AccessibleProfile current for 2025-2026

Samford University acceptance rate and admissions profile

With an acceptance rate near 82%, Samford University is an accessible private college in Alabama. Because it admits most qualified applicants, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

Use this page to see what Samford University weighs, where it ranks among Alabama schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1280, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
82%
Accessible
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1280
of admitted students
Type
Private
Alabama
Selectivity in state
#16
of 22 in AL
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Will I get into Samford University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Samford University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Samford University?

Samford University admits most qualified applicants (around 82%), but that overall rate is not your personal chance. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Samford University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Samford University hard to get into?

Samford University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 82% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Samford University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Samford University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Samford University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for Samford University?

Samford University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1280. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Samford University.

Calculate your chances at Samford University

What Samford University looks for

What Samford University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

In its review, Samford University leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Samford University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Important
Standardized test scores
Very important
Application essay
Important
Recommendations
Important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Samford University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Samford University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300In the competitive admitted range
1200Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1300 SAT →Colleges for a 27 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Samford University compares in Alabama

Samford University ranks #16 most selective of 22 schools in Alabama in our database.

Among the 22 Alabama schools we track, Samford University ranks #16 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Oakwood University (45%) and Auburn University (46%) sit nearby, which makes Alabama a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

Oakwood University
45%acceptance · AL
Auburn University
46%acceptance · AL
Tuskegee University
49%acceptance · AL
Montevallo
54%acceptance · AL
Miles College
55%acceptance · AL
Alabama A&M University
58%acceptance · AL
Stillman College
62%acceptance · AL
Alabama-Huntsville
69%acceptance · AL
See all Alabama schools →

Similar to Samford University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Build around Samford University with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Gonzaga University, Loyola University Chicago, and St. Bonaventure University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Gonzaga University
82%acceptance · WA
Loyola University Chicago
82%acceptance · IL
St. Bonaventure University
82%acceptance · NY
Augsburg University
82%acceptance · MN
Molloy University
82%acceptance · NY
Muskingum University
82%acceptance · OH

Frequently asked questions

What does Samford University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Samford University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Samford University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Samford University's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Samford University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Samford University specifically.

Is Samford University test-optional?

Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm Samford University's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1280; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.