
SMU, a nonprofit private institution, offers a variety of degree programs, allowing students to choose which major is right for them. Located in Dallas, TX, the campus offers a suburban setting for students to study in. The school's United Methodist affiliation is one of its defining characteristics and plays an important role within the school's curriculum. Enrollment at Southern Methodist University exceeds eleven thousand yearly.
A list of some of the more popular programs offered are:
- Legal Professions And Studies
- Social Sciences
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Psychology
Students applying for admission are required to submit an application, transcripts, records, test scores and any requested application essays, which will then be reviewed by admissions officials. Either the SAT or ACT exam must be taken in order to apply to Southern Methodist University. Scores between 27 to 31 on the ACT or 1180 to 1370 on the SAT are needed to increase your chances for getting accepted. 55% of students that apply are accepted to this school, of which 24 percent choose to attend. More information regarding admissions can be found at smu.edu.
The cost of undergraduate tuition is nearly $43,000, but may change per year. Students are encouraged to use the school's tuition calculator to better estimate their personal tuition costs. Housing may be available for those that want to live on-campus for around a cost of $9,200 annually. Students enrolled at Southern Methodist University may be eligible for aid which is usually grants and loans.
The SMU Mustangs participate in a number of athletic programs, within the NCAA organization. Sports available may include the following:
- Basketball (NCAA Division I-A)
- Track & Field (NCAA Division I-A)
- Football (NCAA Division I-A)
- Golf (NCAA Division I-A)
For a complete list of programs offered, enrollment information, admissions information, and more, please take a look at the school's website at http://www.smu.edu.
Admission Requirements & Details
The information regarding admissions below may give you an idea of the candidates SMU accepts. The details may include admissions application requirements and recommendations, as well as any AP or college credits that may be transferred.
College Credits Accepted
- Dual Credits
- AP Course Credits
Student Enrollment
Southern Methodist University has a total student population of about 12,000. The enrollment breakdown by academic level is 12% enrolling as graduate students and 55% as undergraduate students.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The items listed below are for informational purposes only and may not represent current tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Tuition is estimated to be around $47,000 per year for in-state and nonresident students
- For part-time students, charges are between $1,800-$2,100 per unit
- May provide a prepaid tuition option, which allows tuition to be purchased at current rates for enrollment at a future date
Financial Aid Details
The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.
Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
---|---|---|
Any Financial Aid | 73% | - |
Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 70% | $27,113 |
Receiving Student Loans | 25% | $10,785 |
Academics & Student Services
Student Services
To help students and recent graduates, Southern Methodist University may offer services including:- Classes offered on nights and weekends
- Remedial instructional courses
- Academic counseling for students
- Student employment
- Assistance to find work
- Day care
Graduation Rates
With a high graduation rate of around 79%, SMU is among the most successful schools in the area.
Number of Year to Graduate | Percent of Entering Class |
---|---|
Students Graduating in 4 Years | 67% |
Graduating in 5 Years | 11% |
Graduating in 6 Years | 2% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Art and Design Program
- Clinical Psychology (Ph.D.) Program
- Dance Program
- Law Program
- Music Program
- Theatre Program
- Theology (Ministry) Program
Intercollegiate Athletics
Southern Methodist University is a Member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with many of the sports being in the NCAA Division I-A classification. The most popular sports played are listed below:
- Basketball (372)
- Track and Field (372)
- Football (372)
- Golf
- Rowing
- Soccer
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Equestrian
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.

Get more information about the programs offered by Southern Methodist University by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biology (B, D)
- Biochemistry (B)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Finance (B, M)
- Business Administration (B, M)
- Accounting (B, M)
- Advertising and Marketing (B, M)
- Entrepreneurship (M)
- Real Estate (B, M)
- Financial Planning (B)
- Information Systems
- Taxation
- Insurance
Communication Technology
- Animation (C, M)
Communications and Journalism
- Public Relations (B)
- Advertising (B, M)
- Journalism (B)
- Communication and Media Studies (B)
Computer and Information Sciences
- Computer Systems Analyst (M)
- Computer Science (B, D, M)
- Computer Information Technology Services Administration and Management (M)
Education
- Music Teacher Education (B, M)
- Bilingual and Multilingual Education (M)
- Education, Teaching Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities (C)
Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering (B, D, M)
- Systems Engineering (M)
- Electrical Engineering (B, D, M)
- Operations Research (B, M)
- Computer Engineering (B, D, M)
- Civil Engineering (B, D, M)
- Environmental and Environmental Health Engineering (B, M)
- Engineering (D, M)
- Software Engineering (D, M)
- Manufacturing Engineer (M)
- Engineering Science
Engineering Technology
- Telecommunications Technology (M)
- Engineering Management (D, M)
English Language and Literature
- English (B, D, M)
- Creative Writing (B)
Ethnic Cultural and Gender Studies
- Latin American Studies
- Italian Studies
- African-American Black Studies
- Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American Studies
- Women's Studies
Family and Consumer Sciences
- Facilities Planning and Management
Foreign Languages and Literature
- Spanish Language and Literature (B)
- French Language and Literature (B)
- German Language and Literature (B)
- Italian Language and Literature
Health and Clinical Professions
History
- History (B, D, M)
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution (C, M)
- International and Global Studies (B)
- Sustainability Studies (M)
- Medieval and Renaissance Studies (B, M)
Legal Professions and Studies
- Law (D)
- Programs for Foreign Lawyers (M)
- Tax Law, Taxation (M)
- United States Law, Legal Studies, Jurisprudence (D, M)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (B, C, M)
- General Studies (B)
- Humanistic Studies
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (B)
- Statistics (B, D, M)
- Computational Mathematics (M)
Natural Resources and Conservation
- Environmental Studies (B)
- Environmental Science (B, M)
Philosophy and Religious Studies
- Philosophy (B)
- Religious Studies (B, D, M)
Physical Sciences
- Chemistry (B, D, M)
- Geology (B, M)
- Geophysics and Seismology (B, D, M)
- Physics (B, D, M)
Psychology
- Psychology (B)
- Clinical Psychology (D)
Public Administration and Social Services
- International Policy Analysis (B)
- Public Policy (B)
Recreation and Fitness Studies
- Sports Management (B, M)
Social Sciences
- Economics (B, D, M)
- Political Science (B)
- Sociology (B)
- Anthropology (B, D, M)
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (M)
- Applied Economics (C, M)
- Social Science
Theology and Religious Vocations
- Ministry (M)
- Theology (D, M)
- Religious and Sacred Music (M)
Visual and Performing Arts
- Drama and Theatre Arts (B, M)
- Cinematography And Film (B)
- Arts Management (M)
- Dance (B)
- Fine Arts and Studio Arts (B, M)
- Music Performance (B, C, M)
- Art History (B, M)
- Music (B)
- Voice and Opera (B, M)
- Design and Applied Arts (B)
- Music Theory and Composition (M)
- Conducting (M)
- Piano and Organ (B, M)
- Music Pedagogy (M)
- Film Studies
- Music History, Literature, and Theory
Other 4-Year Private Colleges
The list of schools below have been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Southern Methodist University.
- The University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, TX (10 miles away)
- The University of Texas at Arlington in Arlington, TX (21 miles away)
- University of North Texas in Denton, TX (33 miles away)
- Texas A&M University - Commerce in Commerce, TX (58 miles away)
- Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, OK (84 miles away)
Also, check out our college lists below, which can help students compare schools to one another:
- Get a list of all the colleges in Texas
- See all private colleges in Texas
- Browse our detailed list of Bible & Christian Colleges in Texas
Data Disclaimer
Information displayed on this page has been obtained from Institution, State, and Federal data sources, including the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Survey 2010-2016. Information should be solely used for informational purposes only and may not be accurate for the current year. Contact Southern Methodist University for official up-to-date information.