Reviewed by: Grace Howard
Samford honored for commitment to students’ mental health by Princeton Review
Reading time: 3 minutes
The Princeton Review, a leading provider of test prep for colleges and universities, has also made itself a trusted source in college rankings, based on extensive surveys.
Recently, The Princeton Review released its 2026 “Mental Health Services Honor Roll, and Birmingham’s own Samford University made the list of 30 colleges and universities!
The Princeton Review’s 2026 Mental Health Services Honor Roll
According to a release from Samford, results from The Princeton Review’s Campus Mental Health Survey reveal gains in campus counseling, wellness and student-support programs. With 61% of colleges now offering formal support programs for students returning from mental-health leave, this represents an 18% increase from the previous year.
The Princeton Review’s shoutout stated:
“The tagline on the website of Samford University’s Counseling Services is “Help Us Help You,” and that seems to be the genuine case, with the school working to address any student needs that are brought to its attention.”
The Princeton Review
Samford University’s mental health + wellness resources
“After 26 years on staff at Samford, I can attest that both the heart and the hands of the university are committed to our Christian mission ‘to nurture persons,’ which includes an approach to student wellness that is both thoughtful and thorough. Plenty of institutions offer student support services, but Samford fosters a culture of care that is inspired by Scripture and guided by compassion and wisdom.
Ultimately, we want students to be like the tree described in Jeremiah 17—rooted, resilient and able to flourish even when life brings difficulty and disappointment.”
April Robinson, Assistant Vice President for Student Development and Support, Samford University in a press release
The review proves that Samford was an appropriate selection, recognizing many of the university’s mental health services, including:
- Counseling services: Individual + group psychotherapy, crisis counseling, referral services, consultations + educational programs
- Samford Wellness: Residential curriculum + Wellness cadres, small group studies with a mental health/wellness goal
- Peer-to-Peer Resources: Students majoring in a health-related field are encouraged to become a Wellness Ambassador
- Samford CARES: A program that comes alongside students in moments of stress, change or crisis to offer support, direction + encouragement
“We never assume students will automatically know where to turn when they feel overwhelmed, discouraged, or uncertain. Samford CARES works intentionally to go to them—in classrooms, residence halls, student organizations, convocation events, digital platforms and social media feeds.”
April Robinson, Assistant Vice President for Student Development and Support, Samford University in a press release
Samford’s Christian values are rooted in everything—from academics and sports to students’ mental health. This recognition keeps Samford in the running for top universities across the country, and we’re proud to have them in our own backyard.
More recent Samford shoutouts and news:
- Samford University + Tuscaloosa mentioned on Jeopardy!
- Samford names new head football coach
- Samford University earns 3 national top-10 rankings from The Wall Street Journal
- Arrested Development actor Tony Hale named Samford’s alumnus of the year
- Samford cancels Creekside development to focus on campus projects
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