Samford University

For Fall 2025, 5,114 first-year students applied to Samford, 4,055 were admitted and 1,156 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 79.3%.

Source: Samford Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1. Read Oct 1, 2026.

By residency, first-year applicants, Fall 2025

Source: Samford Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1, residency table. Read Oct 1, 2026.

By school or major. Samford's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole university, with no rate by school or major.

Source: Samford Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Early action. Samford's Common Data Set leaves its early decision and early action sections blank, so it gives no early action acceptance rate.

Source: Samford Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections C21 and C22. Read Oct 1, 2026.

For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027

You apply to Samford with your intended major. Some programs ask for more:

• Music, and Theatre and Dance. Admission to Samford and admission to the School of the Arts are two separate admissions: you apply to Samford, declare a School of the Arts major, and submit the division's own application.

  Source: Samford School of the Arts, Undergraduate Admission Process (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

• Music auditions. A music application, an artistic resume and headshot, and a required audition and interview. Materials are due ten days before your audition. Audition weekends: November 20-21, 2026, February 5-6, 2027 and February 19-20, 2027; other dates or a virtual audition by request.

  Source: Samford School of the Arts, Music Admission (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

• Theatre and Dance auditions. An artistic resume and headshot, and a required audition or interview. Materials are due ten days before your audition. Audition weekends: November 20-21, 2026, February 5-6, 2027 and February 19-20, 2027; other dates or a virtual audition by request.

  Source: Samford School of the Arts, Theatre and Dance Admission (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

• Nursing, University Fellows, 3+3 Fast Track Physical Therapy (Exercise Science), 3+2 Fast Track Speech-Language Pathology (Communication Sciences and Disorders). SAT or ACT scores are required; these applicants cannot apply test-optional.
• Early graduates and ungraded high schools. Students graduating high school early, and students whose high school gives no numeric or letter grades with a grading scale, must also send SAT or ACT scores.

Samford says entrance requirements for certain majors and programs are being evaluated and asks you to check with your program.

Source: Samford Admission, Apply Options (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

80 majors across 8 schools. Every bachelor's degree major in Samford's 2026-2027 undergraduate catalog, grouped by the school that offers it, with the degree it leads to. Concentrations, minors, online and degree-completion programs and graduate programs are left out.

For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027

The first scholarship deadline is December 1, with notification beginning mid-December; the second is February 15, and final awards come out in early March.

Source: Samford Admission, Frequently Asked Questions (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Early action is not binding: you can apply to other colleges and have until May 1 to accept, even if admitted early. The application opens August 1, and Samford keeps accepting applications after the November 1 early action deadline.

Source: Samford Admission, Early Action (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027

Students applying for fall 2027 choose on the application whether to send SAT or ACT scores. If you apply test-optional and have scores on file, they are not considered for admission or scholarships; changing your choice takes an appeal before your decision is released. Some applicants must still send scores; they are listed under program requirements. If you send scores, Samford superscores the ACT and SAT for admission and accepts the CLT.

Source: Samford Admission, Apply to Samford University (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

The Common Data Set marks the SAT or ACT as required for some fall 2027 applicants, with scores due by May 1.

Source: Samford Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C8. Read Oct 1, 2026.

For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028

Not announced yet. When we checked Samford's admission pages on October 1, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.

Source: Samford Admission, Apply Options (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

The published cost of a year at Samford, 2026-2027:

For a full-time undergraduate living on campus.

Source: Samford Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections G1 and G5. Read Oct 1, 2026.

Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:

What first-year, full-time students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from Samford's aid offer.

Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Chosen for how close each is to Samford University on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.

• Belmont UniversityNashville, TN · Private93.7% admitted$33,147 average net price
• Gonzaga UniversitySpokane, WA · Private79.6% admitted$35,119 average net price
• Seattle UniversitySeattle, WA · Private76.9% admitted$34,662 average net price
• Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, WI · Private78% admitted$31,487 average net price
• Loyola University ChicagoChicago, IL · Private75.1% admitted$36,079 average net price

Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.