Merit Scholarships

Samford seeks to recognize academically talented and highly motivated student leaders and to encourage their contribution to the tradition for which Samford has become known. The university merit-based scholarship program is a competitive process that reviews the credentials of each accepted applicant. The degree of competitiveness during scholarship consideration is determined by the credentials unique with each year's entering class. Therefore, scholarships are not awarded according to a pre-determined sliding scale, and are available to entering freshman only. Candidates must postmark their application files by December 1 of their senior year for consideration. Information provided in the application for admission is used during the merit-based scholarship awarding process. There is no separate scholarship application. Scholarship decisions are finalized and offers of scholarships are made in the spring.

Scholarship Information

• Critical Factors
  Critical factors for a scholarship candidate include: high school grade point average, rigor of curriculum and recalculated academic grade point average, standardized test scores, leadership resume and co-curricular involvement. The Office of Admission attempts to equalize the differing types of school grading scales by recalculating the applicant's grade point average on a 10-point scale (A = 90  100, B = 80  89, etc.). Grades are also weighted based on the level of rigor attempted by the student, with additional quality points added: 0.25 point for honors courses; 0.50 point for Advanced Placement (AP) courses; and 1.00 point for International Baccalaureate (IB) courses.
• Academic Scholarships
  The Academic Scholar is distinguished by records of outstanding academic achievement. Scholarships are awarded to the students in the top percentage of each class in amounts up to $7,000 per year. Provided the requirements of the scholarship are achieved while enrolled at Samford, these scholarships are renewable for up to four years.
• Presidential Scholarships
  Presidential Scholarships recognize outstanding academic performance in a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, high standardized test scores, and demonstrated leadership in high school, church and the community. Competitive candidates are interviewed upon invitation by a panel of Samford officials. After the completion of interviews, the Scholarship Committee selects finalists to receive scholarships in amounts ranging from $7,000 to full tuition. A Presidential Scholarship is automatically renewed on an annual basis for up to four years upon the successful completion of the requirements and expectations of the scholarship.
• National Merit, National Achievement and National Hispanic Scholarships
  These scholarships are awarded to students who are distinguished by their selection as National Merit Finalists, National Achievement Scholars, or National Hispanic Scholars. The Scholarship Committee also seeks students who intentionally use their exceptional talents, abilities and personal commitments to better society. This scholarship is automatically renewed annually upon successful completion of the scholarship requirements.
• Governor's Scholarships
  Governor's Scholarships recognize students who are selected as a Governor's School Outstanding Participant in Alabama. The University believes the lives and commitments of such students hold great promise for addressing the vital issues of the future. Upon completion of scholarship requirements, a Governor's Scholarship is renewable annually.
• Beeson Exceptional Scholars Program (for AL residents only)
• Scholarship Statistics