Samford University
Birmingham, Alabama · Private · 4,206 undergraduates · samford.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
79%
of 5,114 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1090 to 1230
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$69,020Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Samford University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
79% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$69,020
a year in 2027-28, from a $69,020 sticker price
What to do with your 1160
Send your score
About 23% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1050, and yours is above it.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
- Classic Learning Test (CLT) accepted; enhanced ACT accepted
Source: Application Options | Samford University · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Action · November 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
Who gets in
79%
of applicants were admitted: 4,055 of 5,114 for fall 2025.
Wait list
217 students were offered a spot; 22 were later admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 26% of them sent SAT scores and 65% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1090 to 1230
Reading and Writing 550 to 640
Math 520 to 610
ACT composite 22 to 29
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 16003.3%
- 1200 to 139938%
- 1000 to 119951%
- 800 to 9997.6%
- 600 to 7990%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.87
- 4.045%
- 3.75 to 3.9922%
- 3.50 to 3.7415%
- 3.25 to 3.498.7%
- 3.00 to 3.245.8%
- 2.50 to 2.992.9%
- Below 2.500.2%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$69,020
a year
- Tuition$44,290
- Fees$1,250
- Food and housing$16,000
- Books and supplies$1,370
- Transportation and other$6,110
Samford University published $66,360 for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$25,299
- $30,001 to $48,000$24,217
- $48,001 to $75,000$27,586
- $75,001 to $110,000$30,393
- Over $110,000$37,166
Financial aid
75%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$25,666
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
55%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $20,062 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: 7/15
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Marvin Mann Academic Excellence Scholarship
$10,000 a year
National Merit
To keep it: stay in good academic standing (not on academic probation), and follow the college's code of values.
DetailsNational Merit Semifinalist Scholarship
$1,000 a year
National Merit
Deadline: Name this college your first choice with NMSC. To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA; if you're suspended or dismissed, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation cancels the scholarship.
Details
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
38 of 38
Earn credit with a score of 3
18 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $4,430Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | ART 101 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | ART 102 |
| Art History | 4 | 3 | Elective Credit |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | BIOL 101, BIOL 102 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | MATH 240 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | MATH 240, MATH 260 |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 3 | 4 | MATH 240 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | CHEM 205, CHEM 206 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | CHIN 102 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | CHIN 201, 202 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | Elective Credit |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 3 | COSC 110 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 4 | COSC 107, COSC 108 |
| Drawing | 4 | 3 | ART 120 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | UCW 101 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | UCW 101 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | BIOL 117, BIOL118 |
| European History | 4 | 3 | HIST 200 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | FREN 102 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | FREN 201, FREN 202 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | GER 102 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | GER 201, GER 202 |
| Human Geography | 4 | 3 | GEOG 101 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | ITAL 102 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | ITAL 201, ITAL 202 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | JAPN 102 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | JAPN 201, JAPN 202 |
| Latin | 3 | 3 | LATN 102 |
| Latin | 4 | 3 | LATN 201 |
| Latin | 5 | 6 | LATN 201, LATN 202 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 201 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 202 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 4 | MUSC 1510, MUSC 1511 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 101, PHYS 111 |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 102, PHYS 112 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | PHYS 204, PHYS 214 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | PHYS 203, PHYS 213 |
| Pre-Calculus | 4 | 3 | MATH 150 |
| Psychology | 4 | 3 | PSYC 101 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | SPAN 102 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | SPAN 201, SPAN 202 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 3 | SPAN 301 |
| Statistics | 3 | 4 | MATH 210 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POLS 205 |
| United States History | 4 | 3 | HIST 218 |
| World History: Modern | 5 | 3 | HIST 200 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
78%
Come back for a second year
93%
Typical earnings
$66,982
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Samford University$130,479
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 11 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Samford University. The Samford University logo is a trademark of the college.