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TCU Baylor UT Austin UT Dallas Texas A&M Trinity College Tulane Rice SCU Rhodes College Austin College SU| Southern Methodist University | Trinity University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
SMU | Trinity | ||
| Location | Dallas, TX | San Antonio, TX | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 11,842 | 2,694 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #71 | #68 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | Presbyterian Church (USA) | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | smu.edu | trinity.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
SMU | Trinity | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $57,212 | $50,712 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $57,212 | $50,712 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,230 | $14,472 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $45,792 | $32,264 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,850 | $33,524 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 69% | 99% |
Admission |
SMU | Trinity | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 15,092 | 11,425 | ||
| Admitted | 9,240 | 3,217 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 61.2% | 28.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.2% | 20.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.68 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | High | ||
| ACT Range | 30/34 | 30/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1320/1480 | 1320/1465 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
SMU | Trinity | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
SMU | Trinity | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 80% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $73,000 | $62,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 76% | 88% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $25,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $263 |
Diversity |
SMU | Trinity | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 21% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 19% | 3% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 65% | 55% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 20% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 5% | ||
| % International | 8% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
SMU | Trinity | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 41% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 55% | 16% | ||
Campus |
SMU | Trinity | ||
| 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 Trinity based on total student enrollment (11,842 students vs. 2,694 students)
SMU vs. Trinity Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, SMU or Trinity?
- Southern Methodist University is 12.8% more expensive to attend than Trinity for in-state tuition ($57,212.00 vs. $50,712.00)
- Out of state tuition is 12.8% higher at SMU than Trinity University ($57,212.00 vs. $50,712.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Trinity University than SMU ($32,264 vs. $45,792)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Trinity University are 26% lower than costs at Southern Methodist University ($14,472 vs. $18,230)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Trinity University than Southern Methodist University (99% vs. 69%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Methodist University students is 9.9% larger than aid received Trinity University ($36,850 vs. $33,524)
SMU vs. Trinity Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, SMU or Trinity? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Trinity or SMU .
- The average SAT score at Southern Methodist University (1330) is 36 points higher than at Trinity (1294)
- Incoming SMU students have at the same average ACT score (30) as students at Trinity (30)
- Accepted freshman SMU students have at the same average high school GPA (3.68) as students at Trinity (3.68)
- SMU has a higher acceptance rate (61.2%) than Trinity (28.2%)
SMU vs. Trinity Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, SMU or Trinity? 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 Trinity and SMU.
- The graduation rate at Trinity is higher than Southern Methodist University (80% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from Southern Methodist University earn on average $10,200 more per year than Trinity graduates after ten years. ($73,000 vs. $62,800)
- Southern Methodist University students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Trinity graduates. ($21,500 vs. $25,500)
- SMU graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than Trinity graduates. ($222 vs. $263)
- More Trinity graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMU students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 76%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/