Samford University is Alabama's top-ranked private university. Located in suburban Birmingham, Samford has more than 5,700 students studying in 31 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Samford is a leading nationally ranked Christian university renowned for excellence, small enough to foster intentional connections, big enough to offer robust opportunities and committed to cultivating students’ foundational faith.
All prospective undergraduate students must first apply for admission to the university. Note that a few undergraduate programs require additional applications, auditions or interviews. Graduate program application processes vary by school. Visit the individual program pages to learn about them.
Samford University has been a pillar for educating with strength and purpose since 1841. We encourage you to take the next step and tell us about yourself. We look forward to providing you with more information about Samford and our outstanding programs.
The best way to experience the Samford spirit is to meet our people and walk our campus. Students interested in our undergraduate programs can choose from a variety of opportunities just for them. Graduate programs often host open houses with ample opportunities to ask questions. Explore their program pages for details.
Samford alumni include more than 60 members of the U.S. Congress, 8 state governors, 2 U.S. Supreme Court justices, a Secretary of State, 4 Rhodes Scholars, multiple Emmy and Grammy award-winning artists, 2 national championship football coaches, and recipients of the Pulitzer and Nobel Peace prizes.
Athletics
The university fields 17 NCAA Division I varsity sports—eight men’s and nine women’s—that compete in the historic Southern Conference. Ranked first in Alabama, Samford’s athletic teams earned a 98% Graduation Success Rate (GSR) by the NCAA.
University News
Chick-fil-A Career Shows Alumnus 'You Can Love Business and Love Jesus at the Same Time'
Brent Fielder, Chick-fil-A’s Vice President of Global Impact, credits his Samford experience for "a lot of my deeper spiritual growth—being around believers who could disciple me through Bible studies and show me about living a life of consistency.”
Samford Among National Leaders In Athletics Graduation Success Rate
With a 98 percent score in the NCAA's latest Graduation Success Rate report, Samford led all schools in the state of Alabama and the Southern Conference.
As Samford Makes Splash in Esports, Meet the Coach at the Controls
Michael French began by organizing Super Smash Bros. tournaments. Now he's launching the esports program at Samford from a state-of-the-art gaming studio.