Southern Methodist University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Dallas, Texas · Private nonprofit · Moderately selective · CDS 2024-2025
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Southern Methodist University is a private nonprofit university in Dallas, Texas that admits about 63% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $40,892 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Finance and Financial Management Services, Economics and Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 84% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 8.0 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Southern Methodist University is a private institution located in Dallas, Texas with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Southern Methodist University admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 63%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1420 and an ACT composite around 33. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $40,892 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Southern Methodist University?
51% of enrolled students at Southern Methodist University had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.67, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What does Southern Methodist University weight in admissions?
Southern Methodist University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Class rank
- • Standardized test scores
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
SAT and ACT scores Southern Methodist University typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 670–750, with an EBRW midpoint near 700. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 30–34. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1340 |
| 50th percentile | 1420 |
| 75th percentile | 1480 |
| % submitting SAT | 15.5% |
| 25th percentile | 30 |
| 50th percentile | 32 |
| 75th percentile | 34 |
| % submitting ACT | 9.3% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 48.8% |
| Top 25% of class | 76.8% |
| Top 50% of class | 94.9% |
| % submitting class rank | 23.9% |
How much does Southern Methodist University actually cost?
Published tuition is $67,040 for in-state students and $67,040 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,064 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $40,892 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 13% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $61,880 |
| Room and board | $19,794 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $40,892 |
| Application fee | $60 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Southern Methodist University
| Regular deadline | January 15 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 1 |
| Offers Early Decision II | Yes |
| ED II deadline | January 15 |
| ED acceptance rate (all rounds) | 87% |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from Southern Methodist University?
These predict outcomes at Southern Methodist University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Southern Methodist University
The most popular undergraduate programs at Southern Methodist University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Finance and Financial Management Services, Economics and Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. Across all programs, Southern Methodist University confers roughly 1,031 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Finance and Financial Management Services program report a median income of about $131,515 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 290 | $131,515 |
| Economics | 160 | $96,927 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 120 | $76,143 |
| Psychology, General | 103 | $64,774 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 97 | $80,147 |
| Computer Science | 90 | $116,586 |
| Biology, General | 89 | $59,316 |
| Mathematics | 82 | $89,571 |
Is Southern Methodist University safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Southern Methodist University disclosed 58 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 8.0 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 2 violent offenses and 5 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Southern Methodist University?
About 50% of undergraduates at Southern Methodist University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 44% of men join a fraternity and 50% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Texas parents ask about
- Baylor University51% acceptance
- Texas Christian University44% acceptance
- University of Houston74% acceptance
- Texas State University89% acceptance
- University of North Texas72% acceptance
- Texas Tech University73% acceptance
- University of Texas at Arlington80% acceptance
- University of Texas at Dallas65% acceptance
Next steps for Southern Methodist University
Common questions parents ask about Southern Methodist University
What GPA do I need for Southern Methodist University?
51% of enrolled students at Southern Methodist University had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.67, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Southern Methodist University typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 670–750, with an EBRW midpoint near 700. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 30–34.
How much does Southern Methodist University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Southern Methodist University after grants and scholarships is $40,892 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $67,040. Budget against the net figure.
Is Southern Methodist University realistic for my child?
Southern Methodist University admits 63% of applicants, so 670–750 SAT Math is target range and below 670 is a reach. Then check the $40,892 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Southern Methodist University?
Southern Methodist University accepts about 63% of applicants out of roughly 15,245 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is Southern Methodist University test-optional?
Yes. Southern Methodist University is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Southern Methodist University?
About 84% of students at Southern Methodist University graduate within six years, and 76% finish in four years. 91% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Southern Methodist University?
Southern Methodist University's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 87%, compared with its overall rate of 63%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Southern Methodist University look for in applicants?
Southern Methodist University rates course rigor, GPA, the application essay and recommendations as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Southern Methodist University a public or private school, and where is it located?
Southern Methodist University is a private nonprofit institution located in Dallas, Texas.
What are the most popular majors at Southern Methodist University?
The largest undergraduate majors at Southern Methodist University by annual graduates are Finance and Financial Management Services, Economics and Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. The school awards about 1,031 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Southern Methodist University safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Southern Methodist University reported 58 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 8.0 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Southern Methodist University?
At Southern Methodist University, 50% of undergraduates live on campus, 44% of men are in fraternities, 50% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Southern Methodist University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers