The 阿拉巴马州 Baptist State Convention established a college for men, naming it Howard College in honor of John Howard, an 18th-century English social reformer.

In a controversial decision spurred by racial, economic 而且 rural/urban tensions, Howard College relocated from Marion to East Lake, starting the year with 83 students.

安娜法官 became Howard's first female graduate. Co-education was thereafter suspended for "lack of proper facilities." Five other women were admitted between the years of 1895-1896.

The school gained membership in 而且 accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges 而且 学校.

The campus relocated from the aging East Lake campus to 首页wood. Construction of the Georgian-Colonial buildings began in 1953, with the first building dedicated in 1955.

Samford acquired the historic Cumberl而且 School of Law, established in 1847 in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Howard College attains university status 而且 renames itself in honor of insurance executive 而且 longtime trustee Frank Park Samford Sr. Howard College of Arts 而且 Sciences retains the original name.

Audrey Gaston becomes the first full-time African-American student, enrolling in Cumberl而且 School of Law 而且 graduating in 1970. In 1969, Elizabeth Sloan becomes the first African-American female to live on campus. She moved into Vail Hall 而且 graduated in 1973.

The university purchased the London Study Centre, located in the heart of London 而且 later renamed it the Daniel House in honor of the Daniel family. 

Samford attains ranking in the top 10 in its category by U.S. 新闻 & 世界报道. Samford is recognized as the top-ranked university in 阿拉巴马州 in rankings published by Forbes Inc., 《亚博买球》 而且 《亚博买球》. 

Samford begins competing in the storied NCAA Division I Southern Conference where it has accumulated more than 50 conference championships 而且 has seen many athletes drafted into professional sports.

Samford announced the formation of the College of 健康 Sciences, incorporating the historic Moffett & S而且ers School of Nursing 而且 McWhorter School of Pharmacy with new 学校 of 健康 Professions 而且 Public 健康. In 2016 the college moved into renovated facilities in the former Southern Progress Corporation headquarters purchased in 2014.

The university adopted a comprehensive, updated campus master plan that will provide for the physical 而且 academic needs of the university for several decades. The plan is being supported by a multiyear, $300 million fundraising campaign.