OVERVIEWPROGRAMS AND TUITION ADMISSIONS FINANCIAL AID

Southern Methodist University (SMU) — 2026 Profile - Dallas, Texas

63.35%

Acceptance Rate

$33,548

Avg.Financial Aid

003613

FAFSA Code

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★ Southern Methodist University (SMU) Report Card

Selectivity

—

63.4% acceptance rate

Academics

84% graduation rate

Class Size

B-

11:1 student-faculty ratio

Value

$67,040 tuition

Grades calculated by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES data. Methodology: How we grade →

★ Key Facts: Southern Methodist University (SMU)

Institution: Southern Methodist University (SMU)
Type: Private not-for-profit

Data compiled by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES and official university sources. Last verified July 2026. Citable source →

Southern Methodist University (SMU)

Type Control of Institution - Public/Private
Private, Not-For-Profit
Acceptance Rate:
N/A
Level
4 Years
Religious Affiliation Indicates religious affiliation (denomination) for private not-for-profit institutions that are religiously affiliated.
United Methodist
Accreditation Accreditation is the process by which the quality of learning at various educational institutions are evaluated. Read More.
SACSCOC
Website
www.smu.edu
Student Population Number of Students attending College
7,277
On Campus Housing Does the institution provide on-campus housing?
Yes

Southern Methodist University which is a private, United Methodist university, is located in Dallas, TX. Southern Methodist University occupies a total area of about 237 acres. Southern Methodist University was founded in the year 1911. The motto of the Southern Methodist University is Latin: Veritas liberabit vos and its official colors are smu redsmu blue. Out of total 12,373 (Fall 2020) students enrolled at SMU, 6,710 belong to undergraduate courses while 5,114 are postgraduate students. To teach various courses to the students, the school has employed a total of 807 (Fall 2017) faculty. Around 98% of the students are 24 and under at Southern Methodist University. At SMU around 64% are white, 12% belong to Hispanic ethnicity, and 7% are Asian. And, when it comes to gender distribution at the varsity, around 49% of the students are females and 51% are males. In its 109 years of existence, SMU has produced several known personalities like Kourtney Kardashian (Fashion designer, Socialite), Jayne Mansfield (Pin-up girl, Pianist), Sarah Shahi (Model, Actor), and Laura Bush (Librarian, Author). The school believes in the all-round growth of the students and, hence encourages students to take part in several sporting activities, conducted inside the campus. Students taking admission here will notice that the university boasts of a decent sports infrastructure. SMU offers a total of 316 undergraduate and graduate programs, including both residential and online. The university also has a long list of accreditations. It has been accredited by AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), ABA (American Bar Association), ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.), and APA (American Psychological Association). The total endowment of the Southern Methodist University is around $1 billion (2019).

Location & Contact

Address

6425 Boaz St, Dallas, Texas

Contact

Phone: (214) 768-2000

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Rankings

To tackle the tough decision of choosing the right university, the ranking of a particular university helps the student in clearing their doubts regarding where they want to apply. The ranking of universities by Forbes is done keeping in mind common metrics like acceptance rate, endowment, benefits, and SAT scores, among others. Moreover, Forbes has placed Southern Methodist University at the 91st position among other national universities.

Admissions

Application Deadline Deadline for application submissions. Please contact the school for more details.
FALSE
Acceptance Rate Percentage of applicants who are accepted in an Institution.
63.35%
SAT Range
1280 - 1460
SAT/ACT
Required
ACT Range
29 - 33
High School GPA
Required
Application Fee
$60
Accept Common App
Yes

The admissions process is moderately difficult albeit selective in its approach. The admission process starts by filling up the form and submitting a fee of $60. If the SAT score of a student lies in the range of 1300-1480, it would improve her chances. The average ACT score at Southern Methodist University is 31. However, those getting an ACT score less than 29 might also be offered admission. As expected, the candidates can complete the process either online or by visiting the school's office at 6425 Boaz St, Dallas, Texas 75275-0221. To gather more information, they can call them at (214) 768-2000.

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Annual Cost to Attend

Net Price Cost of attendance minus any grants and scholarships received.
$40,892
Average Annual Cost
$67,040

Additional Costs:

Books And Supplies
$74,737
Other Fees
$6,128
Room And Board The charges for an academic year for Rooming accommodations and meals for a typical student.
$16,845
Budget For Other Expenses
$2,600

Total One Year Cost

$74,737

Tuition fees and the cost of living during the course tenure are the next two things that a student should keep in mind before applying to SMU. The full-time cost of attendance is approximately $72,685 per year. This cost consists of the average annual tuition cost ($56,560), books and supplies ($800), room and boarding ($16,750), and budget for other expenses ($2,600). If it sounds unaffordable to the applicant, there are numerous financial aid options available that they can explore.

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Academics

Highest Degree Offered The highest degree offered by the Institution.

Student:Faculty Ratio

11:1

Full-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

91%

Part-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

50%

Academic Calendar

Semester

Research Funding per Student

$3,016

Faculty Overview

59%

Male Professors

41%

Female Professors

Non-traditional Learning

Evening Degree Programs

Teacher Certification

Distance Education

Study Abroad

Majors

Student Body

Undergraduate Students

6,479

Socio-Economic Diversity Percent of full-time, first-time students receiving an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

13%

Full-time / Part-time

97% / 3%

Students Gender

Male

51%

US National: 44%

Female

49%

US National: 56%

LGBTQIA STUDENT RESOURCE GROUPS

ON CAMPUS WOMEN'S CENTER

Race/Ethnicity

White

64%

Unknown

Black

Hispanic

12%

Two or more races

Non Resident alien

Asian

American Indian/Alaska native

Native Hawaiians/Pacific islander

Geographic Density

High

Unknown Location

57%

Out Of State

38%

In State

Foreign

Economic Diversity

36% percentage of students who recieved an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Median Household Income

$82,038 per year

Campus Life

Housing

The students can reside on campus and 99% of Freshman Live On-Campus.

On Campus Housing Available

Yes

Freshmen Required to Live on Campus

Freshmen Live on Campus

99%

Undergrads in College Housing

54%

Averege Housing Cost

$10,825/year

Campus Food

The institution has several dining and meal plan options available to students and the average meal plan cost is around $6,020/year.

Meal Plan Available

Yes

Average Meal Plan Available

$6,020/year

Athletes

Division Sports Nickname

Mustangs

School Colors

red and blue

Varsity Athletics Association

NCAA

Varsity Athletics Conference Primary

American Athletic Conference

Total Male Athletes

N/A

Total Female Athletes

N/A

Intramural Sports

Sports Club

Campus Security

The university additionally offers an on-campus housing facility for students who wish to dwell nearby. The normal expense for on-campus housing is $16,750 per year. Southern Methodist University has several dining and meal plan options for its students and the average meal plan at SMU costs around $6,020 per year. The university has taken a lot of measures to ensure the safety and security of its students. Some of these measures include 24-hr security patrol, campus emergency phones and 24-hr escort safety rides. The number of female and male students at the university are 51% and 49%, respectively.

24-Hour Security Patrol

Campus Emergency Phones

24-Hour Escort Safety rides

Mobile Campus Emergency Alert

After Graduation

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation

$54,300/year

Median Earnings 10 Years After Graduation

$60,700/year

Median Total Debt After Graduation The median cumulative federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated.

$12,500 - $25,000

Typical Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 4.53% interest rate.

$130 - $259

Outcomes 8 Years of Attending

Show data for students who

and started their studies

Out of 7,811 students

30% Graduated

10% Still Enrolled

15% Transfer

1% Withdraw

Financial Aid

Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid.

74%

Average Aid Per Year

$33,548

Students Receiving Federal Grants

Average Aid Per Year

$6,421

Students Receiving State Aid

Average Aid Per Year

$3,910

Students Receiving Institutional Grants

74%

Average Aid Per Year

$32,591

Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income Aid awarded based on the family income.

Income

Average Amount

< $30K

$42,951

$30K - $48K

$48,619

$48K - $75K

$43,474

$75K - $110K

$40,211

> $110K

$27,435

Total Needs based Scholarships/Grants

$5,991,077

Total Non-Needs based Scholarships/Grants

$66,585,983

In case the students at Southern Methodist University face any financial issues concerning the fees and cost of living, and find the same to be high, they can seek help from the financial aid department of the varsity. It focuses on settling the issues that students face, and candidates can be assisted with scholarships, grants, and student loans. At the university, the average federal grant comes to be around $5,376, whereas the financial aid is $33,204. The students at the university are provided with state aid and institutional aid. The state aid stands at $3,805, while the institutional aid is $33,204. The need-based scholarships awarded to students admitted to Southern Methodist University amount to $5,991,077 per annum. Meanwhile, the total non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded in a year total $66,585,983.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Southern Methodist University (SMU)

How hard is it to get into Southern Methodist University (SMU)?

Southern Methodist University (SMU) is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 63.4%. Strong applicants typically have above-average test scores, a rigorous course load, and compelling extracurricular activities.

How much does Southern Methodist University (SMU) cost?

Tuition at Southern Methodist University (SMU) is approximately $67,040 per year before financial aid. Room, board, fees, and personal expenses add to the total cost of attendance. Most students receive scholarships or financial aid that reduces the net price.

How many students attend Southern Methodist University (SMU)?

Southern Methodist University (SMU) enrolls approximately 7,277 students across its programs.

What is the graduation rate at Southern Methodist University (SMU)?

The graduation rate at Southern Methodist University (SMU) is 84%, reflecting the percentage of students who complete their degree within the standard timeframe.

What is the student-faculty ratio at Southern Methodist University (SMU)?

The student-faculty ratio at Southern Methodist University (SMU) is 11:1, meaning students typically have good access to faculty for mentoring, research, and smaller class experiences.

What SAT and ACT scores do I need for Southern Methodist University (SMU)?

Southern Methodist University (SMU) typically admits students with SAT scores in the range of 670-740 (Reading) and 670-750 (Math) and ACT composite scores of 30-34. Check the admissions office for the most current testing requirements and whether test-optional policies apply.

Is Southern Methodist University (SMU) a public or private university?

Southern Methodist University (SMU) is a private not-for-profit institution.

When is the application deadline for Southern Methodist University (SMU)?

Application deadlines at Southern Methodist University (SMU) vary by program. Early Decision and Early Action applicants typically submit in November, while Regular Decision deadlines fall in early January. Always check the official admissions website for the current cycle's dates.

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