Southern Methodist University

Basic Information

Type Private
Geographical Reach National
Religious Affiliation United Methodist
Population 5,500,000

Weather

Comfortable Days 95 (20%)
Sunshine Hours 2,750 (74%)
Days Without Precipitation 283 (90% 🏖️)

Demographics

Total Undergraduates 7,414
Men / Women 49% / 51%
From State 42%
From Region 3%
Athletes 428 (6.0%)

Racial/Ethnic

White 56%
Hispanic 18%
Asian 8%
Black 6%
Mixed 5%
International 4%
Native American 0%

Schools & Majors

⇅ Ranked Trends Degrees Male White Asian Black Hispanic Intl Earnings Earn % Earn z ROI Employment Debt-to-Earn Accept SAT p25 SAT p75
Cox School of Business 498 55% 63% 11% 2% 14% 2% $129,179 100 +1.56 98 92%
Accounting 67 — 37% 58% 12% 1% 21% 0% $105,082 87 +1.17 90 98% — — — —
Business Analytics 22 — 59% 50% 5% 0% 27% 9% $115,125 92 +1.30 95 — — — — —
Finance 261 — 71% 63% 14% 2% 11% 3% $152,081 97 +1.83 100 93% — — — —
Financial Planning — — — — — — — — $152,081 97 +1.83 100 93% — — — —
Management 33 — 42% 61% 12% 3% 21% 0% $113,911 93 +1.89 94 85% — — — —
Management and Leadership 22 — 27% 82% 5% 0% 9% 0% $113,911 93 +1.89 94 85% — — — —
Marketing 64 — 17% 61% 8% 8% 11% 3% $96,312 94 +1.46 84 91% — — — —
Real Estate Finance 29 — 72% 83% 0% 3% 7% 0% $90,899 47 -0.20 78 — — — — —
⇅ Ranked Trends Degrees Male White Asian Black Hispanic Intl Earnings Earn % Earn z ROI Employment Debt-to-Earn Accept SAT p25 SAT p75
Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences 822 44% 55% 11% 6% 17% 4% $90,058 89 +1.34 77 96%
Chemistry 9 — 22% 44% 33% 0% 11% 0% $56,275 3 -1.48 7 84% — — — —
Earth Sciences 9 — 44% 56% 11% 0% 22% 0% $66,557 60 +0.13 26 — — — — —
Mathematics 24 +2 54% 46% 17% 0% 29% 8% $137,370 93 +1.96 99 91% — — — —
Physics 5 — 20% 40% 0% 0% 20% 20% $91,449 77 +0.57 79 — — — — —
Statistical Science 19 +2 63% 42% 32% 0% 26% 0% $110,908 63 +0.07 93 95% — — — —
Biochemistry 9 — 44% 22% 44% 11% 0% 11% $78,143 74 +0.59 57 — — — — —
Biological Sciences 86 +3 21% 53% 20% 7% 10% 2% $85,276 97 +2.18 71 100% — — — —
Exercise Science 25 — 28% 68% 12% 0% 16% 4% $78,336 97 +1.93 57 — — — — —
Health and Society 14 +7 7% 50% 21% 7% 7% 0% $77,780 82 +0.64 56 — — — — —
Economics 255 +7 73% 59% 9% 4% 15% 4% $107,781 70 +0.37 91 94% — — — —
Chinese — — — — — — — — $84,777 100 +2.38 70 — — — — —
Creative Writing 4 +1 25% 50% 0% 25% 25% 0% $71,318 98 +2.31 39 — — — — —
English 14 +1 29% 71% 7% 7% 0% 0% $73,618 98 +2.59 45 96% — — — —
French 10 +2 50% 50% 0% 0% 20% 10% $85,553 100 +2.45 71 97% — — — —
French Area Studies 2 — 50% 50% 50% 0% 0% 0% $74,564 94 +1.47 48 — — — — —
German 1 — 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% $84,545 99 +2.36 70 — — — — —
History 35 +3 69% 66% 3% 9% 20% 0% $80,215 95 +2.28 62 83% — — — —
Individualized Studies in the Liberal Arts 31 +1 52% 58% 3% 3% 26% 6% $96,934 99 +3.80 84 100% — — — —
Interdisciplinary Studies 1 — 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $80,800 97 +2.25 63 — — — — —
Italian 1 — 100% 0% 0% 0% 100% 0% $85,553 100 +2.45 71 97% — — — —
Medieval and Renaissance Studies 1 — 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $74,729 94 +1.74 48 — — — — —
Philosophy 13 +3 77% 62% 8% 15% 15% 0% $66,420 72 +0.38 26 94% — — — —
Religious Studies 5 +3 0% 80% 0% 0% 20% 0% $69,171 98 +2.26 33 — — — — —
Russian 1 — 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $84,656 99 +2.37 70 — — — — —
Spanish 12 +1 25% 50% 0% 0% 42% 0% $85,553 100 +2.45 71 97% — — — —
Anthropology 4 +3 25% 75% 25% 0% 0% 0% $67,948 91 +1.00 30 100% — — — —
International Studies 14 +1 21% 50% 0% 7% 29% 7% $90,610 96 +0.93 78 95% — — — —
International Studies and Policy 13 +11 31% 23% 23% 23% 15% 0% $66,456 35 -0.33 26 96% — — — —
Political Science 49 +4 31% 61% 6% 6% 22% 2% $90,176 92 +1.32 78 96% — — — —
Psychology 125 +8 13% 55% 9% 6% 17% 5% $71,906 98 +2.56 41 100% — — — —
Public Policy 14 +10 14% 36% 21% 14% 29% 0% $66,456 35 -0.42 26 96% — — — —
Sociology 17 +1 29% 35% 6% 24% 18% 0% $57,192 58 +0.03 8 — — — — —
⇅ Ranked Trends Degrees Male White Asian Black Hispanic Intl Earnings Earn % Earn z ROI Employment Debt-to-Earn Accept SAT p25 SAT p75
Lyle School of Engineering 177 69% 45% 14% 8% 15% 10% $129,074 100 +1.01 98 97%
Civil Engineering 8 — 100% 38% 38% 12% 12% 0% $101,285 92 +1.28 88 — — — — —
Computer Engineering 2 — 50% 50% 0% 0% 50% 0% $119,870 69 +0.13 96 — — — — —
Electrical Engineering 2 — 50% 50% 0% 0% 0% 0% $95,172 4 -1.03 83 100% — — — —
Engineering 8 — 88% 38% 0% 0% 25% 25% $103,274 70 +0.36 89 — — — — —
Environmental Engineering 3 — 33% 33% 0% 33% 0% 33% $91,014 85 +0.77 79 — — — — —
Mechanical Engineering 40 — 60% 60% 8% 5% 10% 2% $110,168 92 +1.38 93 97% — — — —
Computer Science 91 — 74% 41% 19% 9% 16% 11% $145,726 79 +0.61 99 97% — — — —
Management Science 23 — 57% 43% 9% 9% 17% 17% $123,423 97 +2.38 97 97% — — — —
⇅ Ranked Trends Degrees Male White Asian Black Hispanic Intl Earnings Earn % Earn z ROI Employment Debt-to-Earn Accept SAT p25 SAT p75
Meadows School of the Arts 344 24% 58% 7% 7% 19% 3% $67,708 36 +0.69 29 97%
Advertising — — — — — — — — $73,938 43 -0.28 46 94% — — — —
Advertising and Marketing Communications 47 +4 21% 68% 4% 0% 13% 9% $88,044 80 +0.81 75 100% — — — —
Communication Studies 35 +6 0% 60% 3% 3% 26% 0% $73,938 88 +1.13 46 94% — — — —
Corporate Communication and Public Affairs 52 +6 19% 65% 2% 4% 19% 2% $88,044 92 +1.50 75 100% — — — —
Journalism 32 +13 16% 66% 6% 12% 12% 0% $62,157 52 -0.02 16 96% — — — —
Public Relations 29 +8 7% 48% 3% 10% 34% 0% $88,044 92 +1.50 75 100% — — — —
Physical Education 13 — 62% 46% 0% 15% 15% 23% $72,425 96 +1.81 42 — — — — —
Art History 11 +1 27% 73% 9% 0% 18% 0% $48,133 41 -0.29 3 91% — — — —
Communication Design 20 +2 40% 40% 10% 10% 30% 5% $67,621 99 +2.23 29 95% — — — —
Dance 18 — 11% 56% 0% 22% 6% 0% $49,216 86 +0.82 3 100% — — — —
Film and Media Arts 20 +1 50% 55% 15% 10% 15% 5% $46,527 38 -0.37 2 96% — — — —
Music 18 — 50% 56% 28% 0% 11% 0% $35,047 7 -1.26 1 95% — — — —
Music Composition 1 +2 100% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $35,047 7 -1.26 1 96% — — — —
Music Education 6 — 17% 67% 0% 17% 17% 0% $69,454 100 +2.44 34 — — — — —
Music Performance 6 +1 50% 17% 50% 0% 17% 0% $35,047 7 -1.26 1 96% — — — —
Music Therapy 1 — 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $71,892 100 +2.70 41 — — — — —
Piano Performance 2 — 50% 50% 50% 0% 0% 0% $35,047 7 -1.26 1 96% — — — —
Studio Art 17 — 12% 47% 12% 6% 24% 0% $48,133 59 +0.14 3 91% — — — —
Theatre 14 — 50% 50% 0% 7% 21% 7% $34,432 7 -1.16 1 88% — — — —
Voice Performance 2 +1 50% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $35,047 7 -1.26 1 96% — — — —
⇅ Ranked Trends Degrees Male White Asian Black Hispanic Intl Earnings Earn % Earn z ROI Employment Debt-to-Earn Accept SAT p25 SAT p75
Simmons School of Education and Human Development 98 58% 59% 1% 9% 22% 2% $82,389 78 +2.26 66 97%
Sport Management 94 — 61% 59% 1% 10% 22% 2% $83,002 98 +2.30 67 97% — — — —
Educational Studies 4 — 0% 75% 0% 0% 25% 0% $67,989 95 +1.52 30 — — — — —

Financial

Tuition & Fees $74,323
ROI Percentile 86th

Retention & Graduation

Full-Time Retention 90%
4-Year Graduation Rate 76%
6-Year Graduation Rate 84%
Transfer-Out Rate 10%

Earnings by Major Category

Each major category's degree-weighted estimated median 5-year earnings at this college, expressed as a z-score against the national degree-weighted distribution for that category. 0 is the national average. The shaded band between +1.28 and −1.28 marks the central 80% of the national distribution (10th–90th percentile).

Academics

⇅ % Degrees Male White Asian Black Hispanic Intl Earnings Earn % Earn z ROI Employment Debt-to-Earn
Business & Economics 47.3% 917 59% 62% 9% 3% 15% 3% $116,243 94 +1.28 95 94% —
Social Sciences 19.8% 384 16% 55% 7% 8% 20% 2% $76,620 94 +1.44 53 98% —
Arts 7.0% 136 35% 53% 12% 8% 17% 2% $47,821 31 +0.12 3 94% —
Humanities 6.8% 131 50% 61% 4% 6% 21% 2% $82,285 99 +2.50 66 93% —
Life & Natural Sciences 4.9% 95 23% 51% 22% 7% 9% 3% $84,600 98 +2.03 70 100% —
Computer Science 4.7% 91 74% 41% 19% 9% 16% 11% $145,726 86 +0.61 99 97% —
Physical Sciences & Math 3.4% 66 48% 45% 21% 0% 24% 5% $105,559 90 +0.59 90 91% —
Engineering 3.2% 63 67% 52% 10% 6% 13% 6% $107,084 68 +1.09 91 97% —
Health Sciences 2.0% 39 21% 62% 15% 3% 13% 3% $78,136 55 +1.47 57 — —
Education 0.9% 17 47% 53% 0% 12% 18% 18% $71,381 98 +1.74 40 — —

Research R1

⇅ Research $ Rank Federal Industry $ PhDs Rank PhD students Postdocs
Physical Sciences & Math $13.9M #156 68% $0 15 #148 127 29
Humanities & Social Sciences $13.0M #135 11% $0 49 #105 47 1
Engineering $12.8M #176 30% $2.0M 19 #133 90 23
Education $10.7M #51 45% $0 40 #87 — —
Business & Economics $5.2M #100 7% $0 2 #225 28 —
Life & Natural Sciences $2.5M #240 72% $0.2M 7 #165 30 8
Computer Science $2.4M #181 14% $0 4 #152 46 3
Agriculture & Food Science $0 #318 — $0 — — — —
Health Sciences $0 #441 — $0 — — — —
Total $60.6M #190 36% $2.2M 136 #146 368 64

Expenditure and funding source: NSF HERD, FY2024. Degrees: IPEDS completions, 2023–24. Students and postdocs: NSF Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates, fall 2024, which covers science, engineering and selected health fields only. An em dash means the source does not report the figure, which is not the same as zero.

Sports NCAA D1

⇅ Athletes ▼ Revenue Expenses Net
Football 122 $45.3M $45.3M $0
Swimming & Diving 35 $2.1M $2.1M $0
Soccer 33 $2.9M $2.9M $0
Basketball 16 $16.7M $16.7M $0
Tennis 15 $1.7M $1.7M $0
Golf 10 $1.3M $1.3M $0
Total 231 $70.0M $70.0M $0
⇅ Athletes ▼ Revenue Expenses Net
Track & Field (combined) 59 $3.4M $3.4M $0
Rowing 45 $3.3M $3.3M $0
Equestrian 37 $4.4M $4.4M $0
Soccer 31 $3.1M $3.1M $0
Swimming & Diving 19 $2.4M $2.4M $0
Volleyball 14 $3.6M $3.6M $0
Basketball 13 $7.3M $7.3M $0
Tennis 8 $1.4M $1.4M $0
Golf 6 $1.6M $1.6M $0
Total 197 $30.6M $30.6M $0
⇅ Athletes ▼ Revenue Expenses Net
Football 122 $45.3M $45.3M $0
Soccer 64 $5.9M $5.9M $0
Track & Field (combined) 59 $3.4M $3.4M $0
Swimming & Diving 54 $4.5M $4.5M $0
Rowing 45 $3.3M $3.3M $0
Equestrian 37 $4.4M $4.4M $0
Basketball 29 $24.1M $24.1M $0
Tennis 23 $3.1M $3.1M $0
Golf 16 $3.0M $3.0M $0
Volleyball 14 $3.6M $3.6M $0
Total 428 $150.2M $150.2M $0

Source: U.S. Department of Education, Equity in Athletics Data Analysis. Each team's revenue and expenses are what the college attributes to it. The Total view's totals row is the department's grand total, which also includes money not attributed to any team; the Male and Female totals rows only add up their teams.

Admissions

Uses Common App Yes
Acceptance Rate 48%
Yield (non-ED) 15%
Early Decision 1 Nov 1
Early Action Nov 1
Regular Decision Jan 1
Early Decision 2 Jan 15

Acceptance Rates

In-State Out-of-State International
Regular Decision 47% 47% 47%
Early Decision 87% 87% 87%

This college’s Common Data Set does not break down admissions by applicant demographics, so in-state, out-of-state, and international applicants share one Regular Decision rate.

Early Action and Restrictive Early Action applicants are reported at the regular-decision rate.

Standardized Tests

Test Policy optional
Submitted Test Scores 25%
SAT Range 1340 – 1490
SAT Math Range 670 – 750
SAT RW Range 670 – 740