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Alabama UL Lafayette Belmont Florida State Tulane LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech UH Texas A&M Auburn Berry College Michigan State Lipscomb| Samford University | Louisiana State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Samford University | LSU | ||
| Location | Birmingham, AL | Baton Rouge, LA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 5,791 | 39,418 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #213 | #287 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Baptist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | samford.edu | lsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Samford University | LSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $37,144 | $8,038 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $37,144 | $8,038 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,160 | $14,296 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $32,176 | $21,808 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $21,758 | $13,509 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 88% |
Admission |
Samford University | LSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,541 | 42,558 | ||
| Admitted | 3,734 | 31,491 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 82.2% | 74% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.9% | 23.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.84 | 3.77 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 23/29 | 24/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1070/1260 | 1150/1330 | ||
| 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 | Jul 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Samford University | LSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Samford University | LSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 70% | 60% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,400 | $56,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 77% | 67% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,500 | $20,900 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $232 | $216 |
Diversity |
Samford University | LSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 11% | 7% | ||
| % Women | 23% | 11% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 81% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
Samford University | LSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 23% | 61% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 77% | 37% | ||
Campus |
Samford University | LSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Louisiana State University is larger than than Samford University based on total student enrollment (39,418 students vs. 5,791 students)
Samford University vs. LSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Samford University or LSU?
- Samford University is 362.1% more expensive to attend than LSU for in-state tuition ($37,144.00 vs. $8,038.00)
- Out of state tuition is 362.1% higher at Samford University than Louisiana State University ($37,144.00 vs. $8,038.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Louisiana State University than Samford University ($21,808 vs. $32,176)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Samford University are 17.6% lower than costs at Louisiana State University ($12,160 vs. $14,296)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Samford University than Louisiana State University (100% vs. 88%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Samford University students is 61.1% larger than aid received Louisiana State University ($21,758 vs. $13,509)
Samford University vs. LSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Samford University or LSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between LSU or Samford University .
- The average SAT score at Louisiana State University (1163) is 1 points higher than at Samford University (1162)
- Incoming Samford University students have at the same average ACT score (26) as students at LSU (26)
- Accepted freshman Samford University students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at LSU (3.77)
- Samford University has a higher acceptance rate (82.2%) than LSU (74%)
Samford University vs. LSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Samford University or LSU? 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 LSU and Samford University.
- The graduation rate at Samford University is higher than Louisiana State University (70% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Samford University earn on average $500 more per year than LSU graduates after ten years. ($57,400 vs. $56,900)
- Louisiana State University students graduate with a $1,600 lower median federal student loan debt than Samford University graduates. ($20,900 vs. $22,500)
- LSU graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Samford University graduates. ($216 vs. $232)
- More Samford University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LSU students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 67%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/