Samford University vs. The University of West Florida

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

Overview

Samford University The University of West Florida
Location Birmingham, AL Pensacola, FL
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 5,682 13,521
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #213 #727
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website samford.edu uwf.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Samford University The University of West Florida
Tuition (In State) $35,750 $4,319
Tuition (Out of State) $35,750 $16,587
Room & Board $11,264 $11,268
Avg Net Price $31,803 $8,609
Avg Grant Aid $20,711 $11,515
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 84%

Admission

Samford University The University of West Florida
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,337 9,113
Admitted 3,611 4,377
Acceptance Rate 83.3% 48%
Enrolled % 27% 27%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.6
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/29 21/27
SAT Range 1080/1270 1050/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline May 1, 2025 Jun 1, 2025

Academics

Samford University The University of West Florida
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 22:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Work and Family Studies (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Samford University The University of West Florida
Graduation Rate 70% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,400 $41,200
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $18,750
Median Loan Payment $232 $193

Diversity

Samford University The University of West Florida
% Men 32% 38%
% Women 68% 62%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 81% 65%
% Black 7% 13%
% Hispanic 5% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Samford University The University of West Florida
% In-State 25% 66%
% Out-of-State 74% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • The University of West Florida is larger than than Samford University based on total student enrollment (13,521 students vs. 5,682 students)

Samford University vs. The University of West Florida Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Samford University or The University of West Florida?

  • Samford University is 727.7% more expensive to attend than The University of West Florida for in-state tuition ($35,750.00 vs. $4,319.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 115.5% higher at Samford University than The University of West Florida ($35,750.00 vs. $16,587.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of West Florida than Samford University ($8,609 vs. $31,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Samford University are 0% lower than costs at The University of West Florida ($11,264 vs. $11,268)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Samford University than The University of West Florida (99% vs. 84%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Samford University students is 79.9% larger than aid received The University of West Florida ($20,711 vs. $11,515)

Samford University vs. The University of West Florida Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Samford University (1162) is 109 points higher than at The University of West Florida (1053)
  • Incoming Samford University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at The University of West Florida (23)
  • Accepted freshman Samford University students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at The University of West Florida (3.6)
  • Samford University has a higher acceptance rate (83.3%) than The University of West Florida (48%)

Samford University vs. The University of West Florida Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Samford University or The University of West Florida? 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 The University of West Florida and Samford University.

  • The graduation rate at Samford University is higher than The University of West Florida (70% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Samford University earn on average $16,200 more per year than The University of West Florida graduates after ten years. ($57,400 vs. $41,200)
  • The University of West Florida students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Samford University graduates. ($18,750 vs. $22,500)
  • The University of West Florida graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than Samford University graduates. ($193 vs. $232)
  • More Samford University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The University of West Florida students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 55%)

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