Quad

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TXQuad's selectivityVery selective
Known forTop test scoresHigh earnersTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

6 in 10 applicants admitted

Southern Methodist admits about 6 in 10 applicants (63%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 72% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

63%

63%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityVery selective

Applied

15,245

Admitted

9,657

Yield

18%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1340–1490

10001600
ACT middle 50%

30–34

1836
Applications +29% since fall 2014 · admit rate 52% → 63%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 7,277 undergrads, where 13% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

7.3K

undergrads · larger than 84% of colleges

Diversity index

0.64

Pell Grant

13%

below the median

First generation

16%

below the median

Large suburbNCAA D-I FBS · Atlantic Coast ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.54 → 0.64 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Finance, General (13% of graduates). 11 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 68% of colleges. 69% of faculty are full-time. Spends $18,509 a year on instruction per student.

11 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 68% of colleges

Most popular major

Finance, General

13% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Finance and Financial Management Services

$133.9K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

69%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$18.5K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $60,825 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $36.5K more than the national median. The 67% who received grants paid $48,179 on average; the other 33% paid the full sticker price of $86,090.

29%

$60.8K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $36.5K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$86,090 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
37% · avg $29K
of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 29% of full price

Federal loans

21%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost rising · +10% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $78,354 ten years after enrolling, more than at 90% of colleges; 82% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 3.1 years of that salary.

82%

82%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$78.4K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$19.5K

≈ $207/month for 10 years

Retention

91%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 77% → 84% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 6% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid rose 10%, as grants covered less of it. Applications rose 29% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 52% to 63%.

  • Cost

    Rising

    +10% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +29%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 52% → 63%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.54 → 0.64

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

American University

62% admit · SAT 1370 · 7.3K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Syracuse University

49% admit · SAT 1360 · 15.5K undergrads

Similar scoresAlso private
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Emerson College

51% admit · SAT 1345 · 3.9K undergrads

Similar scoresAlso private
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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach

65% admit · SAT 1260 · 7.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso private
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

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    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    Southern Methodist University (2026)

    Southern Methodist University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 228246 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything