True College Verdict
B

Samford University

Birmingham, AL · 4,206 undergraduates · 15% receive Pell Grants · admits 82%
Private nonprofitMainly bachelor's degrees

A good choice overall. It ranks 432 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 66 out of 100.

Is it affordable?
No
Average net price $32,950 a year after grants. Typical for similar colleges: $19,899.
Will most students finish?
Yes
78% graduate within 8 years. Typical for similar colleges: 59%.
Is it worth the price?
Likely
Graduates owe a typical $19,500 against earnings of $66,982, a ratio of 0.29. Under 0.4 is comfortable; over 0.7 is heavy.

These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.

What do students really think?

You have seen the federal numbers for Samford University. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.

Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.

Why it is good

  • 78% of students graduate, better than 85% of four-year colleges.
  • Students stay: 93% of first-year students return for a second year, better than 90% of four-year colleges.
  • Strong pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $66,982, higher than 71% of four-year colleges.
  • Debt is manageable: graduates owe a typical $19,500 in federal loans against earnings of $66,982.

Why it is bad

  • Expensive: the average student pays about $32,950 a year after grants, more than at 89% of four-year colleges.

The numbers

What these figures measure

Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.

Graduation rate
78%
Better than 85% of similar colleges. Typical: 59%
Return for year 2
93%
Better than 90% of similar colleges. Typical: 77%
Earnings after 10 years
$66,982
Better than 71% of similar colleges. Typical: $58,912
Debt at graduation
$19,500
Better than 75% of similar colleges. Typical: $21,609
Net price per year
$32,950
Better than 11% of similar colleges. Typical: $19,899
Published tuition
$41,910
Before any aid

Programs and early earnings

Bachelor's degrees: largest programs

Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.

Students and reviews

Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for Samford University, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:

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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.