Southern Methodist University
Common Data Set 2020-21
Flat PDFDownload source PDF
Acceptance Rate
52.7%
Applications
14,010
Admitted
7,379
Enrolled
1,529
SAT Composite 25th
1,250
Federal outcomes
Federal data from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, vintage 2022-23. Outcomes reflect earlier cohorts than the CDS year shown elsewhere on this page.
$78,354
10 yrs after enrollment
84%
6-year completion
$40,892
sticker minus grants
$19,500
federal loans only
All Extracted Fields
546fields parsed from this CDS.
General Information
8 TABLESFirst Name:Michael
Last Name:Tumeo
Title:Director
Office:Office of Institutional Research
Address Line 1:P.O. Box 750221
Zipcode75275-0221
Phone:(214) 768-2808
Email Address:ir@smu.edu
Are your responses to the CDS posted for reference on your institution's Website?Yes
If yes, please provide the URL of the corresponding Web page:http://www.smu.edu/Provost/IR/Statistics/CommonDataSets/2020
City:Dallas
StateTexas
Name of College/University:SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY
Street Address Line 1:P.O. BOX 750181
CityDALLAS
StateTEXAS
Zip75,275
Main Phone Number:(214) 768-2000
WWW Home Page Address:www.smu.edu
Admissions Phone Number:(214) 768-2058
Admissions Email Address:ugadmission@smu.edu
Source of institutional control (Check only one):Private (nonprofit)
Classify your undergraduate institution:Coeducational college
Academic year calendar:Semester
Bachelor'sX
Postbachelor's certificateX
Master'sX
Post-master's certificateX
Doctoral degree research/scholarshipX
Doctoral degree – professional practiceX
Enrollment And Persistence
5 TABLESFirst-Time, First-Year Admission
8 TABLESIn addition, does your institution use applicants' test scores for academic advising?Yes
SATX
ACTX
APX
CLEPX
Institutional ExamX
Does your institution make use of SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions for first-time, first-year, degree-seeking applicants?No
Number of qualified applicants offered a place on waiting list:2,043
Number accepting a place on the waiting list:765
Number of wait-listed students admitted:340
Total academic units15
English4
Mathematics3
Science3
Of these, units that must be lab2
Foreign language2
Social studies3
English4
Mathematics4
Science3
Of these, units that must be lab2
Foreign language3
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 700-80035.9
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 600-69949.9
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 500-59912.7
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 400-4991.5
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: Total100
SAT Math: 700-80046.8
SAT Math: 600-69937.0
SAT Math: 500-59915.5
SAT Math: 400-4990.7
SAT Math: Total100
SAT Composite: 1400-160041.3
SAT Composite: 1200-139944.5
SAT Composite: 1000-119914.1
SAT Composite: 800-9990.2
SAT Composite: Total100
ACT Composite: 30-3669.2
ACT Composite: 24-2926.8
ACT Composite: 18-233.9
ACT Composite: 12-170.1
ACT Composite: Total100
Percent in top tenth of high school graduating class47
Percent in top quarter of high school graduating class79
Percent in top half of high school graduating class94
Percent in bottom half of high school graduating class6
Percent in bottom quarter of high school graduating class1
Percent of total first-time, first-year students who submitted high school class rank:26
Percent who had GPA of 4.020.8
Percent who had GPA between 3.75 and 3.9925.7
Percent who had GPA between 3.50 and 3.7423.5
Percent who had GPA between 3.25 and 3.4913.7
Percent who had GPA between 3.00 and 3.2410.8
Percent who had GPA between 2.50 and 2.994.9
Percent who had GPA between 2.0 and 2.490.5
Total100
Average high school GPA of all degree-seeking, first-time, first-year students who submitted GPA:3.63
Does your institution have an application fee?Yes
Application closing date (fall): Month7
Application closing date (fall): Day31
Priority Date: Month1
Priority Date: Day15
Are first-time, first-year students accepted for terms other than the fall?Yes
Must reply by May 1st or within____weeks if notified after2
Deadline for housing deposit (MMDD):Month5
Deadline for housing deposit (MMDD): Day1
Does your institution allow students to postpone enrollment after admission?Yes
If yes, maximum period of postponement:1 Year
Does your institution allow high school students to enroll as full-time, first-time, first-year students one year or more before high school graduation? (FT)No
Does your institution offer an early decision plan (an admission plan that permits students to apply and be notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification date and that asks students to commit to attending if accepted) for first-time, first-year applicants for fall enrollment?Yes
Do you have a nonbinding early action plan whereby students are notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification date but do not have to commit to attending your college?Yes
If you have an application fee and an on-line application option, please indicate policy for students who apply on-line:X
Transfer Admission
3 TABLESDoes your institution enroll transfer students? (If no, please skip to Section E)Yes
FallX
SpringX
SummerX
Must a transfer applicant have a minimum number of credits completed or else must apply as an entering first-year student?Yes
High school transcriptRequired of Some
College transcript(s)Required of All
Essay or personal statementNot Required
InterviewNot Required
Standardized test scoresNot Required
Statement of good standing from prior institution(s)Not Required
If a minimum college grade point average is required of transfer applicants, specify (on a 4.0 scale):2.70
List any other application requirements specific to transfer applicants:Students must have completed college algebra unless they graduated from high school in the past three years and completed algebra 2 or higher in high school. Some academic programs have additional requirements for a specific major.
Does an open admission policy, if reported, apply to transfer students?No
Describe additional requirements for transfer admission, if applicable:##
Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred from a two-year institution:62
Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred from a two-year institution:credit
Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred from a four-year institution:62
Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred from a four-year institution:credit
Minimum number of credits that transfers must complete at your institution to earn a bachelor’s degree:62
American Council on Education (ACE)No
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)No
DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)No
Are the military/veteran credit transfer policies published on your website?Yes
If yes, please provide the URL where the policy can be located:https://www.smu.edu/EnrollmentServices/veterans/Admission-to-SMU
Describe other military/veteran transfer credit policies unique to your institution:Undergraduate veteran and active duty students who completed recruit training in the military may receive two hours of credit to satisfy the Personal Responsibility and W ellness component of the University Curriculum.
Academic Offerings and Policies
2 TABLESAccelerated programX
Distance learningX
Double majorX
Dual enrollmentX
English as a Second Language (ESL)X
Exchange student program (domestic)X
Honors ProgramX
Independent studyX
InternshipsX
Liberal arts/career combinationX
Student-designed majorX
Study abroadX
Teacher certification programX
Weekend collegeX
Arts/fine artsX
English (including composition)X
Foreign languagesX
HistoryX
HumanitiesX
MathematicsX
PhilosophyX
Sciences (biological or physical)X
Social scienceX
Other (describe):X
Describe:Wellness
Student Life
4 TABLESPercent who are from out of state (exclude international/nonresidents from the numerator and denominator)59%
Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing87%
Percent who live off campus or commute13%
Percent of students age 25 and older0%
Percent who are from out of state (exclude international/nonresidents from the numerator and denominator)54%
Percent of males who join fraternities26%
Percent of females who join sororities35%
Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing45%
Percent who live off campus or commute55%
Percent of students age 25 and older2%
Average age of full-time students18
Average age of all students (full- and part-time)18
Average age of full-time students20
Average age of all students (full- and part-time)20
Campus MinistriesX
Choral groupsX
Concert bandX
DanceX
Drama/theaterX
International Student OrganizationX
Jazz bandX
Literary magazineX
Marching bandX
Model UNX
Music ensemblesX
Musical theaterX
OperaX
Pep bandX
Radio stationX
Student governmentX
Student newspaperX
Student-run film societyX
Symphony orchestraX
Television stationX
YearbookX
Coed residence hallsX
Apartments for married studentsX
Apartments for single studentsX
Fraternity/sorority housingX
Cooperative housingX
Theme housingX
Annual Expenses
6 TABLESPlease provide the URL of your institution’s net price calculator:https://www.smu.edu/EnrollmentServices/financialaid/NetPriceCalculator
Minimum18
Do tuition and fees vary by year of study (e.g., sophomore, junior, senior)?No
Financial Aid
14 TABLESAcademic Year2020-2021 estimated
Federal$4,394,549
Institutional: Endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded grants, awarded by the college, excluding athletic aid and tuition waivers (which are reported below).$63,425,797
Total Scholarships/Grants$70,985,947
Student loans from all sources (excluding parent loans)$11,228,556
Federal Work-Study$4,467,781
State and other (e.g., institutional) work-study/employment (Note: Excludes Federal Work-Study captured above.)$118,204
Total Self-Help$15,814,541
Parent Loans$3,166,635
Tuition Waivers Note: Reporting is optional. Report tuition waivers in this row if you choose to report them. Do not report tuition waivers elsewhere.$2,712,341
Athletic Awards$6,124,144
Federal$0
Institutional: Endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded grants, awarded by the college, excluding athletic aid and tuition waivers (which are reported below).$77,974,002
Scholarships/grants from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) not awarded by the college$2,020,537
Total Scholarships/Grants$79,994,538
Student loans from all sources (excluding parent loans)$14,342,975
State and other (e.g., institutional) work-study/employment (Note: Excludes Federal Work-Study captured above.)$245,311
Total Self-Help$14,588,286
Parent Loans$11,561,102
Tuition Waivers Note: Reporting is optional. Report tuition waivers in this row if you choose to report them. Do not report tuition waivers elsewhere.$4,444,829
Athletic Awards$12,594,213
Provide the number of students in the 2024 undergraduate class who started at your institution as first-time students and received a bachelor's degree between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. Exclude students who transferred into your institution.1,252
Institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid is availableX
If institutional financial aid is available for undergraduate degree-seeking nonresidents, provide the number of undergraduate degree-seeking nonresidents who were awarded need-based or non-need-based aid:236
FAFSAX
Noncustodial ProfileX
Priority date for filing required financial aid forms:X
Priority date for filing required financial aid forms: Month11
Priority date for filing required financial aid forms: Day1
b) Students notified on a rolling basis:X
Students must reply by (date): Month5
Students must reply by (date): Day1
State LoansX
College/university loans from institutional fundsX
Federal Pell GrantsX
State scholarships/grantsX
Private scholarshipsX
College/university scholarship or grant aid from institutional fundsX
AcademicsX
Alumni affiliationX
ArtX
AthleticsX
LeadershipX
Music/dramaX
If your institution has recently implemented any major financial aid policy, program, or initiative to make your institution more affordable to incoming students such as replacing loans with grants, or waiving costs for families below a certain income level please provide details:Are these policies related to the COVID-19 pandemic? Yes No
Instructional Faculty And Class Size
3 TABLESFall 2025 Student to Faculty ratio11