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MeritPlaybook / Take-home research

Samford
Decision sheet

Alabama · Research checked 2026-07-02 · School research, not an aid offer

The starting point

Baptist private in Birmingham, AL with a published two-track auto-merit ladder — Crosland (avg $17,500, stat-driven) and Marion (avg $13,000) — but the two awards explicitly cannot be combined, and the University Grant can be reduced if a student is later awarded additional institutional funds.

More than one award path. Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.

Awards to discuss

First 3 of 7 recorded awards, in chapter display order. This is a selection, not a ranking. Read the full chapter for all awards. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.

Crosland Scholarship

Average $17,500 per year · Published award terms

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

GPA: 3.5 minimum high school GPA · SAT: 1240 or higher composite · ACT: 26 or higher composite

Eligibility: Test-optional applicants are evaluated on a recalculated weighted GPA on a 4.0 scale. No separate application required. Can combine with Davis and Marvin Mann Legacy — CANNOT combine with Marion.

Renewal: Guaranteed for 8 semesters or graduation. Requires good academic standing and adherence to Samford's Code of Values; breach can cause revocation.

Other terms: Samford publishes the average, not a stat-to-tier table. The non-combinability with Marion is the most consequential Samford stacking rule.

https://www.samford.edu/admission/scholarships

Marion Scholarship

Average $13,000 per year · Published award terms

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

GPA: 3.0 minimum high school GPA

Eligibility: Fully admitted to Samford. No separate application. Can combine with Davis and Marvin Mann Legacy — CANNOT combine with Crosland.

Renewal: Guaranteed for 8 semesters or graduation. Requires good academic standing and adherence to Samford's Code of Values.

Other terms: The fallback award for applicants who do not meet Crosland's 3.5/26-ACT thresholds.

https://www.samford.edu/admission/scholarships

Marvin Mann Academic Excellence Scholarship

Up to $10,000 per year · Variable or qualified amount

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

Eligibility: Awarded to National Merit Finalists. Can be combined with the $1,000 National Merit Semi-Finalist Scholarship. The scholarship committee may increase the annual value or extend the award to other students who exemplify academic excellence.

Renewal: Renewable up to 8 semesters with good academic standing and Code of Values adherence.

https://www.samford.edu/admission/scholarships

Ask before you decide

  1. Which entering-year policy and residency category apply to us? What are the admission and scholarship deadlines?
  2. What grades and credits are required to renew, and for how many terms?
  3. How would other school awards or outside scholarships change the offer?

Recorded stacking policy: The school does not publish a specific outside-scholarship displacement policy; confirm treatment with the aid office before counting on stacking.

Our unanswered questions / Family notes

Keep the sources with the decision

Full research, award details and source context: https://meritplaybook.com/colleges/samford-university/merit-aid

The research date is not a guarantee that a policy still applies. Confirm current amounts, deadlines and conditions with the school before making a financial decision.