Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX
Southern Methodist University, located in Dallas, Texas, is a prestigious private institution known for its strong academic programs, vibrant campus life, and engaged community. With a history dating back to 1911, SMU has flourished into a leading research university that offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across seven schools and colleges. The university prides itself on providing a liberal arts education foundation, combined with professional preparation, creating well-rounded individuals ready to take on the challenges of today's world.
SMU offers students a diverse and inclusive community, embracing a culture of intellectual curiosity and innovation. The university is known for its commitment to fostering leadership, critical thinking, and global perspectives. Students have access to world-class faculty who are experts in their fields and renowned for their research, ensuring a high-quality educational experience. Additionally, SMU's vibrant campus life offers numerous extracurricular activities, including over 200 student organizations, NCAA Division I athletics, and a thriving arts scene, providing students with ample opportunities to explore their passions and develop new skills.
Located in the heart of Dallas, SMU benefits from its diverse and dynamic surroundings. The city offers endless career opportunities, internships, and cultural experiences, enabling students to translate their classroom knowledge into real-world applications. SMU's strong ties to the Dallas business, cultural, and political communities provide students with unique networking opportunities and connections that can lead to internships, fellowships, and career placements. With its commitment to academic excellence, community engagement, and global innovation, SMU is a top choice for students seeking a well-rounded, impactful education experience.
Southern Methodist University is a private university located in Dallas, TX and set in an urban environment. It has a campus size of 234 acres. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 52%. The freshman retention rate at Southern Methodist University is 90% and the six-year graduation rate is 82%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is July 31. To find out more about what Southern Methodist University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
7,056
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
52%
Acceptance Rate
$57,212
Tuition
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
82%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. How difficult is it to get admitted to Southern Methodist University and what are the admission requirements?
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 8,439 in 2023. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 17% and ACT scores 21%. 72.8% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 26.1% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 1.1% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 90.06, 9.65 between 24-29 and 0.29 in the range between 18-23.
The ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2023 was 32 while the average GPA was 3.71. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Southern Methodist University; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 709 and an average SAT Math score of 727.
Deadlines
The deadline for submitting applications to this school is July 31.
52%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Southern Methodist University was 90% in 2023, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 82%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2023, the institution had an enrollment of 12,053 students.
That year, the school had 55% of students coming from another state. There was a total of 7,056 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 292 international students. 269 students were accepted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 4,557 male and 4,727 female full-time students in 2023, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution. There were 1,174 full-time graduate male and 1,230 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2023, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 586, while the number of Afro-American students was 349. 1,024 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 327 identified with more than one race. The school also had 6 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 20 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 170 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Southern Methodist University that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Southern Methodist University? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition in 2023 was $57,212 for full-time domestic students. Southern Methodist University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2023 were obliged to pay additional fees in the amount of $7,248.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to take into consideration is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $800.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Southern Methodist University was $15,614 in 2023. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2023 totaled $11,470 for one academic year.
| Tuition | $ 57,212 |
| Room and Board | $ 15,614 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 800 |
| Total Expense | $ 73,626 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial support available to students. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid at Southern Methodist University.
According to the most recent data, 513 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students amounted to $48,408.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 1,948 students who received need-based financial aid of any kind. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 2,036. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $4,931,080, and state $3,033,487. The students of Southern Methodist University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $68,529,339, and external in the amount of $1,149,700.
$30,532
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
450 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2023. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 127 full-time freshman. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $73,849,836. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $2,370,562 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Southern Methodist University was 11:1: that means 11 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. According to the most recent information, there are 1,139 faculty members at this school. Out of that number, there were 667 male and 472 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Southern Methodist University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about social life at Southern Methodist University.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
There are 180 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 25 and female students 31. The most popular student organization is SPARC (Students Promoting Awareness, Responsibility, and Citizenship), followed by Residence Hall Association and Student Foundation. Other popular student organizations at this school are Student Senate and Program Council.
Students who have a talent for music can join the Southern Methodist University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. You have a passion for media and communication? Southern Methodist University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Southern Methodist University has a number of services important for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Southern Methodist University.
All in all, campus life at Southern Methodist University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Southern Methodist University.
Career Counselling
At Southern Methodist University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Southern Methodist University is located in Dallas, TX.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Southern Methodist University is 57,212 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Southern Methodist University is 52%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Southern Methodist University is 90%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.