Southern Methodist University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Dallas, Texas. It enrolls 7,277 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes90
Value17
Affordability4
Selectivity82
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 63.4%, Southern Methodist University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
63.4%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1340 – 1490
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
30 – 34
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Southern Methodist University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
13.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Southern Methodist University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $40,892 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$40,892
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
13%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
21%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$67,040
Room & Board (on-campus)
$19,064
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,314
Books & Supplies
$800
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,698
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,698
Total Cost of Attendance
$85,606
Application fee: $60 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$23,544
$30,001 – $48,000
$20,038
$48,001 – $75,000
$24,152
$75,001 – $110,000
$33,477
Over $110,000
$58,213
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$8,25025%percentile
$19,500Medianpercentile
$26,00075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,000
↓ $1,500
No Pell $13,000
↓ $6,500
Dependent students $15,000
↓ $4,500
Independent students $17,845
↓ $1,655
Female students $16,000
↓ $3,500
Male students $14,500
↓ $5,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,000, less than completers ($19,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
70% of full-time students who enrolled at Southern Methodist University graduate within six years, and 90% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
70%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
90%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Southern Methodist University earn a median of $78,354 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$78,354
Earning > $25K
86%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$69,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$87,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$82,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$71,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$78,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $17,900, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 88% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Southern Methodist University is home to 7,277 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
7,277
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
16%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 56.2%4,087
Hispanic 17.7%1,291
Asian 8.3%603
Black 5.5%398
Other 5.1%372
International 3.8%279
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Southern Methodist University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbDallas, Texas
Housing
Mostly residential3,251 beds on campus
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Southern Methodist University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
132 distinct programs across
26 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southern Methodist University is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$3.3B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$128,912
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
750 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
206
27%
$187,224
Associate Professors
140
19%
$129,517
Assistant Professors
88
12%
$138,027
Instructors
156
21%
$108,869
Lecturers
150
20%
$65,864
No Rank
10
1%
$97,387
Pros & Cons of Southern Methodist University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Southern Methodist University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Southern Methodist University is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Methodist University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Southern Methodist University.
Is Southern Methodist University hard to get into?
Admissions at Southern Methodist University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 63.4%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Southern Methodist University?
Southern Methodist University has an acceptance rate of 63.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Southern Methodist University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Southern Methodist University scored between 1340 and 1490 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Southern Methodist University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Southern Methodist University scored between 30 and 34 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Southern Methodist University cost?
The average net price after aid at Southern Methodist University is $40,892 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Southern Methodist University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $78,354 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $40,892 per year. That's roughly 1.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Southern Methodist University known for?
Southern Methodist University is best known for its programs in Management Sciences, Finance, Law. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Southern Methodist University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Southern Methodist University are $78,354, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Southern Methodist University accredited?
Yes. Southern Methodist University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Southern Methodist University?
Southern Methodist University enrolls 7,277 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Southern Methodist University?
Southern Methodist University graduates 70% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Southern Methodist University a public or private college?
Southern Methodist University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Southern Methodist University located?
Southern Methodist University is located in Dallas, Texas.
What programs does Southern Methodist University offer?
Southern Methodist University offers 132 distinct programs. The most popular include Management Sciences, Finance, Law.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Southern Methodist University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southern Methodist University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
American Colleges by the Numbers
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Higher education data
Net price
College enrollment
Acceptance rate
College ownership
Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
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College ROI
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Rankings That Feature Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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