Samford Facts

History

  • Founded in 1841 as Howard College in Marion, Alabama, Samford is the nation's 87th oldest university
  • The campus moved to Birmingham in 1887 and to its present location in 1957
  • The name was changed to Samford University in 1965, when university status was gained
  • Samford is currently the largest private university in the state of Alabama
  • As a Christian university, Samford provides a nurturing atmosphere for students, encouraging growth and service.
  • For more information, see the Samford History page.

Student Profiles

  • Number of Students: Approximately 4500 campus wide, 2600 undergraduates
  • Number of Students in Freshmen Class: Approximately 900
  • Average ACT/SAT for Freshmen Class: 26/1190
  • Average GPA for Freshmen Class: 3.6
  • Average Age of All Undergraduate Students on Campus: 21 years old
  • Percentage of Males and Females on Campus: 36% male and 64% female
  • Percentage of Minority Students on Campus: 13%
  • Geographic Distribution:
    • Approximately 40 states and 21 foreign countries represented
    • Breakdown: Approximately 35% from Alabama, 65% from out of state

Academics

  • Freshman to Sophomore Retention Rate: approximately 85%
  • Average Class Size: 25-30
  • Full Time Faculty Members: Approximately 250
  • Faculty Holding the Highest Degree in their Field: 80%
  • Number of Teaching Assistants in Classes and Labs: 0
  • Largest Major in Number: Business- Approximately 275 Majors

Other

  • Number of students receiving some form of financial aid: Approximately 80%
  • Number of Computer Labs on Campus: 7 (computers updated every 3 years by Dell)
  • Percentage of Undergraduates Living on Campus: 60%
  • Cost per year - Approximately $25,814 for tuition, room and board