SMU acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
Southern Methodist University · Private nonprofit · Dallas, TX · 7,115 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
SMU admitted 61.2% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 50.7% in 2013. Tuition and fees are $69,722 for every student in 2025-26.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 50.7% | 12,080 | 6,125 |
| 2014 | 52.4% | 11,817 | 6,192 |
| 2015 | 49.0% | 12,992 | 6,360 |
| 2016 | 48.9% | 13,250 | 6,482 |
| 2017 | 48.8% | 13,128 | 6,402 |
| 2018 | 51.2% | 12,603 | 6,457 |
| 2019 | 47.3% | 13,959 | 6,601 |
| 2020 | 52.7% | 14,010 | 7,379 |
| 2021 | 53.1% | 15,685 | 8,333 |
| 2022 | 52.3% | 16,150 | 8,439 |
| 2023 | 61.2% | 15,092 | 9,240 |
Applications went from 12,080 in fall 2013 to 15,092 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $31,728 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $18,708 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $23,206 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $28,047 |
| Over $110,000 | $57,328 |
| Tuition and fees, all students (2025-26) | $69,722 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $88,892 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $39,816 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 17% submitted the SAT, 15% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar private colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| Baylor TX | 51.0% | $63,620 same for all |
| TCU TX | 42.6% | $63,590 same for all |
| Rice University TX | 7.9% | $67,857 same for all |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
SMU received 15,092 applications for fall 2023 and extended offers to 61.2% of them.1 In 2013 the SMU rate was 50.7%, which makes the change since then an increase of 10.5 percentage points.1 Yearly movement was mixed, with the rate declining in 5 of the 10 changes.1 The admitted group expanded 51%, from 6,125 to 9,240, a faster pace than the 25% growth in applications.1 Applications slipped 7% in the latest year, even as admitted students grew 9%.1
SAT scores are optional, with reading and writing results for the middle 50% spanning 660 to 730 in 2023.1
Tuition and fees come to $69,722 in 2025-26 for all students, versus a $31,760 median among 49 private bachelor's colleges in Texas.2 Net price in 2024-25 averaged $31,728 for families earning $0 to $30,000 and $18,708 for those earning $30,001 to $48,000.2 At over $110,000 the average reached $57,328.2
A share of 83% of 2019 entrants graduated within 6 years, and 91% of fall 2023 entrants stayed for the next fall.2 Median earnings were $90,037 at 10 years after entry, and median debt for graduating borrowers was $18,750.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 15,092 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 9,240 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 1,592 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 7,115 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 660 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 730 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 660 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 750 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 30 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 34 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 17% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 15% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, all students | $69,722 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $88,892 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $39,816 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $31,728 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $18,708 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $23,206 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $28,047 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $57,328 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 83% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 91% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 18% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $90,037 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $18,750 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median tuition and fees, private nonprofit colleges, Texas (N = 49) | $31,760 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, private nonprofit bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with SMU, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page