Samford University vs. Iona College

Should I go to Samford University or Iona College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Samford University or Iona College 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. Iona College comparison
Samford University Iona College College 3 College 4
Samford University Iona College
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Overview

Samford University Iona College
Location Birmingham, AL New Rochelle, NY
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,791 3,720
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #213 #492
Religious Affiliation Baptist Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website samford.edu iona.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Samford University Iona College
Tuition (In State) $37,144 $43,680
Tuition (Out of State) $37,144 $43,680
Room & Board $12,160 $18,270
Avg Net Price $32,176 $28,557
Avg Grant Aid $21,758 $29,258
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Samford University Iona College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,541 7,289
Admitted 3,734 6,643
Acceptance Rate 82.2% 91.1%
Enrolled % 28.9% 12.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.4
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 20/28
SAT Range 1070/1260 1055/1265
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 Feb 15, 2026

Academics

Samford University Iona College
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Work and Family Studies (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (37%)
  • Communication (17%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

Samford University Iona College
Graduation Rate 70% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,400 $58,400
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $26,047
Median Loan Payment $232 $269

Diversity

Samford University Iona College
% Men 11% 5%
% Women 23% 11%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 81% 58%
% Black 7% 8%
% Hispanic 5% 22%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

Samford University Iona College
% In-State 23% 78%
% Out-of-State 77% 20%

Campus

Samford University Iona College
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 Iona College based on total student enrollment (5,791 students vs. 3,720 students)

Samford University vs. Iona College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Samford University or Iona College?

  • Iona College is 17.6% more expensive to attend than Samford University for in-state tuition ($43,680.00 vs. $37,144.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.6% higher at Iona College than Samford University ($43,680.00 vs. $37,144.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iona College than Samford University ($28,557 vs. $32,176)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Samford University are 50.2% lower than costs at Iona College ($12,160 vs. $18,270)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Samford University as Iona College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Iona College students is 34.5% larger than aid received Samford University ($29,258 vs. $21,758)

Samford University vs. Iona College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Samford University (1162) is 157 points higher than at Iona College (1005)
  • Incoming Samford University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Iona College (23)
  • Accepted freshman Samford University students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Iona College (3.4)
  • Iona College has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Samford University (82.2%)

Samford University vs. Iona College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Samford University or Iona College? 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 Iona College and Samford University.

  • The graduation rate at Samford University is higher than Iona College (70% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from Iona College earn on average $1,000 more per year than Samford University graduates after ten years. ($58,400 vs. $57,400)
  • Samford University students graduate with a $3,547 lower median federal student loan debt than Iona College graduates. ($22,500 vs. $26,047)
  • Samford University graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than Iona College graduates. ($232 vs. $269)
  • More Samford University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iona College students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 73%)

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