Samford University
Samford University is a private, Baptist-affiliated Christian university in Homewood, Alabama, serving roughly 6,324 students across 10 academic schools. It offers 180+ undergraduate liberal arts programs and 65+ graduate and professional degrees, including law, pharmacy, divinity, and the first ASPA-endorsed Sports Analytics program in the U.S.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1841
- HeadquartersBirmingham, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Samford University does
Samford University is a private, non-profit Christian university chartered in 1841 as Howard College and renamed in 1965 after insurance executive Frank Park Samford Sr. The institution operates a 247-acre Georgian-Colonial campus in Homewood, Alabama (a Birmingham suburb) and a London Study Centre (Daniel House), serving approximately 6,324 enrolled students and employing more than 1,800 full-time and part-time staff. It offers 180+ undergraduate majors, minors and concentrations grounded in the liberal arts alongside 65+ graduate majors across 10 academic schools: Howard College of Arts and Sciences, Brock School of Business, Beeson Divinity School, Cumberland School of Law, Orlean Beeson School of Education, Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, School of Health Professions, School of Public Health, and School of the Arts.
The university's academic delivery is built on Canvas LMS as the core technology platform, supplemented by specialized facilities including a Data Analytics Lab, Portfolio Management Room, clinical simulation suites, audiology labs, and nutrition labs. The Brock School of Business hosts a Sports Analytics program that became the first in the U.S. to receive ASPA endorsement and features a Moneyball Team structure with Oxford-style mentorship. Recent capital projects include an $85 million Recreation, Wellness & Athletics Complex (completed September 2024) and a $30 million Johnson Controls infrastructure modernization. The Brock School of Business also includes a Sports Industry Program with employer placement at organizations including the Minnesota Vikings, PGA, Atlanta Braves, Charlotte FC, and Tennessee Titans.
Samford generates revenue primarily through tuition and fees across undergraduate and graduate programs (billed annually with financial aid, scholarships, and payment plans available) and auxiliary services including housing, dining, and a bookstore. The institution reports a $453.3 million annual economic impact on Alabama but does not disclose operating revenue. Distribution is primarily direct through centralized undergraduate and graduate admissions offices, with campus visits, virtual tours, and program-specific auditions/interviews as enrollment engagement channels; the university maintains social media presence across eight platforms and markets to international students from 16 countries. Governance is by a Board of Trustees under Alabama Baptist State Convention oversight, with Beck A. Taylor serving as president since 2021.
Samford University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Samford University
- Legal name
- Samford University
- Website
- https://samford.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1841
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Samford University is a private, Baptist-affiliated Christian university in Homewood, Alabama, serving roughly 6,324 students across 10 academic schools. It offers 180+ undergraduate liberal arts programs and 65+ graduate and professional degrees, including law, pharmacy, divinity, and the first ASPA-endorsed Sports Analytics program in the U.S.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Samford University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Faith-Affiliated Private Research Universities (EDAHABAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Divinity Schools (University-Affiliated) (EDAHAKAC)
Keywords
Where Samford University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Birmingham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Samford University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from undergraduate and graduate tuition and fees. Undergraduate programs and graduate programs have separate tuition structures.
- Auxiliary Services: Revenue from housing, dining, bookstore, and other student services
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Undergraduate and graduate tuition with various financial aid options |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Samford University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Samford University is a private, non-profit Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts and more than 60 graduate degrees across 10 academic schools, including business, law, divinity, education, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and the arts. The university delivers instruction through on-campus facilities on its 247-acre Homewood, Alabama campus and via specialized labs, clinical partnerships, NCAA Division I athletics, and study-abroad programs including the London Study Centre.
Product overview
Samford University is a Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with nationally recognized graduate and professional schools across 10 academic units: School of the Arts, Howard College of Arts and Sciences, Brock School of Business (including Sports Analytics Program and Sports Industry Program), Beeson Divinity School, Orlean Beeson School of Education, School of Health Professions, Cumberland School of Law, Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, and School of Public Health. The university operates modern facilities including the $85 million Campus Recreation, Wellness & Athletics Complex at Seibert Hall and Cooney Hall for business education. Community engagement programs include SamFit health testing and summer cooking camps. The institution is classified as a doctoral/professional institution by the Carnegie Commission.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Brock School of Business
- Sports Analytics Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% of undergraduate alumni working or in further study within six months of graduation
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Samford University
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Samford University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature1 record
Samford University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Trace Crossings Elementary SchoolcoreImmersive clinical partnership with Trace Crossings Elementary School in Hoover, Alabama provides hands-on teacher preparation for education majors through classroom instruction, teaching labs, and extracurricular activities alongside mentor teachers from September through February.
- Homewood Middle SchoolcoreImmersive clinical partnership with Homewood Middle School provides hands-on teacher preparation experience for education majors, specifically cited as key factor in program's national recognition from Association of Teacher Educators.
- Association of Sports Performance Analysts (ASPA)flagshipASPA provided the first U.S. endorsement for Samford's Sports Analytics program, validating the program's innovative approach including its Moneyball Team structure, Oxford tutorial-style mentorship, and economics-based training. Positions Samford among elite global institutions including University of Chichester, Bournemouth University, and Loughborough University.
- Homewood CityminorPartnership with Homewood on its Green Skies Initiative for environmental sustainability
- Johnson Controlsminor$30 million infrastructure modernization project including new chilled water plant that consumes 40% less energy
- Minnesota VikingsminorEmployer of Sports Analytics program graduates
- PGAminorEmployer of Sports Analytics program graduates
- Atlanta BravesminorEmployer of Sports Analytics program graduates
- Charlotte F.C.minorEmployer of Sports Analytics program graduates
- Tennessee TitansminorEmployer of Sports Analytics program graduates
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Samford University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Baylor University: Baylor is a private, Baptist-affiliated Christian research university of similar size and structure to Samford — comparable in faith-based identity, NCAA Division I footprint, professional schools (business, law, health sciences), and Southeast/Texas geographic concentration. Strongest direct comparability given shared Baptist heritage and academic portfolio.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Samford University social profiles
Digital presenceSamford University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Samford University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Samford University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Samford University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Samford University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Samford University
What does Samford University do?
Samford University is a private, non-profit Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts and more than 60 graduate degrees across 10 academic schools, including business, law, divinity, education, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and the arts. The university delivers instruction through on-campus facilities on its 247-acre Homewood, Alabama campus and via specialized labs, clinical partnerships, NCAA Division I athletics, and study-abroad programs including the London Study Centre.
Is Samford University a public or private company?
Samford University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Samford University founded?
Samford University was founded in 1841.
Where is Samford University based?
Samford University is headquartered in Birmingham, United States, in the North America region.
How does Samford University make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are auxiliary Services.
Who are Samford University's main competitors?
Baylor University is listed as a direct peer.
Does Samford University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Samford University.
What industry is Samford University in?
Samford University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHABAJ, Faith-Affiliated Private Research Universities, with a secondary code of EDAHAKAC, Divinity Schools (University-Affiliated). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.