Southern Methodist University (SMU) : Overview, Courses, Scholarships & Rankings
About Southern Methodist University
In the heart of Dallas, a tree lined campus pairs stately brick buildings with big city energy. Southern Methodist University is known for strong teaching across the arts, sciences, engineering, business, and public life. Courses skew discussion heavy, with room for lab work, studio time, and case based projects. Students tap bright libraries, collaborative labs and studios, a lively student center, tutoring and advising, and counseling and wellness services that actually get used.
Life here feels polished yet friendly. Game day gatherings along the Boulevard spark red and blue pride, while concerts, speakers, intramurals, and service groups keep weeks full. The career center and an active alumni network help line up Dallas internships and first jobs, with connections in finance, tech, design, media, and nonprofits. Off campus, the arts district, food scene, and neighborhood parks are close. Notable alumni include Laura Bush, Kathy Bates, and Doak Walker.
Key Institutional Details
Contact & Profile
Academic & Institutional
Academic Programs & Fields of Study
Southern Methodist University (SMU) offers 105 degree programs across 25 major academic fields, graduating approximately 4,048 students annually. The most popular fields by graduate volume are Business (8 programs, 1,191 graduates), Social Sciences (5 programs, 292 graduates), Law (4 programs, 284 graduates), Engineering (14 programs, 255 graduates) and Communication (6 programs, 223 graduates). Explore program details, award levels, and graduate demographics below.
Business (8 programs, 1,191 graduates)
Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management Science | 551 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
52.1301 |
| Finance, General | 280 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0801 |
| Accounting | 113 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52.0301 |
| Office Management and Supervision | 97 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52.0204 |
| Marketing Management | 72 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1401 |
| Real Estate | 32 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1501 |
| Business Administration and Management | 28 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0201 |
| Taxation | 18 |
|
Master's
|
52.1601 |
Social Sciences (5 programs, 292 graduates)
Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science Studies
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | 180 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.0601 |
| Political Science and Government | 62 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.1001 |
| Anthropology | 19 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
45.0201 |
| Econometrics and Quantitative Economics | 18 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
45.0603 |
| Sociology | 13 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.1101 |
Law (4 programs, 284 graduates)
Legal Studies, Jurisprudence and Professional Law Practice
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law | 246 |
|
Doctorate (P)
|
22.0101 |
| Foreign Law Programs | 27 |
|
Master's
|
22.0202 |
| American Legal Studies | 7 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
22.0203 |
| Tax Law and Taxation | 4 |
|
Master's
|
22.0211 |
Engineering (14 programs, 255 graduates)
Engineering Sciences and Applied Technology Solutions
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 57 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1901 |
| Telecommunications Engineering | 30 |
|
Master's
|
14.1004 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering | 28 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1001 |
| Civil Engineering | 27 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0801 |
| Operations Research | 26 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.3701 |
| Manufacturing Engineering | 24 |
|
Master's
|
14.3601 |
| Systems Engineering | 17 |
|
Master's
|
14.2701 |
| Software Engineering | 12 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0903 |
| Engineering | 11 |
|
Master's
|
14.9999 |
| Environmental Health Engineering | 9 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14.1401 |
| Computer Engineering | 6 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14.0901 |
| Computer Engineering | 6 |
|
Master's
|
14.0999 |
| General Engineering | 1 |
|
Master's
|
14.0101 |
| Electrical and Computer Engineering | 1 |
|
Bachelor's
|
14.4701 |
Communication (6 programs, 223 graduates)
Media Communications, Journalism and Public Relations
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising | 62 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
09.0903 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 41 |
|
Bachelor's
|
09.0199 |
| Organizational Communication | 41 |
|
Bachelor's
|
09.0901 |
| Public Relations and Image Management | 40 |
|
Bachelor's
|
09.0902 |
| Journalism | 38 |
|
Bachelor's
|
09.0401 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 1 |
|
Bachelor's
|
09.0100 |
Arts (13 programs, 191 graduates)
Fine Arts, Design Studies and Creative Performance
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cinematography and Film Production | 38 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0602 |
| Music Performance | 32 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
50.0903 |
| Theatre Arts | 31 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0501 |
| Studio Arts, General | 17 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50.0702 |
| Music | 14 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0901 |
| Dance | 13 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0301 |
| Applied Arts and Design | 12 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0499 |
| Fine and Studio Arts Management | 11 |
|
Master's
|
50.1002 |
| Art History and Conservation | 9 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50.0703 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 6 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50.0907 |
| Voice and Opera Performance | 4 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50.0908 |
| Music Theory and Composition | 3 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0904 |
| Conducting | 1 |
|
Master's
|
50.0906 |
Education (8 programs, 179 graduates)
Educational Sciences, Teaching Methods and Pedagogy
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education, General | 61 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
13.9999 |
| Urban Education and Leadership | 28 |
|
Master's
|
13.0410 |
| Higher Education Administration | 20 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
13.0406 |
| Superintendency and Educational Administration | 19 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
13.0411 |
| General Education | 16 |
|
Bachelor's
|
13.0101 |
| Educational Leadership and Administration | 16 |
|
Master's
|
13.0401 |
| Music Teacher Education | 16 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13.1312 |
| Bilingual and Multilingual Education | 3 |
|
Master's
|
13.0201 |
Psychology (3 programs, 158 graduates)
Psychological Sciences, Mental Health and Behavioral Studies
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Psychology | 140 |
|
Bachelor's
|
42.0101 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychology | 10 |
|
Master's
|
42.2804 |
| Experimental Psychology | 8 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
42.2799 |
Computer & IT (2 programs, 153 graduates)
Computer Science, Information Technology and Cybersecurity
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 141 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
11.0701 |
| Information Systems Security and Auditing | 12 |
|
Master's
|
11.1003 |
Mathematics (4 programs, 148 graduates)
Mathematical Sciences, Statistics and Computational Analysis
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Mathematics | 68 |
|
Master's
|
27.0305 |
| Statistics | 48 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
27.0501 |
| Mathematics | 21 |
|
Bachelor's
|
27.0101 |
| Applied Mathematics | 11 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
27.0304 |
Admission Requirements & Test Scores
Comprehensive overview of admission criteria, standardized test score ranges, and application requirements for prospective students at Southern Methodist University (SMU).
Application Requirements
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Test score ranges represent the middle 50% of admitted students (25th-75th percentile). Requirements may vary by program.
Tuition, Fees & Estimated Costs
Overview of tuition rates, housing, and other annual education expenses for undergraduate and graduate students
Financial Aid & Student Support
Summary of scholarships, grants, student loans, and financial aid statistics for undergraduate students
Student Success Metrics
Graduation rates and post-graduation earnings to help assess student outcomes and long-term value of education.
Loan Burden & Repayment Outcomes
Breakdown of loan repayment rates and student debt levels by income and dependency status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Southern Methodist University (SMU)
How much does it cost to attend Southern Methodist University (SMU)?
The annual tuition at Southern Methodist University (SMU) is $64,460 for in-state students. When including room and board, books, and other expenses, the total estimated cost is approximately $86,090 for in-state students. Additional costs include room and board $18,230 (on) / $10,808 (off) and books and supplies $800.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition and cost estimates are approximate and may not include all fees, personal expenses, or transportation costs.
What academic programs and degree levels does Southern Methodist University offer?
Southern Methodist University (SMU) offers 105 academic programs across 25 major fields of study, with available degree levels: Bachelor's, Postbac Cert., Master's, Post-Master's, Doctorate (Research), Doctorate (Professional).
Most popular program areas include:
- Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship (8 programs)
- Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science Studies (5 programs)
- Legal Studies, Jurisprudence and Professional Law Practice (4 programs)
- Engineering Sciences and Applied Technology Solutions (14 programs)
- Media Communications, Journalism and Public Relations (6 programs)
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated, not all offered programs.
What is the acceptance rate for Southern Methodist University?
Southern Methodist University (SMU) has an 61.2% acceptance rate and a 17.2% yield rate, making it selective.
Admission statistics breakdown:
- Total applicants: 15,092
- Students admitted: 9,240
- Students enrolled: 1,592
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Admission statistics may vary by program and application cycle.
What financial aid and scholarships are available at Southern Methodist University?
Southern Methodist University (SMU) provides financial aid to 23% of first-time, full-time students, with average grants of $36,850 and average loans of $14,284.
Average financial aid amounts by type:
- Pell grants: $5,057
- State/Local grants: $3,908
- Institutional grants: $35,291
- Federal loans: $5,235
The university supports 1,127 students with grants and 414 students with loans annually.
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Financial aid amounts and percentages may vary by program, enrollment status, and individual circumstances.
What is the average salary for Southern Methodist University graduates?
Southern Methodist University (SMU) graduates earn a median salary of $65,556 after 6 years and $78,354 after 10 years.
The salary range 10 years after graduation spans from $50,337 (25th percentile) to $121,566 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $126,200 (90th percentile).
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Salary data reflects graduates who received federal financial aid (approximately 60% of all graduates). Actual earnings may vary significantly based on program, location, and individual circumstances.
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