Head-to-head comparison
University of Alabama at Birmingham vs Samford University: which has better ROI?
Option A Birmingham, AL
University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Net price / year
- $18,749
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,501
- Payback
- 12.2 yrs
Option B Birmingham, AL
Samford University
- Net price / year
- $32,622
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,469
- Payback
- 12.9 yrs
University of Alabama at Birmingham has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $74,996 in 12.2 years versus 12.9 years at Samford University, on median earnings of $54,501 vs $58,469 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Alabama at Birmingham | Samford University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,749 | $32,622 |
| Total net cost | $74,996 | $130,488 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,501 | $58,469 |
| Median debt | $22,300 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 12.2 yrs | 12.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $47,824 | $71,692 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Alabama at Birmingham or Samford University?
University of Alabama at Birmingham, at $18,749 a year after aid versus $32,622 — a gap of $13,873 a year, or $55,492 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 University of Alabama at Birmingham or Samford University graduates earn more?
Samford University graduates report a median $58,469 ten years after entry, $3,968 more than the $54,501 at University of Alabama at Birmingham. 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, University of Alabama at Birmingham or Samford University?
Samford University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $22,300 at University of Alabama at Birmingham, a difference of $2,800. 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 64% at University of Alabama at Birmingham. 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.