Samford University

Birmingham, AL

An aerial view of the Samford University campus
Samford University was founded in 1841, making it one of the nation’s oldest universities
Cheer on the Samford Bulldogs at Seibert Stadium

Samford University - Birmingham, AL Area Guide

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Historic Top-Ranking Private Christian Suburban

Located about four miles south of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Samford University offers a quieter alternative to its powerhouse neighbor. Ranked as one of the top private universities in Alabama, Samford University was founded in 1841 by the Alabama Baptist State Convention. It was originally a college for men; the school became coeducational in 1913. The university is known for having one of the best entrepreneurship programs in the country. The Samford Bulldogs participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Southern Conference. The football team plays at Seibert Stadium, while the basketball team plays at Corts Arena in the Pete Hanna Center, a multi-purpose arena that also hosts Homecoming, lectures, dinners, and other events. The baseball team plays at the Joe Lee Griffin Stadium. The football program is especially strong, with several players going into the NFL and coaching. Former Samford Bulldogs include Bobby Bowden, Cortland Finnegan, Jimbo Fisher, Corey White, and James Bradberry. Samford University is roughly five miles south of Downtown Birmingham. The neighborhoods surrounding the university include Homewood, Windsor Highlands, Watkins Glen, and Vestavia Hills. Sports fans should look for apartments near Samford's west entrance, especially along Lakeshore Drive. Those commuting frequently into Birmingham may prefer looking for rentals along Montgomery Parkway, which leads directly into the city. If you prefer being near the Interstate, look on the west side of the university, closer to I-65.

Explore the College

An aerial view of the Samford University campus

Samford University was founded in 1841, making it one of the nation’s oldest universities

Cheer on the Samford Bulldogs at Seibert Stadium

A variety of shopping plazas and restaurants are located near the university

Rent Trends

As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Birmingham, AL is $994 for a studio, $1,185 for one bedroom, $1,308 for two bedrooms, and $1,594 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Birmingham has increased by 0.4% in the past year.

  • Studio

  • 469 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $994/month

    Average Rent

  • 1 BR

  • 745 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,185/month

    Average Rent

  • 2 BR

  • 1,033 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,308/month

    Average Rent

  • 3 BR

  • 1,343 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,594/month

    Average Rent

Getting Around

Fairly Walkable

Walkability

40 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

90 / 100

Moderately Bikeable

Bikeability

60 / 100

Daily Essentials

Supermarket Within a 20 Minute Walk

Groceries

40 / 100

Fair Restaurant Variety Nearby

Restaurants

50 / 100

Good Café Variety Nearby

Cafes

60 / 100

Good Variety of Shops Nearby

Shopping

60 / 100

Recreation

Large Amount of Park Space Nearby

Parks

60 / 100

Limited Wellness Amenity Variety Nearby

Wellness

20 / 100

Local Vibe

Mostly Calm Atmosphere

Vibrancy

20 / 100

Limited Nightlife Variety Nearby

Nightlife

20 / 100

Not Noisy

Quiet Score

90 / 100

Schools

Oak Mt Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

713 Students

Oak Mt Intermediate School

Public

Grades K-5

619 Students

Mt Laurel Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

514 Students

Phillips Academy

Public

Grades PK-8

654 Students

Inverness Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

582 Students

Phillips Academy

Public

Grades PK-8

654 Students

Washington Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-8

567 Students

Inglenook School

Public

Grades PK-8

333 Students

Oak Mt Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

1,175 Students

South Hampton Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-8

513 Students

Oak Mt High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,561 Students

Ramsay High School

Public

Grades 9-12

660 Students

Huffman High School-Magnet

Public

Grades 6-12

1,147 Students

Parker High School

Public

Grades 9-12

826 Students

George Washington Carver High School

Public

Grades 9-12

531 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Homewood Forest Preserve
  • Birmingham Zoo
  • Vulcan Park and Museum
  • Birmingham Botanical Gardens
  • McWane Science Center

Commuter Rail

Airports

  • Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.