Samford University
Samford University at a Glance
Reviewed by James A. Barham, PhD, Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error
Samford University Featured Rankings
- #1 Alabama's Best Online Colleges 2026
- #1 Best Online MBA in Data Analytics
- #1 Best Christian Colleges in Alabama 2026
- #2 Best Private Colleges in Alabama
- #2 Best Small Colleges in Alabama
- #4 Online Master’s in Healthcare Administration
- #5 Best CCCU Colleges 2026
- #5 Alabama's Best Online Colleges 2026
- #5 Best Research Universities in Alabama 2026
- #5 Accelerated Online Doctorate of Nursing
- #5 Most Influential US Universities by State
- #5 Best Online MBAs Alabama
- #6 Best Colleges in Alabama
- #6 Best Grad Schools in Alabama
- #6 Alabama's Best Online Master's Degrees
- #11 The Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees
- #12 Online Master’s in Sports Management
- #13 The Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Master's Degrees
- #13 Online Bachelor’s in Organizational Leadership
- #16 Online Master’s in Health Informatics
- #16 Online Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts and Humanities
- #18 Top 20 Best Online Accredited Doctorate Degree Programs (PhDs)
- #29 The 50 Best No GRE Online PhD Degree Programs
- #37 Best Christian Colleges 2026
- #45 Best Small Colleges 2026
About Samford University
According to Wikipedia, Samford University is a private Baptist university in Homewood, Alabama. It was founded in 1841 as Howard College by Baptists. In the fall of 2023, the university enrolled 5,791 students from 49 states, 1 U.S. territory, and 16 other countries.
Samford University's Online Degrees
MS in Education in Health Informatics & Analytics
- Required Credits: 39
- Format: Fully online
MS in Education in Environmental Management
- Required Credits: 36
- Format: Fully online
MHA in Healthcare Administration
- Required Credits: 48
- Format: Fully online
MBA in Business Administration
Degree Concentrations
- Data analytics
- Finance and Sports business
- Required Credits: 36-48
- Format: Fully online
MS in Education in Nursing
Degree Concentrations
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner with Emergency Specialty
- Family and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Required Credits: 42
- Format: Fully online
BA in Organizational Leadership
- Required Credits: 128
- Format: Fully online
Master of Studies in Law
Degree Concentrations
- Financial Services Regulatory Compliance
- Health Law and Compliance
- Higher Education Law and Compliance
- Legal Operations
- Custom Concentration
- Required Credits: 34
- Format: Fully online
ML in Laws
Degree Concentrations
- Financial Services Regulatory Compliance
- Health Law and Compliance
- Higher Education Law and Compliance
- Legal Operations
- Custom Concentration
- Required Credits: 31
- Format: Fully online
DNP in Nursing Practice
Degree Concentrations
- Emergency Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Anesthesia
- Nursing Administration
- Advanced Practice with Educator
- Required Credits: 37
- Completion Time: 24 months
MPH in Social Work
Degree Concentrations
- Clinical Social Work
- Required Credits: 60
- Format: Fully online
MS in Education in Nutrition
Degree Concentrations
- Clinical Nutrition
- General Nutrition
- Required Credits: 34
- Format: Fully online
DrPH in Public Health
Degree Concentrations
- Health Management and Policy
- Population Health Analytics and Decision Making
- Required Credits: 45-46
- Format: Fully online
Samford University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information
| Annual Applications | Acceptance | Retention Rate | Graduation Rate | Median SAT Score | Median ACT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,541 | 82% | 93% | 78% | 1160 | 25 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); acceptance rate for fall 2024; test scores for fall 2024; applications and enrollment for fall 2023; retention for students who started in fall 2023; graduation rate within six years for students who started in 2019.
How Much Does Samford University Cost To Attend?
| Tuition and fees (in-state) |
|---|
| $41,910 |
| Income | Average Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0 - 30K | $25,299 |
| 30K - 48K | $24,217 |
| 48K - 75K | $27,586 |
| 75K - 110K | $30,393 |
| 110K+ | $37,166 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.
How Much Do Samford University Graduates Make?
Ten years after starting college, former Samford University students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $66,982 a year, and 92% of those not still in school are working.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; students who started college in 2011–12 or 2012–13, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars.
Samford University's Demographics
Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.
| Student Body | Under-Grads | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 6,227 | 3,936 | 2,291 |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.
Where is Samford University?
Samford University is located at 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, AL 35229-2240.
How Safe is Samford University?
Relative to its enrollment, Samford University has a violent crime rate of 0.05% and a property crime rate of 0.02%. Birmingham has a violent crime rate of 1.28% and a property crime rate of 4.23%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft); city: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported to the city police in 2024.
What Is Samford University Known For?
Samford University is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:
- Nursing
- Law
- Religious Studies
- Education
- Medical
- History
- Business
- Political Science
- Philosophy
- Chemistry
- Communications
- Physics
- Engineering
- Mathematics
- Biology
- Literature
- Sociology
- Economics
- Social Work
- Psychology
- Computer Science
Samford University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered
Each rank compares how much Samford University's faculty and alumni have shaped a field with other schools, using Wikipedia, Wikidata and scholarly citation databases such as Crossref and Semantic Scholar. World and U.S. ranks reflect modern influence; the historical rank counts influence across all time. How we rank influence
Samford University ranks #71 in the U.S. and #147 worldwide for influence in Nursing.
nursing DegreesSamford University ranks #132 in the U.S. and #380 worldwide for influence in Law.
Samford University ranks #142 in the U.S. and #615 worldwide for influence in Religious Studies.
religious-studies-hub DegreesSamford University ranks #259 in the U.S. and #1046 worldwide for influence in Education.
education DegreesSamford University ranks #296 in the U.S. and #1061 worldwide for influence in Medical.
medicine DegreesSamford University ranks #297 in the U.S. and #836 worldwide for influence in History.
history DegreesSamford University ranks #312 in the U.S. and #1086 worldwide for influence in Business.
business DegreesSamford University ranks #319 in the U.S. and #1254 worldwide for influence in Political Science.
political-science DegreesSamford University ranks #365 in the U.S. and #1210 worldwide for influence in Philosophy.
philosophy DegreesSamford University ranks #365 in the U.S. and #1884 worldwide for influence in Chemistry.
chemistry DegreesSamford University ranks #393 in the U.S. and #1469 worldwide for influence in Communications.
communications DegreesSamford University ranks #406 in the U.S. and #1829 worldwide for influence in Physics.
physics DegreesSamford University ranks #410 in the U.S. and #2506 worldwide for influence in Engineering.
engineering DegreesSamford University ranks #547 in the U.S. and #2261 worldwide for influence in Mathematics.
math DegreesSamford University ranks #550 in the U.S. and #2377 worldwide for influence in Biology.
biology DegreesSamford University ranks #552 in the U.S. and #1687 worldwide for influence in Literature.
literature DegreesSamford University ranks #602 in the U.S. and #2071 worldwide for influence in Sociology.
sociology DegreesSamford University ranks #634 in the U.S. and #3781 worldwide for influence in Economics.
economics DegreesSamford University ranks #871 in the U.S. and #2104 worldwide for influence in Social Work.
social-work DegreesSamford University ranks #977 in the U.S. and #2567 worldwide for influence in Psychology.
psychology DegreesSamford University ranks #1123 in the U.S. and #4904 worldwide for influence in Computer Science.
computer-science DegreesWho Are Samford University's Most Influential Alumni?
Samford University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Nursing, Law, and Religious Studies. Here are some of Samford University's most famous alumni:
- Albert Mohler
- An American theologian.
- Bobby Bowden
- An American football player and coach .
- Wayne Flynt
- An American historian.
- Ed Stetzer
- An American Christian writer.
- Adam W. Greenway
- An American theologian and religious leader.
- Tony Hale
- An American actor.
- Billie Young
- An American academic and community organizer.
- Doug Jones
- A United States Senator from Alabama.
- Mamoru Shō
- A Current head of the Shō family.
- Gail Patrick
- An American actress and television producer.
- David Gordon Lyon
- An American theologian .
- George W. Knight III
- An American Theologian.
