't be any happier.
Sophia
Samford is an awesome place to learn, have fun, and is an all around college experience.
Molly
I love Samford University. The campus is absolutely beautiful and the class sizes are great. The small campus feels like home and makes it easy to have friends, but also can be a bit draining, as everyone is aware of everyone else's personal lives. The male to female ratio is 1 to 3, which is also a bit inconvenient at times. Overall, Samford is beautiful and safe and I would recommend it to everyone.
Samantha
There are so many good things I could say about this little school. Tucked neatly into a pleasant suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford University is a great place if you are looking for a peaceful college career where some chances to go on adventures exist. The campus is old, and - in my opinion - very beautiful. Housing is tolerable, and one should not really complain about the food services, even if they do have bad days involving "tunoodle casserole." I love Samford, and I think any student looking to stay somewhere safe and VERY Southern Baptist, Samford is an excellent choice for them.
Reagan
I truly believe that Samford University is one of the best private schools in the South, if not the United States. It offers a faith-driven education in which students can succeed academically while simultaneously growing spiritually. Students have many different ways to get involved on campus, with opportunities available for everyone. Located in the community of Homewood, students are immersed in a city with countless things to do, places to shop, and spots to eat. It is also a 10 minute drive to the thriving city of Birmingham, which allows Samford graduates with countless professional opportunities after they graduate.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Samford University is 91%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
College really has very little to do with what we gain in the classroom or lecture hall. Yes, the academics are vitally important to learning the information you will need for the fututre, the real lessons learned in college are learned outside the classroom. In my experience, I have learned many life lessons while in college, but most of them were learned in social situations or a the result of my individual choices in life or school. All of these lessons are learned outside of the textbooks and the exams. I have found that I have discovered who I am in college and it has little to do with my courseload and everything to do with my friends, choices, and experiences that I have faced while at Samford. The choices we make shape who we are and who we become, and if we sit and expect our professors and textbooks to teach us what we need to do, we would graduate without every having learned anything practical to life. At the end of the day, we need college to teach us valuable life lessons, just not the ones we sometimes think college is supposed to teach us.
Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?
No, there are many Christian people but there are also a lot of wild children around campus who party and drink a lot.
Not all girls are prissy and up tight who dress up everday and put on their best show for everyone.
A lot of girls have had their first kiss and a lot of girls are no longer virgins...STDs run around this school like every other.
Samford is a small community and its awesome. The bad thing is that we can get "values" for things like boys in the rooms after visitation or without being signed in and we can also get in trouble for having alcohol in pictures even if its off campus. A lot of cool people go here you just have to find the click you fit. The biggest controversy was either the "gunman" on campus or one of our building's roofs collapsing. There is some school pride but no one goes to any of the games really, a select few... that needs to change.
Professors know your name after the first week of class! they say hey to you on campus and i've even eaten at their house before, its awesome! Students studying varies on their major! We do have a absence policy and if you miss too many classes you can fail becaue of it, thats kind of a gay policy but it happens...trust me.
Someone who attends this school should be intentional about getting the most out of their college experience, both in academics and social life. One would need to be able to study hard and balance all the things this school has to offer in their organizations and extracurricular activities. There are so many opportunities to meet people and form relationships, but it does take some effort to mold these relationships into life-long. In order to fully appreciate Samford, students have to be willing to work hard in all aspects of their lives.
The best thing about Samford is its environment. The campus is so different from many others--e.g., alcohol is not allowed on campus. It's not a typical party school, but we all seem to have lots of fun anyway! To me, Samford is like a breath of fresh air. We're unique; we don't just blindly follow what "everyone" does.
What's the most frustrating thing about your school?
Samford honestly is not diverse enough. I don't like that people tend to hang out only with other people of their same race. People are very friendly to others of different races, but unfortunately caucasian by far the dominant race. There are too many women as well. The ratio of men to women is around 40{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} to 60{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}, which is frustrating.
It's known for it's academic prestige and religious affiliations. My school is one of the best private schools in the South, and was ranked 27th out of all national universities according to Forbes magazine. The coursework is challenging, but the emphasis on other activities - especially community outreach - is also great. There are numerous programs and organizations for students to become involved in, and many students choose to spend their time in this way. The productivity of this school through its students is truly commendable.
What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?
When most people think Samford they think white upperclass republican baptists. For the most part this is true, however there are those of us, especially upperclassmen that have liberal views and do not fit the "typical Samford student". There are homophobes on campus but everyone I have met so far has subverted the traditional Samford image everyone thinks of. Despite what the school tells you there is a lot of underground drinking and minor weed usage. Come for the campus, stay because your credits won't transfer is the unnoficial motto!
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
97% of students attending Samford University receive some sort of financial aid.
11% were awarded federal grants.34%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.
