Head-to-head · 10 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 90% chose 'Bama. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 10 self-reported decisions and ABA 509 filings.
Choice, not ranking
These are decisions, not opinions. Scholarship offers, location, intended practice, and personal fit are all priced into the split.
Cross-admit decision
Chose 'Bama
Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025
per yearCross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award
View all-time (26 cross-admits)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price and scholarship aid 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2025 ABA Employment
Cross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesRelated comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
Emory University
24
University of Georgia
22
University of Virginia
21
University of Florida (Levin)
17
Harvard University
16
University of Alabama
10
Overview
About 'Bama vs Samford University
Across 10 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 90% enrolled at University of Alabama and 10% at Samford University.
These numbers reflect every factor that goes into a real decision: scholarship offers, geographic preference, intended practice area, and fit. Choosing one school doesn't mean it's "better" — it means the pool of cross-admits, weighing their options, ended up there more often. Pair this with the scholarship distribution and employment outcomes above for full context.
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Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares University of Alabama and Samford University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of Alabama is ranked #40 compared to #122 — a gap of 82 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Alabama has a median LSAT of 167 compared to 156, a gap of 11 points. This suggests applicants to University of Alabama face a more competitive admissions pool.
University of Alabama is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 25.6% compared to Samford University's 49.0%.
Both schools are located in Alabama — University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and Samford University in Birmingham — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
On cost, University of Alabama has lower tuition at $24,980 per year compared to $46,334. Combined with employment rates of 98.6% ('Bama) and 89.2% (Samford University), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
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