Samford University
Birmingham, AL800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, AL 35229-2240
205-726-2011
Founded in 1841, Samford University is a private research university in Homewood, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham. Samford University is the 87th oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. The university enrolls 5,471 students from 47 states and 29 countries. Samford University has been ranked as the best value among private universities in the South by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. Samford University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Samford University's Cumberland School of Law is also accredited by the American Bar Association.
Samford University was founded as Howard College. The school was named after John C. Calhoun's grandfather, Samuel. Howard College was established on the site of a former Indian village in Shelby County, Alabama. The school was founded by four men who were members of the Alabama Baptist Convention: James H. DeVotie, Abner S. Lipscomb, James T. Murfee, and Samuel U. Rodgers. The first class of Howard College consisted of 37 students.
In 1887, the college moved to East Lake, a suburb of Birmingham. The school became a four-year institution in 1890. In 1900, the name of the school was changed to Samford University in honor of its founder, Samuel Ullman.
Samford University grew rapidly in the early 20th century. The school began offering graduate programs in 1920. In 1925, the school moved to its current location in Homewood. The school became a coeducational institution in 1953.
Samford University is a comprehensive university with five academic schools: Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Health Professions, and Law. The university offers more than 140 undergraduate majors and programs and 60 graduate and professional programs.
The Samford Bulldogs compete in NCAA Division I athletics. The university is a member of the Southern Conference. The school's mascot is Spike, a bulldog.
Samford University is committed to providing a quality education at an affordable price. The school offers a variety of scholarships and financial aid programs to help students meet the cost of attendance. Samford University is dedicated to preparing students for success in their careers and in their personal lives.
Quick Facts
Enrollment: 5729
Acceptance Rate: 83.99%
Type: Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above
Main Website: https://www.samford.edu/
Financial Aid: https://www.samford.edu/departments/financial-services/
Annual Costs
Total Cost In-State On-Campus: $51314
Total Cost Out-State On-Campus: $51314
Return on Investment Rating
The estimated cost for four years as an undergraduate at Samford University is $193911.23. This includes the average cost of attendance for four years plus the interest on the average loan over a ten year repayment minus the average of grants and scholarships per student.
We then contrast this figure with average early-career and mid-career average incomes of graduates of four year programs at Samford University. For graduates of Samford University, we saw an average early-career income of $52200.00 and mid-career income of $96800.00. We then ranked the school's value based on how many years of mid-career income it takes to repay the educational costs.