Samford University vs. Florida Southern

Should I go to Samford University or Florida Southern College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Samford University or Florida Southern 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.

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Samford University vs. Florida Southern College comparison
Samford University Florida Southern College College 3 College 4
Samford University Florida Southern College
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Overview

Samford University Florida Southern
Location Birmingham, AL Lakeland, FL
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 5,791 3,194
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #213 #294
Religious Affiliation Baptist United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website samford.edu flsouthern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Samford University Florida Southern
Tuition (In State) $37,144 $41,500
Tuition (Out of State) $37,144 $41,500
Room & Board $12,160 $13,800
Avg Net Price $32,176 $30,462
Avg Grant Aid $21,758 $26,704
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Samford University Florida Southern
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,541 10,874
Admitted 3,734 6,423
Acceptance Rate 82.2% 59.1%
Enrolled % 28.9% 10%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.73
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/29 25/30
SAT Range 1070/1260 1170/1310
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 May 1, 2026

Academics

Samford University Florida Southern
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Work and Family Studies (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

Samford University Florida Southern
Graduation Rate 70% 55%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,400 $42,700
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $232 $248

Diversity

Samford University Florida Southern
% Men 11% 6%
% Women 23% 12%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 81% 74%
% Black 7% 6%
% Hispanic 5% 11%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Samford University Florida Southern
% In-State 23% 62%
% Out-of-State 77% 36%

Campus

Samford University Florida Southern
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 Florida Southern based on total student enrollment (5,791 students vs. 3,194 students)

Samford University vs. Florida Southern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Samford University or Florida Southern?

  • Florida Southern College is 11.7% more expensive to attend than Samford University for in-state tuition ($41,500.00 vs. $37,144.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.7% higher at Florida Southern than Samford University ($41,500.00 vs. $37,144.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Florida Southern College than Samford University ($30,462 vs. $32,176)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Samford University are 13.5% lower than costs at Florida Southern College ($12,160 vs. $13,800)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Samford University as Florida Southern College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Florida Southern College students is 22.7% larger than aid received Samford University ($26,704 vs. $21,758)

Samford University vs. Florida Southern Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Florida Southern College (1172) is 10 points higher than at Samford University (1162)
  • Incoming Florida Southern students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Samford University (26)
  • Accepted freshman Samford University students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Florida Southern (3.73)
  • Samford University has a higher acceptance rate (82.2%) than Florida Southern (59.1%)

Samford University vs. Florida Southern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Samford University or Florida Southern? 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 Florida Southern and Samford University.

  • The graduation rate at Samford University is higher than Florida Southern College (70% vs. 55%)
  • Graduates from Samford University earn on average $14,700 more per year than Florida Southern graduates after ten years. ($57,400 vs. $42,700)
  • Samford University students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Florida Southern graduates. ($22,500 vs. $24,000)
  • Samford University graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Florida Southern graduates. ($232 vs. $248)
  • More Samford University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Florida Southern students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 65%)

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