Biola University vs Samford

Biola University and Samford University, both esteemed Christian institutions, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Biola, located in La Mirada, California, boasts a lower acceptance rate of 65% compared to Samford's 80% in Birmingham, Alabama. While Biola's student body is predominantly female, Samford maintains a more balanced gender ratio. In terms of popular majors, Biola excels in the fields of Biblical Studies and Theology, while Samford is known for its strong programs in Business and Nursing. With graduation rates of 68% and 75% respectively, both universities prioritize student success and provide ample resources to support their students' academic journeys. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more distinctions between these two exceptional universities and make an informed decision about your higher education path.
Biola University logo

Biola University

Samford University logo

Samford University

Overview

Location La Mirada, California Birmingham, Alabama
Campus setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester 4-1-4
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 88.0% 89.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation Undenominational Baptist

Admission

Acceptance rate 60.8% 83.9%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $45

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $35
SAT range 1103 - 1348 1100 - 1290
ACT range 22 - 29 23 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 26.0% 22.0%
Students submitting ACT score 11.0% 66.0%
Total number of applicants 4,354 4,217
Total number of admissions given out 2,646 3,537
Admitted students who chose to enroll 655 920
Yield rate 24.8% 26.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $59,500 $53,100
Average net price $29,123 $31,871
Tuition $44,382 $34,410
Room & board $10,202
Room/dormitory: $6,150

Meal plan: $5,110
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $28,421
99.0%
Average amount $19,443
Students receiving federal student loan 47.0%
Average amount $4,897
31.0%
Average amount $5,320
Students taking out private loans 7.0%
Average amount $15,279
6.0%
Average amount $19,317

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,596
Men 38.0% Women 62.0%
3,607
Men 33.4% Women 66.6%
Graduate students 1,955
Men 54.5% Women 45.5%
2,151
Men 32.3% Women 67.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Very Low
Out-of-state students 28.6% 73.0%
International students 9.2% 0.8%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 2,750 2,375
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Washington Oregon Texas Colorado Alabama Georgia Tennessee Texas Florida

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Theology
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies
  • Psychology
  • Health Professions
  • Legal Profession
  • Business
  • Education
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 12:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 69.9% 78.9%
Dropout rate 6.1% 20.9%
Transferred out 22.7% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,482
  • Year 2: $74,576
  • Year 3: $86,424
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,587
  • Year 2: $62,012
  • Year 3: $72,963
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,111
  • Year 2: $44,711
  • Year 3: $53,447
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,980
  • Year 2: $51,273
  • Year 3: $52,274
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,574
  • Year 2: $26,585
  • Year 3: $44,140
Music (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,811
  • Year 2: $39,369
  • Year 3: $43,156
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,228
  • Year 2: $35,772
  • Year 3: $41,681
Religious Education (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,993
  • Year 2: $26,933
  • Year 3: $41,017
Theological and Ministerial Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,448
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $40,971
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,443
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: $40,650
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $109,542
  • Year 2: $120,880
  • Year 3: $122,995
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,811
  • Year 2: $99,380
  • Year 3: $104,909
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,528
  • Year 2: $91,363
  • Year 3: $88,884
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,304
  • Year 2: $52,941
  • Year 3: $67,171
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,217
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $64,364
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,785
  • Year 2: $48,667
  • Year 3: $61,547
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,967
  • Year 2: $54,851
  • Year 3: $57,875
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,355
  • Year 2: $54,948
  • Year 3: $54,480
Theological and Ministerial Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,947
  • Year 2: $39,585
  • Year 3: $46,442
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,337
  • Year 2: $43,638
  • Year 3: $46,369

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