Samford University Acceptance Rate
Birmingham, Alabama · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 4,541
- Admitted
- 3,734
- Yield
- 28.9%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Samford University's acceptance rate has risen from 59.5% in 2014–15 to 82.2% in 2023–24. Applications fell from 4,577 to 4,541 (-1%) over that period.
Its 82.2% rate makes Samford University more selective than about 37% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 23 tracked Alabama schools, it is more selective than about 26%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (83.5% for women vs 80% for men, a 3.5-point gap). Samford University has been test-optional since 2019–20. Of admitted students, 28.9% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 4,577 | 2,725 | 59.5% | 730 |
| 2015–16 | 3,196 | 2,982 | 93.3% | 826 |
| 2016–17 | 3,446 | 3,149 | 91.4% | 916 |
| 2017–18 | 3,808 | 3,168 | 83.2% | 857 |
| 2018–19 | 3,884 | 3,188 | 82.1% | 958 |
| 2019–20 | 3,912 | 3,259 | 83.3% | 901 |
| 2020–21 | 3,867 | 3,248 | 84% | 971 |
| 2021–22 | 4,217 | 3,537 | 83.9% | 920 |
| 2022–23 | 4,337 | 3,611 | 83.3% | 974 |
| 2023–24 | 4,541 | 3,734 | 82.2% | 1,080 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 2,920 | 2,437 | 83.5% |
| Men | 1,621 | 1,297 | 80% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 550–650 | 27% |
| SAT Math | 520–610 | |
| ACT Composite | 23–29 | 66% |
How Samford University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Samford University's acceptance rate?
Samford University's acceptance rate is 82.2% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (3,734 admitted of 4,541 applicants).
Is Samford University test optional?
Samford University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Samford University?
Samford University received 4,541 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 3,734.
What SAT score do you need for Samford University?
Admitted students at Samford University typically scored 550–650 on SAT Reading/Writing and 520–610 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Samford University getting harder to get into?
Samford University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 59.5% in 2014–15 to 82.2% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.samford.edu/.