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TCU Baylor UT Austin UT Dallas Texas A&M Tulane Rice Trinity SCU Austin College Pepperdine UNT| Southern Methodist University | Southwestern University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
SMU | SU | ||
| Location | Dallas, TX | Georgetown, TX | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 11,842 | 1,457 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #71 | #189 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | smu.edu | southwestern.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
SMU | SU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $57,212 | $50,558 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $57,212 | $50,558 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,230 | $13,628 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $45,792 | $30,687 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,850 | $32,956 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 69% | 99% |
Admission |
SMU | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 15,092 | 6,585 | ||
| Admitted | 9,240 | 2,573 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 61.2% | 39.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.2% | 15.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.68 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | High | ||
| ACT Range | 30/34 | 24/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1320/1480 | 1170/1340 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
SMU | SU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
SMU | SU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 73% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $73,000 | $57,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 76% | 80% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $26,893 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $278 |
Diversity |
SMU | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 21% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 19% | 0% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 65% | 62% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 22% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 8% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
SMU | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 41% | 89% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 55% | 9% | ||
Campus |
SMU | SU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Southern Methodist University is larger than than SU based on total student enrollment (11,842 students vs. 1,457 students)
SMU vs. SU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, SMU or SU?
- Southern Methodist University is 13.2% more expensive to attend than SU for in-state tuition ($57,212.00 vs. $50,558.00)
- Out of state tuition is 13.2% higher at SMU than Southwestern University ($57,212.00 vs. $50,558.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southwestern University than SMU ($30,687 vs. $45,792)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern University are 33.8% lower than costs at Southern Methodist University ($13,628 vs. $18,230)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southwestern University than Southern Methodist University (99% vs. 69%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Methodist University students is 11.8% larger than aid received Southwestern University ($36,850 vs. $32,956)
SMU vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, SMU or SU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SU or SMU .
- The average SAT score at Southern Methodist University (1330) is 162 points higher than at SU (1168)
- Incoming SMU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at SU (26)
- Accepted freshman SMU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at SU (3.5)
- SMU has a higher acceptance rate (61.2%) than SU (39.1%)
SMU vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, SMU or SU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SU and SMU.
- The graduation rate at SMU is higher than Southwestern University (75% vs. 73%)
- Graduates from Southern Methodist University earn on average $15,600 more per year than SU graduates after ten years. ($73,000 vs. $57,400)
- Southern Methodist University students graduate with a $5,393 lower median federal student loan debt than SU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,893)
- SMU graduates are paying $56 less per month on federal student loans than SU graduates. ($222 vs. $278)
- More SU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMU students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 76%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/