Samford University was recently ranked in the 2026 list of “Best Christian Colleges in America” by school search platform Niche.com in their annual rankings of colleges and universities.
According to Niche, the Best Christian Colleges ranking features “leading academic institutions that offer students an education and college experience rooted in Christian traditions and faith.”
Samford is also featured in the Niche 2026 ranking of “Most Conservative Colleges in America” based upon student input of their own political leaning and their perceptions of the campus political preferences.
In both rankings, Samford is the highest ranked university in the state of Alabama. Niche.com promotes the methodologies they use to calculate their rankings.
Samford is regularly recognized among the leading Christian universities in the nation.
Founded in the Baptist tradition in 1841, Samford University is faithful to its mission of developing students’ intellect, creativity and faith while fostering academic, career and ethical competency, civic responsibility and service.
According to Samford, student demand continues climbing for a Christ-centered university committed to its core values. The school entered the 2025 fall semester celebrating its largest-ever enrollment of 6,324 students, marking 17 years of enrollment growth.
Samford has received global recognition for the integration of faith and learning, combining the spiritual formation of its students within the pursuit of academic excellence. The university recently announced plans to establish the Mann Institute for Christian Faith and Learning, aspiring to create globally renowned theological programming.
“The integration of Christian faith with rigorous academic and professional education is the most important educational distinctive at Samford,” said university President Beck A. Taylor.
“The university’s Christ-centered mission compels us to form graduates and citizens who can think critically and Christianly about the world around them and the disciplines they study. We seek to develop people who can employ biblical and theological perspectives as they endeavor to act justly, love mercifully and walk humbly with our Creator.”
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
