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Belmont Auburn Berry College Lipscomb Birmingham Southern College Clemson MC Alabama North Greenville University Lee University University of Alabama at Birmingham Furman| Samford University | Anderson University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Samford University | AU | ||
| Location | Birmingham, AL | Anderson, SC | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 5,791 | 4,325 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #213 | #759 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Baptist | Baptist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | samford.edu | andersonuniversity.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Samford University | AU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $37,144 | $32,710 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $37,144 | $32,710 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,160 | $12,290 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $32,176 | $22,222 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $21,758 | $25,586 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Samford University | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,541 | 4,732 | ||
| Admitted | 3,734 | 2,499 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 82.2% | 52.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.9% | 34% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.84 | 3.72 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 23/29 | 22/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1070/1260 | 1090/1290 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | May 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Samford University | AU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Samford University | AU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 70% | 48% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,400 | $37,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 77% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,500 | $26,862 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $232 | $277 |
Diversity |
Samford University | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 11% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 23% | 12% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 81% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
Samford University | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 23% | 68% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 77% | 31% | ||
Campus |
Samford University | AU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Samford University is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (5,791 students vs. 4,325 students)
Samford University vs. AU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Samford University or AU?
- Samford University is 13.6% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($37,144.00 vs. $32,710.00)
- Out of state tuition is 13.6% higher at Samford University than Anderson University ($37,144.00 vs. $32,710.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Anderson University than Samford University ($22,222 vs. $32,176)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Samford University are 1.1% lower than costs at Anderson University ($12,160 vs. $12,290)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Samford University than Anderson University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 17.6% larger than aid received Samford University ($25,586 vs. $21,758)
Samford University vs. AU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Samford University or AU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between AU or Samford University .
- The average SAT score at Samford University (1162) is 84 points higher than at AU (1078)
- Incoming Samford University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at AU (24)
- Accepted freshman Samford University students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at AU (3.72)
- Samford University has a higher acceptance rate (82.2%) than AU (52.8%)
Samford University vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Samford University or AU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between AU and Samford University.
- The graduation rate at Samford University is higher than Anderson University (70% vs. 48%)
- Graduates from Samford University earn on average $19,900 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($57,400 vs. $37,500)
- Samford University students graduate with a $4,362 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($22,500 vs. $26,862)
- Samford University graduates are paying $45 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($232 vs. $277)
- More Samford University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 60%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/