Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit · offers Graduate degrees
63%Acceptance rate
$40,892Average net price / year
84%Graduation rate
$78,354Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$19,500Median debt at graduation
7,277Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $67,040
- Total cost of attendance
- $85,606
- Room & board
- $19,064
- Books & supplies
- $800
- Average net price
- $40,892
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $23,544
- $30–48k
- $20,038
- $48–75k
- $24,152
- $75–110k
- $33,477
- $110k+
- $58,213
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 63.4%
- Average SAT
- 1428
- SAT reading (25–75%)
- 670–740
- SAT math (25–75%)
- 670–750
- ACT composite (25–75%)
- 30–34
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 84%
- First-year retention
- 91%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $65,556
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $78,354
- Median debt (graduates)
- $19,500
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 13%
- Students with federal loans
- 21%
Programs: what graduates earn
61 of 182 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Doctoral degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 26 | $106,889 | $67,969 |
First professional degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | 221 | $101,456 | $145,569 |
Graduate certificate
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Communications | 52 | $58,113 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 7,277
- Graduate students
- 5,577
- Part-time
- 2%
- Women / men
- 51% / 49%
- White
- 56%
- Hispanic
- 18%
- Black
- 5%
- Asian
- 8%
- International
- 4%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 11:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $134,244 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 69%
- Accreditor
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Website
- www.smu.edu
- Also known as
- SMU
Most popular fields
- Communication & Journalism – 10% of degrees
- Computer & Information Sciences – 5% of degrees
- Engineering – 4% of degrees
- Liberal Arts & General Studies – 2% of degrees
- Biological Sciences – 6% of degrees
- Mathematics & Statistics – 2% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Southern Methodist University?
63.4% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1428 on the SAT.
How much does Southern Methodist University cost?
The average net price after grants is $40,892 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $67,040 and the full cost of attendance is $85,606.
How much do Southern Methodist University graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $78,354 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
84% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Other colleges in Dallas
| College | Net price | Acceptance | Graduation | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas College Dallas, TX · Public · 43,869 students |
$3,214 | — | 32% | $41,714 |
| University of North Texas at Dallas Dallas, TX · Public · 2,878 students |
$6,420 | 84% | 42% | — |
| Dallas Baptist University Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit · 2,403 students |
$28,516 | 89% | 57% | $56,807 |
| The College of Health Care Professions-Dallas Dallas, TX · Private for-profit · 720 students |
$27,411 | — | 63% | $38,922 |
| Paul Quinn College Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit · 620 students |
$12,709 | 40% | 27% | $29,288 |
| Parker University Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit · 607 students |
$29,135 | — | 74% | $42,091 |
| Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas Dallas, TX · Private for-profit · 588 students |
$38,488 | 100% | — | $34,657 |
| Dallas Institute of Funeral Service Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit · 454 students |
$22,825 | — | 33% | $45,866 |
| Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Dallas Dallas, TX · Private for-profit · 415 students |
$21,797 | — | 69% | $26,885 |
| Collectiv Hair Dressing Academy-Collectiv Academy-Dallas Dallas, TX · Private for-profit · 319 students |
$18,663 | — | — | $29,334 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.