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.
In the Nation for Career Preparation
—Wall Street Journal (2024)
98%
NCAA Division I Graduation Success Rate
#1
in the Nation for Student Engagement —Wall Street Journal (2022)
97%
Undergraduate Alumni Working or in Further Study Within Six Months
Summer may be the best time to complete a Samford course.
Why? Whether you want to get a required course out of the way or tackle a particularly challenging class, Samford’s summer sessions provide you the flexibility to meet your academic goals in a short window of time.
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.
Some exciting projects are underway on the Samford campus! Get the latest updates on parking and construction progress.
Samford University Alumni Create Sacred Space for All Abilities
Katherine ’04 and Jay ’04 Wolf both graduated from Howard College of Arts and Sciences with degrees in journalism and mass communication. While they knew they would eventually land in this field, they had no idea just how much their experience at Samford University would impact their professional journeys.
Samford Celebrates Spring 2024 Commencement Weekend
This commencement season was a special one for the class of 2024. The graduates, who did not get to experience normal high school graduation ceremonies, started at Samford during the Covid-19 pandemic and their 2020 freshman walk was cancelled due to related restrictions.
Ceremonial Groundbreaking Commemorates Samford Horizons, Historic Samford University Capital Project
On Tuesday, April 16, Samford University held a ceremonial groundbreaking to commemorate phase one of Samford Horizons: A Blueprint for Tomorrow, the university’s campus master plan. The capital project is the largest in Samford's history.