Head-to-head comparison
Samford University vs Tuskegee University: which has better ROI?
Option A Birmingham, AL
Samford University
- Net price / year
- $32,622
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,469
- Payback
- 12.9 yrs
Option B Tuskegee, AL
Tuskegee University
- Net price / year
- $35,013
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,641
- Payback
- 109.3 yrs
Samford University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $130,488 in 12.9 years versus 109.3 years at Tuskegee University, on median earnings of $58,469 vs $49,641 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Samford University | Tuskegee University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,622 | $35,013 |
| Total net cost | $130,488 | $140,052 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,469 | $49,641 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 12.9 yrs | 109.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $71,692 | -$114,432 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Samford University or Tuskegee University?
Samford University, at $32,622 a year after aid versus $35,013 — a gap of $2,391 a year, or $9,564 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Samford University or Tuskegee University graduates earn more?
Samford University graduates report a median $58,469 ten years after entry, $8,828 more than the $49,641 at Tuskegee University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Samford University or Tuskegee University?
Samford University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Tuskegee University, a difference of $7,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
77% of students finish at Samford University, against 55% at Tuskegee University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.