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Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist University is a private nonprofit university in a large suburb of the Dallas, TX metro with 7,115 students and a 63% acceptance rate.

Dallas, Texas · Private nonprofit · Suburb, large · 7,115 students · R1 research university

NCAA Division I · ACCEarly action Nov 1

Admission rate

63%

of applicants admitted

SAT average

1,428

combined, admitted students

ACT, middle half

30–34

25th to 75th percentile

Average net price

$40,892

per year, after grants

Graduation rate

84%

within 6 years

Freshman retention

90%

return for sophomore year

Median earnings

$78,354

10 years after entry

Students

7,115

total enrollment

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS) · data snapshot October 2, 2026 · Updated October 2, 2026

First-year deadlines, 2026–27

PlanDeadline
Early action
Apply early, hear early, not binding.		November 1, 2026
Early decision
Apply early, hear early, and you must enroll if admitted. Binding.		November 1, 2026
Early decision II
A second, later early decision round. Also binding.		January 15, 2027
Regular decision
The standard deadline, with answers in spring. Not binding.		January 15, 2027

Plans are listed in calendar order. What the plans mean

Source: smu.edu · checked September 30, 2026

What families actually pay

Average yearly net price after grants, all students, by family income

$0–30,000$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

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, College Scorecard · data snapshot October 2, 2026

AP credit

Most-taken exams, lowest score that earns credit
ExamMin scoreSouthern Methodist University courseCredits
Calculus AB43 hours MATH 1337 Quantitative Reasoning (QR) Foundation
Calculus BC46 hours MATH 1338 Quantitative Reasoning (QR) Foundation
Biology44 hours BIOL 1302/BIOL 1102 Exploring Science (ES) Breadth
Chemistry54 hours CHEM 1303/CHEM 1113 Exploring Science (ES) Breadth
Physics 143 hours SCI 10XX Exploring Science (ES) Breadth
Psychology4
3 hours PSYC 1300 Social and Behavioral Sciences…3 hours PSYC 1300 Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) Breadth
Statistics43 hours STAT 2331 Quantitative Reasoning (QR) Foundation
Computer Science A43 hours CS 1341 None
Show all 33 exams and every score level
ExamMin scoreCourseCredits
Calculus AB43 hours MATH 1337 Quantitative Reasoning (QR) Foundation
Calculus BC46 hours MATH 1338 Quantitative Reasoning (QR) Foundation
Biology44 hours BIOL 1302/BIOL 1102 Exploring Science (ES) Breadth
Chemistry54 hours CHEM 1303/CHEM 1113 Exploring Science (ES) Breadth
Physics 143 hours SCI 10XX Exploring Science (ES) Breadth
Psychology4
3 hours PSYC 1300 Social and Behavioral Sciences…3 hours PSYC 1300 Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) Breadth
Statistics43 hours STAT 2331 Quantitative Reasoning (QR) Foundation
Computer Science A43 hours CS 1341 None
Macroeconomics43 hours ECO 1312 Quantitative Applications (QA) P&E
Microeconomics43 hours ECO 1311 Quantitative Applications (QA) P&E
World History: Modern43 hours HUM 10YY Historical Contexts (HC) Breadth
Environmental Science43 hours GEOL 1315 Exploring Science (ES) Breadth
Physics 243 hours SCI 10YY Exploring Science (ES) Breadth
European History46 hours HIST 20XX,HIST 20YY Historical Contexts (HC) Breadth
Human Geography43 hours HUM 10XX None
Spanish Language and Culture4
Computer Science Principles43 hours CS 10XX None
Art History4
6 hours ARHS 1303, ARHS 1304 Historical Contexts…6 hours ARHS 1303, ARHS 1304 Historical Contexts (HC) Breadth
Music Theory43 hours MUTH 10XX None
African American Studies43 hours ETST 10XX Human Diversity (HD) P&E
American4
3 hours PLSC 1320 Social and Behavioral Sciences…3 hours PLSC 1320 Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) Breath and Civics and Individual Ethics (CIE) P&E
Art4
3 hours ASDR 1300/ASPH/ASPT 1300 (student’s…3 hours ASDR 1300/ASPH/ASPT 1300 (student’s choice) Creativity and Aesthetics (CA) Breadth
Comparative4
3 hours PLSC 1340 Social and Behavioral Sciences…3 hours PLSC 1340 Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) Breath and Civics and Individual Ethics (CIE) P&E
English Language/C or Literature/C46 hours WRTR 10XX, WRTR 10YY None
French Language and Culture4
German Language and Culture4
Italian Language and Culture4
Japanese Language/Culture4
Latin4
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism4
3 hours PHYS 1304 Quantitative Applications (QA)…3 hours PHYS 1304 Quantitative Applications (QA) P&E Exploring Science (ES) Breadth
Physics C: Mechanics4
3 hours PHYS 1303 Quantitative Applications (QA)…3 hours PHYS 1303 Quantitative Applications (QA) P&E Exploring Science (ES) Breadth
Precalculus43 hours MATH 1304 None
U.S. History4
6 hours HIST 20XX, HIST 20YY Historical Contexts…6 hours HIST 20XX, HIST 20YY Historical Contexts (HC) Breadth

Source: smu.edu · checked September 19, 2026

Biggest majors

MajorGraduates
Finance280
Economics172
Psychology130
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management130
Computer Science85
Biology/Biological Sciences77
Marketing/Marketing Management72
Accounting56
Show the other 56 majors
Political Science and Government55
Mechanical Engineering50
Advertising50
Office Management and Supervision45
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other39
Cinematography and Film/Video Production37
Organizational Communication36
Statistics33
Communication and Media Studies, Other33
Public Relations/Image Management32
Real Estate32
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts31
Journalism29
Business Administration and Management28
History25
Management Science24
Operations Research23
Philosophy23
Spanish Language and Literature21
Mathematics20
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other16
Civil Engineering15
English Language and Literature15
Biochemistry15
Education14
Public Policy Analysis14
International Policy Analysis14
Fine/Studio Arts14
Music14
Dance13
French Language and Literature12
Electrical and Electronics Engineering12
Design and Applied Arts, Other11
Sociology10
International/Globalization Studies9
Anthropology9
Geology/Earth Science8
Chemistry8
Creative Writing8
Music Teacher Education8
Music Performance6
Art History, Criticism and Conservation6
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering4
Religion/Religious Studies4
Computer Engineering3
Music Theory and Composition3
Music Therapy/Therapist3
Keyboard Instruments2
French Studies1
Communication1
Electrical and Computer Engineering1
German Language and Literature1
Italian Language and Literature1
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other1
Physics1
Voice and Opera1

Bachelor’s graduates, first major, most recent year · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS · data snapshot October 2, 2026

Ranked programs

Where Southern Methodist University ranks in the top 25 on our top-programs lists, best rank first. How we rank programs

Scholarships

Amounts and eligibility change; check the college’s page for current details.

Sports and campus life

Men’s varsity · NCAA Division I, ACC

Basketball, Football, Golf, Soccer, Swimming and Diving (combined), Tennis

Women’s varsity · NCAA Division I, ACC

Basketball, Equestrian, Golf, Rowing, Soccer, Swimming and Diving (combined), Tennis, Track and Field and Cross Country (combined), Volleyball

ROTC

Air Force, Army

Faith groups

BYX, Cru, InterVarsity, Newman Connection

Also

Honors college, Study abroad

Greek life

38% of men in fraternities · 44% of women in sororities · 41% of undergraduates overall (Common Data Set 2024–25)

Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education athletics data (EADA), Common Data Set (Greek life), smucru.org · checked September 4, 2026 · data snapshot October 2, 2026

The place

Setting

Suburb, large

Federal locale classification

Metro area

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX

8,344,032 people

Big-city metro (1 million+)

Yes

More about the place

Nearest airport

Dallas Love Field (DAL)

Nearest hub airport

Dallas Love Field (DAL)

Walkability

EPA walkability index 14.8 of 20

Elevation

589 ft

Time zone

Central

January low

38°F

July high

97°F

Annual snowfall

1.7 in

Days at 90°F or higher

108 per year

One-bedroom fair market rent

$1,261 per month

Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education (IPEDS locale), U.S. Census metro estimates, NOAA climate normals, HUD fair market rents, EPA walkability · data snapshot October 2, 2026

Colleges nearby

Straight-line distance between campuses

Similar colleges

Private nonprofit, suburban campus, NCAA Division I, similar size