Samford University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Beeson Divinity School at Samford University
Beeson Divinity School at Samford University. Sweetmoose6 / Wikimedia Commons

Samford University is a private Christian university with an acceptance rate of 83%. Established in 1841 and located in Birmingham, Samford is the largest private university in Alabama. Samford offers 177 undergraduate majors, minors, and concentrations. Popular majors include nursing and business administration. The university has a 13-to-1 student / faculty ratio, and an average class size of 18. On the athletic front, the Samford University Bulldogs compete in the NCAA Division I Southern Conference.

Considering applying to Samford University? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Samford University had an acceptance rate of 83%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 83 students were admitted, making Samford's admissions process somewhat competitive.

Admissions Statistics (2018-19)
Number of Applicants 3,912
Percent Admitted 83%
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 28%

SAT Scores and Requirements

Samford requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 36% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

SAT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
ERW 550 640
Math 520 610
ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

This admissions data tells us that most of Samford's admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Samford scored between 550 and 640, while 25% scored below 550 and 25% scored above 640. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 520 and 610, while 25% scored below 520 and 25% scored above 610. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1250 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at Samford.

Requirements

Samford University does not require the optional SAT essay section or SAT Subject test scores. Note that Samford participates in the scorechoice program, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Samford University requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 84% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

ACT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
English 23 32
Math 21 27
Composite 23 29

This admissions data tells us that most of Samford's admitted students fall within the top 31% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Samford received a composite ACT score between 23 and 29, while 25% scored above 29 and 25% scored below 23.

Requirements

Samford University does not require the optional ACT writing section. Unlike many universities, Samford superscores ACT results; your highest subscores from multiple ACT sittings will be considered.

GPA

In 2019, the average GPA for Samford University's incoming freshmen class was 3.82, and over 48% of incoming students had average GPAs of 3.75 and above. These results suggest that most successful applicants to Samford University have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

Samford University Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph.
Samford University Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Samford University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Samford University, which accepts over three-quarters of applicants, has a somewhat competitive admissions pool with above average GPAs and SAT/ACT scores. However, Samford has a holistic admissions process involving other factors beyond your grades and test scores. A strong application essay and a glowing letter of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and test scores are outside Samford's average range.

In the scattergram above, the blue and green dots represent students who were admitted to Samford University. You can see that the majority of accepted students had high school averages of B+ or higher, ACT composite scores of 21 or higher, and combined SAT scores (ERW+M) of about 1050 or higher.

If You Like Samford University, You May Also Like These Schools

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Samford University Undergraduate Admissions Office.

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Grove, Allen. "Samford University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/samford-university-admissions-787954. Grove, Allen. (2020, August 27). Samford University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/samford-university-admissions-787954 Grove, Allen. "Samford University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/samford-university-admissions-787954 (accessed March 29, 2024).