Samford University vs. Memphis

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

Samford University Memphis
Location Birmingham, AL Memphis, TN
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 5,682 21,917
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #213 #883
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website samford.edu memphis.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Samford University Memphis
Tuition (In State) $35,750 $8,352
Tuition (Out of State) $35,750 $12,576
Room & Board $11,264 $10,126
Avg Net Price $31,803 $13,873
Avg Grant Aid $20,711 $9,625
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 98%

Admission

Samford University Memphis
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,337 15,767
Admitted 3,611 14,916
Acceptance Rate 83.3% 94.6%
Enrolled % 27% 16.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.48
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 17/24
SAT Range 1080/1270 930/1230
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, 2025 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

Samford University Memphis
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Work and Family Studies (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (21%)
  • General Studies (11%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)

Outcomes

Samford University Memphis
Graduation Rate 70% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,400 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 37%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $25,250
Median Loan Payment $232 $261

Diversity

Samford University Memphis
% Men 32% 40%
% Women 68% 60%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 81% 50%
% Black 7% 37%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Samford University Memphis
% In-State 25% 81%
% Out-of-State 74% 17%

Campus

Samford University Memphis
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

  • University of Memphis is larger than than Samford University based on total student enrollment (21,917 students vs. 5,682 students)

Samford University vs. Memphis Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Samford University or Memphis?

  • Samford University is 328% more expensive to attend than Memphis for in-state tuition ($35,750.00 vs. $8,352.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 184.3% higher at Samford University than University of Memphis ($35,750.00 vs. $12,576.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Memphis than Samford University ($13,873 vs. $31,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Memphis are 11.2% lower than costs at Samford University ($10,126 vs. $11,264)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Samford University than University of Memphis (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Samford University students is 115.2% larger than aid received University of Memphis ($20,711 vs. $9,625)

Samford University vs. Memphis Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Samford University (1162) is 133 points higher than at Memphis (1029)
  • Incoming Samford University students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Memphis (22)
  • Accepted freshman Samford University students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Memphis (3.48)
  • Memphis has a higher acceptance rate (94.6%) than Samford University (83.3%)

Samford University vs. Memphis Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Samford University is higher than University of Memphis (70% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Samford University earn on average $15,200 more per year than Memphis graduates after ten years. ($57,400 vs. $42,200)
  • Samford University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Memphis graduates. ($22,500 vs. $25,250)
  • Samford University graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Memphis graduates. ($232 vs. $261)
  • More Samford University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Memphis students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 37%)

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