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PrivateSuburban

Southern Methodist University

SMU

Dallas, Texas 75275-0221

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Campus Vibe

Business-focusedSuburbanSports culture

Strong graduate outcomes — known for business

Southern Methodist University is a private suburban institution in Dallas, Texas. The school is accessible to a wide range of students, with an average SAT of 1424.

A mid-sized campus of 7.1K undergraduates with a 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The suburban location offers a balance of campus life and nearby amenities.

83% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $78,354 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $41,778.

Established
1911
Motto
Latin: Veritas liberabit vos
Mascot
Peruna
Type
Private research university
Conference
Division I FBS
Division
Division I
61%Acceptance
1424SAT Avg
7,106Students
11:1Student:Faculty
83%Grad Rate
$78,354Earnings 10yr
$41,778Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Southern Methodist University Launches New Data Science Minor

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

Admissions

Acceptance Rate61.2%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1424

Reading & WritingMid: 700
660730
MathMid: 725
660750

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 33
3034

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

61.2%

Trend

SAT Avg

1424

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$64,460
Room & Board$18,230
Books & Supplies$800
Total Cost of Attendance$82,532
Average Net Price$41,778
Median Debt at Graduation$19,500
Monthly Payment (10yr)$207

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$30,165
$30–48K$16,581
$48–75K$24,746
$75–110K$37,145
$110K+$57,595

Financial Intel

Avg Net Price

$41,778

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

7800.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$15,311

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

51

Peer Average

37

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Programs (228)

Student Life

Student Body

Undergrads
7,106
Gender Split
51% / 49%
Women / Men
First Generation
16%
Pell Grant Recipients
12%

Race & Ethnicity

White 58%
Black 5%
Hispanic 16%
Asian 8%
Two+ 5%
Int'l 4%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate83.3%
Freshman Retention89.6%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$65,556
8 Years$77,799
10 Years$78,354

10-Year Earnings by Gender

Women
$69,600
Men
$87,500

Rankings

U.S. News
#88
Forbes
#103
Wall Street Journal
#29

More About This School

Rankings

History & Fun Facts

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

95Average

Estimated from TX state average + suburban adjustment

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 0"Sunny days: 240Rainy days: 85

Nearest Cities

Dallaspop. 1.3M
5 mi(9 min)
Austinpop. 960K
187 mi(324 min)
Houstonpop. 2.3M
229 mi(397 min)

Getting There

Visit Planning

Deadline Calendar

Southern Methodist University Application Checklist

Decision Notifications