BYU–Provo vs Samford
Brigham Young University (BYU) and Samford University are two distinct institutions of higher learning that offer unique educational experiences. BYU, located in Provo, Utah, is a private research university affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while Samford, situated in Birmingham, Alabama, is a private Christian university affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. With acceptance rates of 50% and 78%, respectively, both universities offer a competitive admissions process. BYU boasts a larger student body, with over 30,000 undergraduates compared to Samford's approximately 5,000. While BYU's popular majors include business, engineering, and nursing, Samford's strengths lie in business, health sciences, and education. Both universities boast impressive graduation rates, with BYU's four-year rate at 70% and Samford's at 75%. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we
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![]() Brigham Young University |
![]() Samford University |
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Overview |
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Location | Provo, Utah | Birmingham, Alabama |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | 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 | 89.0% | 89.0% |
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No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Mormon | Baptist |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 59.2% | 83.9% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$35
Graduate:
$50
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Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$35
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SAT range | 1220 - 1440 | 1100 - 1290 |
ACT range | 26 - 32 | 23 - 29 |
Students submitting SAT score | 20.0% | 22.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 76.0% | 66.0% |
Total number of applicants | 11,608 | 4,217 |
Total number of admissions given out | 6,870 | 3,537 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 5,413 | 920 |
Yield rate | 78.8% | 26.0% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $20,146 | $53,100 |
Average net price | $13,432 | $31,871 |
Tuition | $6,120 | $34,410 |
Room & board | $8,048 |
Room/dormitory:
$6,150
Meal plan:
$5,110
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
48.0%
Average amount $5,867 |
99.0%
Average amount $19,443 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
10.0%
Average amount $5,278 |
31.0%
Average amount $5,320 |
Students taking out private loans |
0.0%
Average amount $9,371 |
6.0%
Average amount $19,317 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
31,642
Men 48.7% Women 51.3% |
3,607
Men 33.4% Women 66.6% |
Graduate students |
3,169
Men 54.4% Women 45.6% |
2,151
Men 32.3% Women 67.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
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Very Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 73.0% |
International students | 3.6% | 0.8% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 7,073 | 2,375 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Alabama Georgia Tennessee Texas Florida |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 21:1 | 12:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 76.8% | 78.9% |
Dropout rate | 15.6% | 20.9% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Theological and Ministerial Studies (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
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