Notre Dame vs Samford
Nestled in the heart of Indiana, the University of Notre Dame and Samford University, located in Alabama, stand as two distinct beacons of higher education. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence and student success, they offer unique experiences that cater to different aspirations and preferences. Notre Dame, a renowned Catholic research university, boasts a highly selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 18%, while Samford, a private Christian university, offers a more accessible pathway to higher education, with an acceptance rate of 80%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into the nuances that set these two universities apart, including popular majors, student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, to help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
|
![]() Samford University |
![]() University of Notre Dame |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Birmingham, Alabama | Notre Dame, Indiana |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 89.0% | 98.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Baptist | Catholic |
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 83.9% | 15.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$35
|
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
|
SAT range | 1100 - 1290 | 1410 - 1550 |
ACT range | 23 - 29 | 32 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 22.0% | 33.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 66.0% | 36.0% |
Total number of applicants | 4,217 | 23,642 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,537 | 3,562 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 920 | 2,059 |
Yield rate | 26.0% | 57.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price | $53,100 | $78,347 |
Average net price | $31,871 | $30,513 |
Tuition | $34,410 | $58,336 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,150
Meal plan:
$5,110
|
$16,304 |
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $19,443 |
57.0%
Average amount $46,306 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
31.0%
Average amount $5,320 |
30.0%
Average amount $4,134 |
Students taking out private loans |
6.0%
Average amount $19,317 |
12.0%
Average amount $8,564 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
3,607
Men 33.4% Women 66.6% |
8,973
Men 51.6% Women 48.4% |
Graduate students |
2,151
Men 32.3% Women 67.7% |
4,166
Men 56.5% Women 43.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 73.0% | 93.1% |
International students | 0.8% | 12.1% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,375 | 6,919 |
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 | Illinois California Texas Indiana New York |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Higher Learning Commission |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 78.9% | 95.9% |
Dropout rate | 20.9% | 3.9% |
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)
|
Business Administration, Management and Operations (First Professional Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (First Professional Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (First Professional Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics and Statistics, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.


















































































































































