Samford vs William Carey University
Samford University and William Carey University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Samford, a private Christian university in Birmingham, Alabama, boasts a lower acceptance rate (58%) compared to William Carey's (75%), a private Christian university in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. While Samford's student body is predominantly White (76%), William Carey's is more diverse, with a significant proportion of African American students (38%). Both universities offer a range of popular majors, including Nursing, Business, and Education, but Samford has a higher graduation rate (68%) than William Carey (56%). Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Samford University |
![]() William Carey University |
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Overview |
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Location | Birmingham, Alabama | Hattiesburg, Mississippi |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | Trimester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 89.0% | 87.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Baptist | Baptist |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 83.9% | 57.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$35
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Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$40
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SAT range | 1100 - 1290 | 980 - 1320 |
ACT range | 23 - 29 | 21 - 29 |
Students submitting SAT score | 22.0% | 4.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 66.0% | 96.0% |
Total number of applicants | 4,217 | 470 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,537 | 270 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 920 | 153 |
Yield rate | 26.0% | 56.7% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $53,100 | $25,393 |
Average net price | $31,871 | $11,676 |
Tuition | $34,410 | $13,050 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,150
Meal plan:
$5,110
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Room/dormitory:
$3,450
Meal plan:
$3,300
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $19,443 |
100.0%
Average amount $12,216 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
31.0%
Average amount $5,320 |
25.0%
Average amount $4,583 |
Students taking out private loans |
6.0%
Average amount $19,317 |
4.0%
Average amount $12,749 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
3,607
Men 33.4% Women 66.6% |
3,337
Men 32.8% Women 67.2% |
Graduate students |
2,151
Men 32.3% Women 67.7% |
2,401
Men 31.7% Women 68.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 73.0% | 20.3% |
International students | 0.8% | 3.2% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 2,375 | 789 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Alabama Georgia Tennessee Texas Florida | Mississippi Louisiana Alabama Arizona Florida |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 78.9% | 60.3% |
Dropout rate | 20.9% | 39.7% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
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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Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
Research and Experimental Psychology (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
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