+14%
In-state tuition
In-state tuition at Samford University rose 14% between 2021 and 2024 ($35.4k → $40.1k).
Alabama · Private nonprofit · Predominantly bachelor's
Samford University
Birmingham, Alabama. 3,828 undergraduate students. 118 programs in the federal Field-of-Study dataset.
ANOMALY ENGINE · NOTABLE SIGNALS
Earnings, completion, debt, and enrollment anomalies at Samford University
Short-arc shifts (recent 3-year window), peer outliers, earnings trend breaks, completion drops, enrollment cliffs, and debt-to-earnings warnings — surfaced deterministically from the federal record. Multi-decade shifts are reported separately in the Long Arc section, since 25-year tuition drift isn't really an anomaly.
-100%
3-year cohort default rate
3-year cohort default rate at Samford University fell 100% between 2021 and 2024 (0.9% → 0.0%).
+14%
Out-of-state tuition
Out-of-state tuition at Samford University rose 14% between 2021 and 2024 ($35.4k → $40.1k).
+35%
Private nonprofit bachelor's-predominant peer
10-year earnings at Samford University are 35% above the private nonprofit bachelor's-predominant peer median ($58.5k vs $43.5k).
SECTION 01 · OUTCOMES SNAPSHOT
Samford University earnings, debt, and completion vs. the Alabama median
Each tile compares this institution to the Alabama median for the same metric. Sub-line shows the comparison value, not an interpretation. Sparklines trace the federally available history.
$58,469+18% · 6→10y
Alabama median $39,017$49,466
Treasury earnings · 6y post-entry79.9%+29% · '97→'24
Alabama median 43.4%$15,750+117% · '97→'20
At program completion3,828+46% · '96→'24
latest IPEDS87.6%+11% · '04→'24
first-time, full-time82.2%-6% · '01→'24
latest cohort$38,144+274% · '00→'24
out-of-state $38,144SECTION 02 · EARNINGS HORIZONS
How Samford University earnings spread, 4 to 10 years after entry
Treasury tax-record earnings for federally aided students who first enrolled at this institution. Each point is a horizon from the most-recent vintage. Single median per horizon (no p25/p75 publishing).
Earnings widen with time post-entry. Selection: federal-aid recipients only — not all graduates.Methodology →
SECTION 03 · DEBT-TO-EARNINGS
What loans cost relative to earnings at Samford University
Annual debt service as a share of median earnings 10 years after entry, computed under federal Direct loan terms (10-year fixed at 6%). The 8% line is the gainful-employment threshold from federal regulation; above 12% has historically been considered “failing” under prior rule cycles.
Institution-wide
3.6%Median federal debt $15,750 amortized over 10 years vs. median earnings $58,469 (10y after entry).
SECTION 04 · LONG ARC
Samford University enrollment, completion, and debt over time
Federally available history. Coverage varies by metric — IPEDS publishes some series only after 2009 and others only before.
Undergraduate enrollment.
150%-time completion rate.
Median federal student debt at exit.
+29%
Samford University · completion · 150% rose
59.8% → 77.0%
+79%
Samford University · completion · 100% rose
38.2% → 68.3%
+11%
Samford University · retention rose
84.0% → 92.9%
+46%
Samford University · undergrad enrollment rose
2,879 → 4,206
+274%
Samford University · in-state tuition rose
$10,738 → $40,150
+274%
Samford University · out-of-state tuition rose
$10,738 → $40,150
+117%
Samford University · median debt rose
$9,000 → $19,500
-55%
Samford University · cohort default rate fell
1.1% → 0.0%
+27%
Samford University · earnings_median_10yr rose
$46,100 → $58,469
+29%
Samford University · earnings_median_8yr rose
$42,500 → $54,932
+34%
Samford University · earnings_median_6yr rose
$36,900 → $49,466
SECTION 05 · PROGRAMS
Samford University programs ranked by 5-year earnings
Each row is one (CIP × credential) program reported by the institution in College Scorecard's Field-of-Study data. Cohort floor is 30 students; below this, federal data is suppressed.
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration$140,893Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration$139,665Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$116,262Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$111,786Educational Administration and Supervision$88,734Finance and Financial Management Services$85,275Accounting and Related Services$84,371Business Administration, Management and Operations$82,851Law$82,757Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$71,186Educational Administration and Supervision$67,148Business Administration, Management and Operations$65,015Theological and Ministerial Studies$59,090Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$54,800Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services$49,750Health and Physical Education/Fitness$49,586Journalism$49,222Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$47,284
SECTION 06 · BY CIP FAMILY
18 Samford University programs with earnings, grouped by field
Programs are grouped by 2-digit CIP family. Programs without reported earnings are hidden to keep the list focused.
EDUCATION · CIP 13
FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES · CIP 19
LEGAL PROFESSIONS · CIP 22
PARKS, RECREATION & FITNESS · CIP 31
THEOLOGY & RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS · CIP 39
HEALTH PROFESSIONS · CIP 51
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$71,186Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration$139,665Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$116,262Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration$140,893Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$111,786
BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT & MARKETING · CIP 52
COMMUNICATION & JOURNALISM · CIP 09
SECTION 07 · SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS
Institutions similar to Samford University in Alabama
Picked by Carnegie sector × predominant credential level. These are not rankings — just nearest-neighbour surfaces for comparison.
CAUSAL DISCIPLINE
“Samford University graduates earn $X” — not “Samford University makes you earn $X”
Median earnings describe what cohorts earned. They do not describe what attending Samford University caused. Selection effects (who admits, who enrolls, who completes) are real. We publish federal data with strict descriptive phrasing — and link the methodology where you can read about the limitations directly.