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.
Some exciting projects are underway on the Samford campus! Visit Samford Horizons for updates on parking and other news.
University News
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.
TJ Riggs Becomes Fifth Samford Student to Be Named Truman Scholar
Samford University's Howard College of Arts and Sciences junior TJ Riggs, a law politics and society major, has been named a 2024 Truman Scholar by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. Riggs is the first Samford student to receive this prestigious national scholarship since 2002 and only the fifth recipient in Samford’s history.
Samford Offers Support to Birmingham-Southern College Students
The Samford University community is saddened by news of the closure of Birmingham-Southern College. We deeply empathize with the leadership, trustees and entire Birmingham-Southern family in this incredibly difficult situation. Samford stands ready to assist the impacted students who seek to continue their academic pursuits.