Rankings

• National Universities: #179
• Best Value Schools: #105
• Nursing: #118
• Best Undergraduate Teaching: #35
• Top Performers on Social Mobility: #410 Source

Mission And History

• Mission
• History
• Fast Facts

Accreditations

• University: Samford University
• Accrediting Organization: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Accreditation Granted Date: 1920-01-01
• Most Recent Reaffirmation Date: 2017-12-05
• Next Reaffirmation Due: 2027-12-05

Strategic Goals

• Cultivate a Christ-centered, student-focused culture that emphasizes academic excellence.
• Promote quality teaching and scholarship through opportunities for professional development and growth as scholars and leaders in the disciplines.
• Equip faculty and students to integrate faith and learning.
• Create new, expanded, and revised academic programs that enhance existing offerings and attract new student populations.
• Cultivate a community engaged in servant leadership.
• Foster a community committed to overall wellness and success.
• Create opportunities for all students to connect with and contribute to formative co-curricular activities.
• Emphasize awareness and deeper integration of institutional mission and values throughout co-curricular programming.
• Offer the love of Christ to all by inviting people to become Christ’s disciples through faith and spiritual growth.
• Recruit and retain faithful faculty and staff who support Samford’s community of Christian faith and learning.
• Host events that encourage the Samford community to consider contemporary issues through the lens of faith and scripture.
• Provide spaces and activities that cultivate Samford’s gospel-focused and ecumenically orthodox character.
• Emphasize degree completion, Christian character, mental and physical health, and life-long learning among student-athletes.
• Maintain a culture that embodies mutual trust, sportsmanship and compliance.
• Compete for SoCon championships and NCAA post-season championships.
• Engage and expand the community of individuals, businesses, and groups that support Samford athletics.
• Invest in institutional infrastructure to maintain and grow international offerings.
• Develop and promote more international opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders.
• Grow formal educational opportunities at Samford for individuals from other nations.
• Host programs and events that promote cross-cultural education and outcomes.
• Ensure resources are available and prioritized to realize the university’s strategic goals.
• Sustain a culture that emphasizes stewardship of university resources across all stakeholders.
• Promote access to and acumen around the financial strategies and outcomes of the university.
• Adopt a proactive and anticipatory posture toward planning and maintaining campus infrastructure including people, places, technology, and finances.
• Provide unifying educational opportunities for our campus community to respect different experiences and perspectives.
• Engage Homewood, Birmingham, and our broader communities in partnership, service, and cultural understanding.
• Promote Samford spirit, pride, and engagement among all stakeholders.
• Enhance sense of calling and vocation in the work environment.
• Offer competitive compensation and benefits in order to hire and retain a quality workforce.
• Provide positive and rewarding work experiences for employees.
• Ensure consistent, inclusive, and transparent employee communication and processes across the institution.
• Full Plan

Resources And Documents

• Strategic Plan Goals
• Campus Plan
• Campus Map
• Virtual Tour
• Annual Security And Safety
• Peer Institution

Updated on 05/01/2026