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Baylor UT Austin UT Dallas Texas A&M Tulane Rice Trinity SCU Pepperdine UT Arlington UNT USD| Southern Methodist University | Texas Christian University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
SMU | TCU | ||
| Location | Dallas, TX | Fort Worth, TX | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 12,053 | 12,273 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #67 | #107 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | smu.edu | tcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
SMU | TCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,012 | $53,890 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,012 | $53,890 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,750 | $14,250 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $45,094 | $44,190 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $35,344 | $28,048 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 73% | 89% |
Admission |
SMU | TCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 16,150 | 16,197 | ||
| Admitted | 8,439 | 9,087 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 52.3% | 56.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.4% | 27.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.68 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 31/34 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1370/1510 | 1140/1360 | ||
| 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, 2025 | Feb 1, 2025 |
Academics |
SMU | TCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
SMU | TCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 74% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $73,000 | $57,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 76% | 77% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $222 |
Diversity |
SMU | TCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 50% | 39% | ||
| % Women | 50% | 61% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 65% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 0% | ||
| % International | 8% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
SMU | TCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 38% | 43% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 58% | 52% | ||
Campus |
SMU | TCU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Texas Christian University is larger than than SMU based on total student enrollment (12,273 students vs. 12,053 students)
SMU vs. TCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, SMU or TCU?
- Southern Methodist University is 2.1% more expensive to attend than TCU for in-state tuition ($55,012.00 vs. $53,890.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.1% higher at SMU than Texas Christian University ($55,012.00 vs. $53,890.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Texas Christian University than SMU ($44,190 vs. $45,094)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Texas Christian University are 24.6% lower than costs at Southern Methodist University ($14,250 vs. $17,750)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Texas Christian University than Southern Methodist University (89% vs. 73%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Methodist University students is 26% larger than aid received Texas Christian University ($35,344 vs. $28,048)
SMU vs. TCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, SMU or TCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between TCU or SMU .
- The average SAT score at Southern Methodist University (1330) is 110 points higher than at TCU (1220)
- Incoming SMU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at TCU (28)
- Accepted freshman SMU students have at the same average high school GPA (3.68) as students at TCU (3.68)
- TCU has a higher acceptance rate (56.1%) than SMU (52.3%)
SMU vs. TCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, SMU or TCU? 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 TCU and SMU.
- The graduation rate at SMU is higher than Texas Christian University (75% vs. 74%)
- Graduates from Southern Methodist University earn on average $15,400 more per year than TCU graduates after ten years. ($73,000 vs. $57,600)
- Texas Christian University and SMU graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($21,500 vs. $21,500)
- Texas Christian University and SMU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($222 vs. $222)
- More TCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMU students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 76%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/