Samford University vs Johnson & Wales University-Providence

Side-by-side comparison across admissions, costs, outcomes, campus life, and more. Data from US Department of Education.

πŸ’°
Best Value
Samford University
Lower Net Price
πŸ’Ό
High Earners
Samford University
Higher 10yr Salary
πŸ†
Most Selective
Samford University
Harder to get in
πŸŽ“
Graduation
Samford University
Higher success
Admissions Difficulty
Acceptance Rate
82.2%
83.7%
Avg SAT Score
1,203
1,107
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1070 – 1260
970 – 1230
Avg ACT Score
26
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
23 – 29
20 – 26
Cost & Financial Aid
Avg Net Price
$30,795
$32,478
Tuition (In-State)
$38,144
$40,408
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$38,144
$40,408
Pell Grant Rate % students receiving Pell Grants
10.8%
30.2%
Federal Loan Rate
28.7%
73.5%
Career Outcomes
Median Salary (10yr)
$58,469
$43,418
Graduation Rate
78.8%
56.9%
Retention Rate Freshmen who return for 2nd year
87.6%
76.3%
Campus Life
Total Enrollment
3,828
3,913
Undergrad Enrollment
3,772
4,469
Type
Private
Private
Setting
Suburban
Urban

πŸ“‹ Report Cards

Samford University

Academics
B+
Value
C
Admissions
C
Diversity
C

Johnson & Wales University-Providence

Academics
C
Value
C
Admissions
C
Diversity
B

βš–οΈ Expert Analysis

Samford University and Johnson & Wales University-Providence are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Samford University is more selective with a 82.2% acceptance rate compared to Johnson & Wales University-Providence's 83.7%. Average SAT scores are 1203 and 1107 respectively.

Cost: Samford University offers a lower average net price at $30,795, which is $1,683 less than Johnson & Wales University-Providence ($32,478). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Samford University earn a median salary of $58,469 ten years after enrollment, which is $15,051 more than Johnson & Wales University-Providence graduates ($43,418).

Graduation: Samford University leads with a 78.8% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 87.6% vs 76.3%.

Campus Size: Johnson & Wales University-Providence is the larger campus with 3,913 total students, while Samford University has 3,828.

Bottom Line: Samford University stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates β€” making it the stronger value proposition overall.

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