Samford University vs. Belhaven University

Should I go to Samford University or Belhaven University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Samford University or Belhaven University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Samford University vs. Belhaven University comparison
Samford University Belhaven University College 3 College 4
Samford University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Samford University Belhaven University
Location Birmingham, AL Jackson, MS
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 5,791 3,616
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #213 #844
Religious Affiliation Baptist Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website samford.edu belhaven.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Samford University Belhaven University
Tuition (In State) $37,144 $28,800
Tuition (Out of State) $37,144 $28,800
Room & Board $12,160 $9,400
Avg Net Price $32,176 $22,145
Avg Grant Aid $21,758 $16,195
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 38%

Admission

Samford University Belhaven University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,541 2,156
Admitted 3,734 1,148
Acceptance Rate 82.2% 53.2%
Enrolled % 28.9% 21.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.5
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/29 18/24
SAT Range 1070/1260 980/1200
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 Belhaven University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Work and Family Studies (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (40%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

Samford University Belhaven University
Graduation Rate 70% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,400 $40,900
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $28,402
Median Loan Payment $232 $293

Diversity

Samford University Belhaven University
% Men 11% 20%
% Women 23% 39%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 81% 35%
% Black 7% 48%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 6%

Students

Samford University Belhaven University
% In-State 23% 51%
% Out-of-State 77% 47%

Campus

Samford University Belhaven University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
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 Belhaven University based on total student enrollment (5,791 students vs. 3,616 students)

Samford University vs. Belhaven University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Samford University or Belhaven University?

  • Samford University is 29% more expensive to attend than Belhaven University for in-state tuition ($37,144.00 vs. $28,800.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 29% higher at Samford University than Belhaven University ($37,144.00 vs. $28,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Belhaven University than Samford University ($22,145 vs. $32,176)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Belhaven University are 29.4% lower than costs at Samford University ($9,400 vs. $12,160)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Samford University than Belhaven University (100% vs. 38%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Samford University students is 34.4% larger than aid received Belhaven University ($21,758 vs. $16,195)

Samford University vs. Belhaven University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Samford University or Belhaven University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Belhaven University or Samford University .

  • Accepted freshman Samford University students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Belhaven University (3.5)
  • Samford University has a higher acceptance rate (82.2%) than Belhaven University (53.2%)

Samford University vs. Belhaven University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Samford University or Belhaven University? 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 Belhaven University and Samford University.

  • The graduation rate at Samford University is higher than Belhaven University (70% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Samford University earn on average $16,500 more per year than Belhaven University graduates after ten years. ($57,400 vs. $40,900)
  • Samford University students graduate with a $5,902 lower median federal student loan debt than Belhaven University graduates. ($22,500 vs. $28,402)
  • Samford University graduates are paying $61 less per month on federal student loans than Belhaven University graduates. ($232 vs. $293)
  • More Samford University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Belhaven University students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/