Samford University vs. Tennessee

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

Samford University Tennessee
Location Birmingham, AL Knoxville, TN
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 5,682 33,805
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #213 #232
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website samford.edu tennessee.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Samford University Tennessee
Tuition (In State) $35,750 $11,332
Tuition (Out of State) $35,750 $29,522
Room & Board $11,264 $12,150
Avg Net Price $31,803 $21,880
Avg Grant Aid $20,711 $10,593
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 88%

Admission

Samford University Tennessee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,337 36,290
Admitted 3,611 24,826
Acceptance Rate 83.3% 68.4%
Enrolled % 27% 27.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.66
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/29 25/31
SAT Range 1080/1270 1170/1330
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline May 1, 2025

Academics

Samford University Tennessee
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Work and Family Studies (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)

Outcomes

Samford University Tennessee
Graduation Rate 70% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,400 $56,300
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $232 $206

Diversity

Samford University Tennessee
% Men 32% 45%
% Women 68% 55%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 81% 79%
% Black 7% 7%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Samford University Tennessee
% In-State 25% 54%
% Out-of-State 74% 45%

Campus

Samford University Tennessee
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • The University of Tennessee is larger than than Samford University based on total student enrollment (33,805 students vs. 5,682 students)

Samford University vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Samford University or Tennessee?

  • Samford University is 215.5% more expensive to attend than Tennessee for in-state tuition ($35,750.00 vs. $11,332.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 21.1% higher at Samford University than The University of Tennessee ($35,750.00 vs. $29,522.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee than Samford University ($21,880 vs. $31,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Samford University are 7.9% lower than costs at The University of Tennessee ($11,264 vs. $12,150)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Samford University than The University of Tennessee (99% vs. 88%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Samford University students is 95.5% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee ($20,711 vs. $10,593)

Samford University vs. Tennessee Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee (1214) is 52 points higher than at Samford University (1162)
  • Incoming Tennessee students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Samford University (26)
  • Accepted freshman Samford University students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Tennessee (3.66)
  • Samford University has a higher acceptance rate (83.3%) than Tennessee (68.4%)

Samford University vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Samford University is higher than The University of Tennessee (70% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Samford University earn on average $1,100 more per year than Tennessee graduates after ten years. ($57,400 vs. $56,300)
  • The University of Tennessee students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Samford University graduates. ($20,000 vs. $22,500)
  • Tennessee graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Samford University graduates. ($206 vs. $232)
  • More Samford University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tennessee students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 69%)

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