Samford University

Birmingham, AL 4,206 Undergrads 76.9% Grad Rate

School Website|Financial Calculator

Total Cost

$57,456

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$32,622

After Aid

Median Earnings

$66,567

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$32,622

Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$66,567

Peer Midpoint: $60,428

Graduation Rate76.9%

Peer Midpoint: 58.9%

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients11.0%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time98.6%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS78.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

82.4%

SAT Avg

1,201

SAT Reading

25th: 55061575th: 640

SAT Math

25th: 52058075th: 610

ACT Composite

25th: 222675th: 28

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV

Vs Median Peer

Vs HS Grad

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

+$587k

+$121k

+$103k

Median Cost$33k/yr

+$470k

+$3k

-$14k

Full Cost$57k/yr

+$381k

-$86k

-$104k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$33k/yr

Never

-12%

Full Cost$57k/yr

Never

-50%

Analysis Assumptions:

Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-2%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-63%

Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

BachCIP: 5203

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$90,572

Natl Median: $76,194

Lifetime Value Added

+$169k

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

BachCIP: 5109

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $70,786

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology

BachCIP: 2602

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,466

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biology, General

BachCIP: 2601

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $57,214

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Business Administration, Management and Operations

BachCIP: 5202

Median Debt

$22,800

Earnings (4yr)

$76,584

Natl Median: $68,257

Lifetime Value Added

+$62k

Business/Managerial Economics

BachCIP: 5206

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $77,981

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1612

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $49,429

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Communication and Media Studies

BachCIP: 0901

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $56,359

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Communication Disorders Sciences and Services

BachCIP: 5102

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $58,928

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer and Information Sciences, General

BachCIP: 1101

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $92,374

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer Science

BachCIP: 1107

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $107,009

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Criminal Justice and Corrections

BachCIP: 4301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,378

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Design and Applied Arts

BachCIP: 5004

Median Debt

$23,250

Earnings (2yr)

$33,993

Natl Median: $51,490

Lifetime Value Added

-$273k

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

BachCIP: 5005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $39,775

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology

BachCIP: 2613

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,842

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Economics

BachCIP: 4506

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $82,686

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Engineering Physics

BachCIP: 1412

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $89,154

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

English Language and Literature, General

BachCIP: 2301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,590

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations

BachCIP: 5207

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $61,027

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Finance and Financial Management Services

BachCIP: 5208

Median Debt

$19,000

Earnings (4yr)

$93,444

Natl Median: $83,343

Lifetime Value Added

+$191k

Fine and Studio Arts

BachCIP: 5007

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,367

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services

BachCIP: 1905

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $54,945

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Geography and Cartography

BachCIP: 4507

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $57,853

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health and Medical Administrative Services

BachCIP: 5107

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $58,716

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other

BachCIP: 5199

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $68,245

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General

BachCIP: 5100

Median Debt

$23,937

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $61,296

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health/Medical Preparatory Programs

BachCIP: 5111

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $61,911

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

History

BachCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $50,680

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services

BachCIP: 1907

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$50,809

Natl Median: $48,568

Lifetime Value Added

-$141k

International Relations and National Security Studies

BachCIP: 4509

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $66,596

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

International/Globalization Studies

BachCIP: 3020

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $59,972

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Journalism

BachCIP: 0904

Median Debt

$18,120

Earnings (4yr)

$50,652

Natl Median: $56,278

Lifetime Value Added

-$143k

Legal Support Services

BachCIP: 2203

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $53,266

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

BachCIP: 2401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $53,072

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Marketing

BachCIP: 5214

Median Debt

$18,000

Earnings (4yr)

$70,839

Natl Median: $69,303

Lifetime Value Added

+$18k

Mathematics

BachCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,562

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

BachCIP: 3099

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,693

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Music

BachCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $42,892

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Non-Professional Legal Studies

BachCIP: 2200

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $61,959

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration

BachCIP: 5120

Median Debt

$11,000

Earnings (4yr)

$119,888

Natl Median: $116,539

Lifetime Value Added

+$392k

Physics

BachCIP: 4008

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $76,786

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Political Science and Government

BachCIP: 4510

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,293

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Psychology, General

BachCIP: 4201

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$26,896

Natl Median: $50,706

Lifetime Value Added

-$338k

Public Administration

BachCIP: 4404

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,093

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Public Health

BachCIP: 5122

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $58,808

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

BachCIP: 5138

Median Debt

$25,000

Earnings (4yr)

$72,517

Natl Median: $88,910

Lifetime Value Added

+$31k

Religion/Religious Studies

BachCIP: 3802

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,390

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Religious Music and Worship

BachCIP: 3905

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,456

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1609

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,000

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Social Work

BachCIP: 4407

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,790

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Sociology

BachCIP: 4511

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $52,657

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

BachCIP: 3105

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$47,117

Natl Median: $54,562

Lifetime Value Added

-$172k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

BachCIP: 1312

Median Debt

$20,500

Earnings (4yr)

$52,171

Natl Median: $47,382

Lifetime Value Added

-$130k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

BachCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,389

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Visual and Performing Arts, Other

BachCIP: 5099

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $47,629

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Master's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

MastCIP: 5203

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$92,202

Natl Median: $95,833

Lifetime Value Added

+$112k

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

MastCIP: 5109

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $127,347

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Business Administration, Management and Operations

MastCIP: 5202

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$119,341

Natl Median: $103,485

Lifetime Value Added

+$349k

Communication Disorders Sciences and Services

MastCIP: 5102

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$57,010

Natl Median: $67,030

Lifetime Value Added

-$200k

Educational Administration and Supervision

MastCIP: 1304

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$63,341

Natl Median: $71,685

Lifetime Value Added

-$142k

Educational/Instructional Media Design

MastCIP: 1305

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $70,644

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians

MastCIP: 1505

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $90,955

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services

MastCIP: 1905

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $66,523

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities

MastCIP: 5132

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $100,487

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies

MastCIP: 2202

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$122,699

Natl Median: $101,000

Lifetime Value Added

+$378k

Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology

MastCIP: 3903

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,204

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Music

MastCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,285

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

MastCIP: 0301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $74,607

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Nutrition Sciences

MastCIP: 3019

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $67,126

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Public Health

MastCIP: 5122

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$92,506

Natl Median: $82,751

Lifetime Value Added

+$115k

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

MastCIP: 5138

Median Debt

$110,952

Earnings (4yr)

$127,084

Natl Median: $120,193

Lifetime Value Added

+$416k

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions

MastCIP: 5123

Median Debt

$138,310

Earnings (4yr)

$85,180

Natl Median: $71,416

Lifetime Value Added

+$51k

Religious Music and Worship

MastCIP: 3905

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $57,264

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Social Work

MastCIP: 4407

Median Debt

$46,834

Earnings (4yr)

$55,271

Natl Median: $65,123

Lifetime Value Added

-$217k

Special Education and Teaching

MastCIP: 1310

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $64,397

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

MastCIP: 1312

Median Debt

$31,220

Earnings (4yr)

$54,714

Natl Median: $59,916

Lifetime Value Added

-$222k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

MastCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,707

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Theological and Ministerial Studies

MastCIP: 3906

Median Debt

$49,054

Earnings (4yr)

$50,016

Natl Median: $61,300

Lifetime Value Added

-$267k

Graduate Certificates

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

Gr-CertCIP: 5138

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $126,911

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Educational Administration and Supervision

DocCIP: 1304

Median Debt

$73,798

Earnings (4yr)

$105,374

Natl Median: $100,573

Lifetime Value Added

+$17k

Law

DocCIP: 2201

Median Debt

$108,958

Earnings (4yr)

$91,687

Natl Median: $105,518

Lifetime Value Added

-$85k

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration

DocCIP: 5120

Median Debt

$212,943

Earnings (4yr)

$132,942

Natl Median: $136,696

Lifetime Value Added

+$220k

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

DocCIP: 5138

Median Debt

$42,973

Earnings (4yr)

$101,915

Natl Median: $138,131

Lifetime Value Added

-$9k

Other Programs

Educational Administration and Supervision

DegCIP: 1304

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$81,398

Natl Median: $90,560

Lifetime Value Added

-$161k

Special Education and Teaching

DegCIP: 1310

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $70,406

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.