At $30,795/yr net price, Samford University graduates earn $58,469/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $24,469/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $30,795 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $123,180 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,469/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$24,469/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 5 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 79.9% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $19,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $21,891/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $24,253/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $27,995/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $32,769/yr |
| $110,001+ | $33,894/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | Doctoral | $120,880 | $212,943 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Doctoral | $104,192 | $42,973 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $99,380 | $110,952 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Doctoral | $91,363 | $73,798 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Master | $59,124 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $54,948 | $25,000 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Master | $54,851 | |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Bachelor | $52,941 | $19,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $52,107 | |
| Law. | Doctoral | $48,667 | $108,958 |
The Risk Factor
79.9% of students at Samford University graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 20% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Samford is a mixed bet. You pay a private-college net price but land in the middle for earnings, so your return depends heavily on which major you pick. The good news: your debt at graduation stays low, and nearly four in five students finish, which means you're unlikely to pay for years without a degree to show for it.
Nursing and finance are where the money is. Both clear roughly $53,000-$55,000, and Birmingham's hospital systems and financial sector give nursing and finance grads a local market to step into. Nursing carries the heaviest debt load of any program here, but the salary supports it. Finance pulls similar pay with lighter debt, making it the cleanest payoff on this list.
The rest is weaker. Marketing and teacher education both land under $38,000, and general business management doesn't do much better at around $42,000. If you're paying full Samford prices for one of these, the math gets hard. Teaching salaries in particular won't stretch far against a private-school cost of attendance.
The financial risk here is paying private-college prices for a program that pays public-college wages. The overall median earnings sit close to what many state schools deliver at a lower sticker price.
Samford fits you if you're headed into nursing or finance and can keep debt in check. If you're set on marketing, education, or general business, compare the net price against a cheaper in-state option before committing.
On cost by income: the discount is real but modest, and it shrinks fast. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay noticeably less than the sticker. Above $75,000, you pay more than the average net price, so budget for close to the full amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Samford University worth the high tuition cost?
Samford's $30,795 annual net price is steep for median earnings of $58,469 ten years after graduation. The ROI works best for pharmacy and nursing students who earn $100,000+ starting salaries, but other majors may struggle to justify the cost.
What are the highest paying majors at Samford University?
Pharmacy graduates from Samford earn around $120,880 annually, while nursing graduates typically make $99,000-$104,000. These health science programs offer strong ROI that can offset the university's high costs.
How much student debt do Samford University graduates have?
Samford graduates leave with a median debt of $19,500, which is manageable compared to the school's high sticker price. However, this debt load becomes problematic for graduates in lower-paying fields outside of health sciences.
Does Samford University provide good financial aid?
With a net price of $30,795 after aid, Samford's financial assistance brings costs down from the full tuition but still leaves families paying significantly more than most state universities. The aid helps but doesn't make the school affordable for most middle-income families.