Head-to-head comparison
University of Alabama in Huntsville vs Samford University: which has better ROI?
Option A Huntsville, AL
University of Alabama in Huntsville
- Net price / year
- $18,796
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,767
- Payback
- 5.6 yrs
Option B Birmingham, AL
Samford University
- Net price / year
- $32,622
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,469
- Payback
- 12.9 yrs
University of Alabama in Huntsville has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $75,184 in 5.6 years versus 12.9 years at Samford University, on median earnings of $61,767 vs $58,469 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Alabama in Huntsville | Samford University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,796 | $32,622 |
| Total net cost | $75,184 | $130,488 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,767 | $58,469 |
| Median debt | $20,705 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 5.6 yrs | 12.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $192,956 | $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 in Huntsville or Samford University?
University of Alabama in Huntsville, at $18,796 a year after aid versus $32,622 — a gap of $13,826 a year, or $55,304 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 in Huntsville or Samford University graduates earn more?
University of Alabama in Huntsville graduates report a median $61,767 ten years after entry, $3,298 more than the $58,469 at Samford 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, University of Alabama in Huntsville or Samford University?
Samford University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $20,705 at University of Alabama in Huntsville, a difference of $1,205. 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 in Huntsville. 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.