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Southern Methodist University
Most applicants get into Southern Methodist University — 63.3% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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Southern Methodist University occupies suburban Dallas, TX — a private campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat. The school maintains its United Methodist affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Finance and Financial Management Services, where graduates median $133,852 four years out. Faculty pay averages $178,992 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 7,277 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 90.5% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1320 and 1480 — above the TX middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Southern Methodist University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Southern Methodist University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1320–1480 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Southern Methodist University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 660 | 700 | 730 |
| SAT Math | 660 | 710 | 750 |
| ACT Composite | 30 | 32 | 34 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Southern Methodist University received 15,092 applications and admitted 9,240 (61.2%), with 1,592 enrolling.
How Southern Methodist University compares
| Southern Methodist University | Texas median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 63.3% | 84.4% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $67,040 | $13,498 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $78,354 | $54,132 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Southern Methodist University student earns $78,354 — 45% above the Texas median of $54,132 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
Southern Methodist University lists tuition at $67,040 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Southern Methodist University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $67,040 as the ceiling, not the bill.
Southern Methodist University enrolls 7,277 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Southern Methodist University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
84.3% of Southern Methodist University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 29.4 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $67,040 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Southern Methodist University
| Bachelor's program | 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 |
Median earnings for these 14 Southern Methodist University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $78,354 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 55 additional Southern Methodist University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Southern Methodist University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1320–1480 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 63.3% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Southern Methodist University's acceptance rate?
61.2% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 9,240 admitted from 15,092 applicants.
How much does Southern Methodist University cost?
At Southern Methodist University, published tuition is $67,040 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Southern Methodist University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Southern Methodist University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $78,354 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
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: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.