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Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist University is a private campus in suburban Dallas, TX. The school reports a United Methodist affiliation in its federal filings.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$30,165

family income
under $30k

$16,581

$30–48k

$24,746

$48–75k

$37,145

$75–110k

$57,595

over $110k

These figures don't always rise with income — aid formulas can make a higher bracket cheaper.

Average net price

$40,8922023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Southern Methodist University rose from $24,874 (2008) to $40,892 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$24,874
2009	$24,828
2010	$25,773
2011	$28,088
2012	$30,408
2013	$32,128
2014	$32,580
2015	$32,882
2016	$32,190
2017	$36,575
2018	$36,222
2019	$38,208
2020	$40,452
2021	$40,849
2022	$41,778
2023	$40,892

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$85,6062024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Southern Methodist University rose from $47,375 (2009) to $85,606 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$47,375
2010	$49,920
2011	$52,514
2012	$55,318
2013	$57,947
2014	$60,938
2015	$63,364
2016	$66,889
2017	$69,358
2018	$71,875
2019	$74,306
2020	$76,346
2021	$76,600
2022	$79,885
2023	$82,532
2024	$85,606

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2000	$19,620
2001	$20,796
2002	$21,942
2003	$23,588
2004	$25,358
2005	$26,880
2006	$28,630
2007	$30,880
2008	$33,170
2013	$43,800
2014	$45,940
2015	$48,190
2016	$50,358
2017	$52,498
2018	$54,492
2019	$56,560
2020	$58,540
2021	$60,236
2022	$61,980
2023	$64,460

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Southern Methodist University reports published tuition of $67,040 in this record. Southern Methodist University's $67,040 tuition excludes other attendance costs; aid can reduce the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

Southern Methodist University reports 7,277 undergraduate students. Enrollment is a headcount, not a measure of teaching access.

84.3% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Southern Methodist University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

84.3%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Southern Methodist University rose from 69.6% (entered 1991) to 84.3% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	69.6%
1992 cohort	69.9%
1993 cohort	71.1%
1994 cohort	71.2%
1995 cohort	72.9%
1996 cohort	70.3%
1997 cohort	71.7%
1998 cohort	71.3%
1999 cohort	71.5%
2000 cohort	74.2%
2001 cohort	71.1%
2002 cohort	74.5%
2003 cohort	76.7%
2004 cohort	74.4%
2005 cohort	75.3%
2006 cohort	79.5%
2007 cohort	79%
2008 cohort	77%
2009 cohort	78.9%
2010 cohort	78.8%
2011 cohort	80.5%
2012 cohort	78%
2013 cohort	81.2%
2014 cohort	81%
2015 cohort	82.4%
2016 cohort	82.3%
2017 cohort	83.3%
2018 cohort	84.3%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$15,125	$9,422
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$15,125	$9,000
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$14,250	$10,625
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$14,500	$10,500
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$13,950	$9,625
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$14,250	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$14,344	$4,375
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$14,375	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$13,625	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$14,500	$6,295
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$17,750	$7,750
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$18,619	$7,750
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$19,500	$7,246
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$21,500	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$22,125	$7,750
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$21,500	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$20,059	$10,577
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$19,500	$12,414
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$21,000	$12,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$20,006	$10,000
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$19,500	$7,000

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$65,556

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$77,799

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$78,354

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Southern Methodist University admitted 9,657 of 15,245 applicants in Fall 2024. The 63.3% rate describes that application pool.

63.3%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $64,460 tuition · 2023–24 7,277 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1340–14901600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

Southern Methodist University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Southern Methodist University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 670–740 and Math was 670–750 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1340–1490 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	670	700	740
SAT Math	670	720	750
ACT Composite	30	32	34

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Southern Methodist University received 15,245 applications and admitted 9,657 (63.3%), with 1,716 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

63.3%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Southern Methodist University's admission rate fell from 74.9% to 63.3%. The rate alone cannot explain the change. This describes Fall 2001 to Fall 2024.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	74.9%
Fall 2002	66.1%
Fall 2003	64.7%
Fall 2004	64.3%
Fall 2005	58.4%
Fall 2006	53.7%
Fall 2007	50.1%
Fall 2008	49.7%
Fall 2009	53%
Fall 2010	53.9%
Fall 2011	54.6%
Fall 2012	53.8%
Fall 2013	50.7%
Fall 2014	52.4%
Fall 2015	48.9%
Fall 2016	48.9%
Fall 2017	48.8%
Fall 2018	51.2%
Fall 2019	47.3%
Fall 2020	52.7%
Fall 2021	53.1%
Fall 2022	52.3%
Fall 2023	61.2%
Fall 2024	63.3%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1340–1490Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	1060	1270
Fall 2002	1090	1280
Fall 2003	1100	1300
Fall 2004	1100	1300
Fall 2005	1130	1330
Fall 2006	1140	1320
Fall 2007	1130	1330
Fall 2008	1150	1340
Fall 2009	1140	1340
Fall 2010	1140	1350
Fall 2011	1180	1370
Fall 2012	1190	1370
Fall 2013	1220	1390
Fall 2014	1220	1400
Fall 2015	1220	1410
Fall 2016	1220	1410
Fall 2017	1270	1440
Fall 2018	1280	1460
Fall 2019	1300	1480
Fall 2020	1250	1450
Fall 2021	1340	1510
Fall 2022	1370	1510
Fall 2023	1320	1480
Fall 2024	1340	1490

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

30–34Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2004	24	28
Fall 2005	23	29
Fall 2006	24	29
Fall 2007	25	29
Fall 2008	25	30
Fall 2009	25	30
Fall 2010	25	30
Fall 2011	27	31
Fall 2012	27	31
Fall 2013	27	31
Fall 2014	28	31
Fall 2015	28	32
Fall 2016	28	32
Fall 2017	28	32
Fall 2018	29	33
Fall 2019	29	33
Fall 2020	29	33
Fall 2021	31	34
Fall 2022	31	34
Fall 2023	30	34
Fall 2024	30	34

IPEDS Fall 2004–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

7,277Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Southern Methodist University rose from 6,026 (Fall 2002) to 7,277 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	6,026
Fall 2003	6,147
Fall 2004	6,090
Fall 2005	6,196
Fall 2006	6,199
Fall 2007	6,081
Fall 2008	6,172
Fall 2009	6,150
Fall 2010	6,116
Fall 2011	6,150
Fall 2012	6,175
Fall 2013	6,295
Fall 2014	6,340
Fall 2015	6,348
Fall 2016	6,487
Fall 2017	6,427
Fall 2018	6,448
Fall 2019	6,679
Fall 2020	6,793
Fall 2021	6,894
Fall 2022	7,044
Fall 2023	7,106
Fall 2024	7,277

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

91%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Southern Methodist University has held near 91% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	87%
Fall 2003 cohort	88%
Fall 2004 cohort	87%
Fall 2005 cohort	86%
Fall 2006 cohort	89%
Fall 2007 cohort	89%
Fall 2008 cohort	88%
Fall 2009 cohort	89%
Fall 2010 cohort	89%
Fall 2011 cohort	90%
Fall 2012 cohort	89%
Fall 2013 cohort	89%
Fall 2014 cohort	90%
Fall 2015 cohort	91%
Fall 2016 cohort	91%
Fall 2017 cohort	91%
Fall 2018 cohort	91%
Fall 2019 cohort	90%
Fall 2020 cohort	91%
Fall 2021 cohort	90%
Fall 2022 cohort	90%
Fall 2023 cohort	91%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Southern Methodist University

Faculty pay at Southern Methodist University averages $178,992 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes Southern Methodist University as a primarily residential campus of 7,277 undergraduates — and 90.5% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Southern Methodist University's SAT section-percentile sums are 1340–1490 — their midpoint is above the TX four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Southern Methodist University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Southern Methodist University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Southern Methodist University63.3%

Texas median84.5%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Southern Methodist University$67,040

Texas median$13,498

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Southern Methodist University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Southern Methodist University$78,354

Texas median$54,132

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Southern Methodist University, Texas and national reference values
Metric & basis	Southern Methodist University	Texas median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	63.3%	84.5%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$67,040	$13,498	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$78,354	$54,132	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Southern Methodist University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Southern Methodist University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 14 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Finance and Financial Management Services	$133,852
Computer Science	$126,590
Mathematics	$111,773
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$106,799
Accounting and Related Services	$103,675
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	$93,769
Economics	$91,701
Mechanical Engineering	$90,649
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication	$89,330
Marketing	$88,627
Biology, General	$78,466
Psychology, General	$72,136
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$62,838
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	$35,844

These 14 fields listed for Southern Methodist University measure earnings after completion. The $78,354 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 55 additional Southern Methodist University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Southern Methodist University report?

Southern Methodist University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1340–1490 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Southern Methodist University's acceptance rate?

63.3% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 9,657 admitted from 15,245 applicants.

How much does Southern Methodist University cost?

At Southern Methodist University, tuition is $67,040. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does Southern Methodist University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $78,354. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Texas

Southwestern Adventist University — 78.4% admitted
Saint Edward's University — 81.4% admitted
The University of Texas at Arlington — 79.9% admitted
The University of Texas at Dallas — 65.1% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.