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Alabama vs Samford University
The University of Alabama Law School · Tuscaloosa, AL | Samford University Law School · Birmingham, AL
This pairing is listed because these two schools are closest selectivity match in Alabama — see the note below for what this pairing does and does not mean.
This pairing exists because the school had no comparison page under the geographic rules. Both schools are in the same state at a similar selectivity level, which is the situation where applicants actually hesitate between them.
Side by side
All figures from the 2025 ABA 509 reporting cycle. Bold marks the stronger figure on each row where a direction exists.
| Measure | Alabama | Samford University | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 25.63% | 48.97% | −23.3 |
| Median LSAT | 167 | 156 | +11 |
| Median GPA | 3.97 | 3.63 | +0 |
| Annual tuition | $24,980 | $46,334 | −21,354 |
| 3-year total cost | $145,497 | $235,680 | −90,183 |
| Median grant / year | $21,500 | $20,000 | +1,500 |
| Net tuition after grant | not reported | not reported | — |
| First-year class size | 140 | 170 | −30 |
| Offer yield | not reported | not reported | — |
| Class fill | 97.9% | 98.8% | −1.0 |
| Bar pass (1st time) | 95.2% | 90.4% | +4.8 |
Bold is not a recommendation. On cost and acceptance it marks the lower number; on grant aid and bar passage the higher one. Where no direction applies — median LSAT, GPA and class size — nothing is bolded, because a higher median LSAT is not obviously better than a lower one for a given applicant.
Where the two differ most
Ranked by the size of the gap relative to Samford University's figure. These are the differences most likely to change a decision.
| Measure | Alabama | Samford University | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 25.63% | 48.97% | −23.3percentage points |
| Annual tuition | $24,980 | $46,334 | −21,354in dollars |
| 3-year total cost | $145,497 | $235,680 | −90,183in dollars |
| First-year class size | 140 | 170 | −30 |
Cost compared
Both schools report tuition, mandatory fees and living costs, so a full three-year figure can be computed for each. This is the comparison that tuition-only rankings cannot make.
| Component (per year) | Alabama | Samford University |
|---|---|---|
| Annual tuition | $24,980 | $46,334 |
| 3-year total cost | $145,497 | $235,680 |
| Median grant / year | $21,500 | $20,000 |
| Net tuition after median grant | — | — |
Net tuition subtracts the median grant from annual tuition. It is an optimistic floor: the median covers only students who received aid, and it assumes the same award holds for all three years. See the full cost ranking for every school.
Outcomes compared
| Measure | Alabama | Samford University |
|---|---|---|
| First-time bar passage | 95.2% | 90.4% |
| Offer yield | 30.6% | 37.1% |
| Class fill | 97.9% | 98.8% |
| Students enrolled | 137 | 168 |
| First-year class size | 140 | 170 |
The national median offer yield is 31.6%. Offer yield measures how many admitted students chose each school; class fill measures whether the class was filled. A low yield is common and usually reflects a wide offer policy rather than a school students avoid.
Choosing between them
- There is no better school here, only a different one. These figures describe cohort averages. Where your own profile falls relative to a school's admitted range matters more than any published median.
- Cost is a family question, not a ranking. The three-year figure covers tuition, fees and published living costs. It does not include books, a laptop, travel home, or the income lost to three years of not working.
- Grant figures are history, not offers. Both medians describe past cohorts. Your award depends on your circumstances, the school's policy and its aid budget that year.
- Bar passage is heavily shaped by selectivity. A school that admits broadly and passes fewer of its own admittees is not necessarily providing a weaker education; the comparison is confounded by who each school chooses.
Full details on each school
| Alabama | Samford University | |
|---|---|---|
| Admissions data | All Alabama admissions data | All Samford University admissions data |
| Admissions funnel | Funnel & yield | Funnel & yield |
| Financial aid | Grants & aid bands | Grants & aid bands |
| Cost | Cost of attendance | Cost of attendance |
Other comparisons
Other Samford University pairings, and other alternatives to Alabama.
- No further pairings available for these two schools.
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate at Alabama vs Samford University?
Alabama admitted 25.63% of applicants while Samford University admitted 48.97%.
Which is cheaper, Alabama or Samford University?
Over three years, Alabama costs $90,183 less. Alabama runs $145,497 and Samford University runs $235,680, including tuition, mandatory fees and disclosed living costs.
Which school offers more financial aid, Alabama or Samford University?
Alabama reports a median grant of $21,500 per year for full-time students, compared with $20,000 at Samford University. Median figures describe past cohorts and are not aid offers.
Source: ABA Standard 509 Required Disclosures, 2025 reporting cycle, for The University of Alabama Law School and Samford University Law School. Three-year cost totals multiply one year of disclosed tuition, mandatory fees and living costs by three; the 509 does not disclose program length. Figures describe the most recent entering class and past aid cohorts. Not financial advice and not a recommendation of either school.