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TCU Baylor UT Austin UT Dallas Texas A&M Tulane Rice Trinity SCU Pepperdine UNT Villanova| University of Louisiana Monroe | Southern Methodist University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
ULM | SMU | ||
| Location | Monroe, LA | Dallas, TX | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 8,272 | 11,842 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #665 | #71 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ulm.edu | smu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ULM | SMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,788 | $57,212 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,888 | $57,212 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,182 | $18,230 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $11,160 | $45,792 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $13,124 | $36,850 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 69% |
Admission |
ULM | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,878 | 15,092 | ||
| Admitted | 3,637 | 9,240 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.6% | 61.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.8% | 17.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.53 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/24 | 30/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1050/1350 | 1320/1480 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
ULM | SMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ULM | SMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 33% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $45,800 | $73,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 49% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,000 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $206 | $222 |
Diversity |
ULM | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 21% | ||
| % Women | 16% | 19% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 65% | ||
| % Black | 25% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 2% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
ULM | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 88% | 41% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 6% | 55% | ||
Campus |
ULM | SMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Southern Methodist University is larger than than ULM based on total student enrollment (11,842 students vs. 8,272 students)
ULM vs. SMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ULM or SMU?
- Southern Methodist University is 888.5% more expensive to attend than ULM for in-state tuition ($57,212.00 vs. $5,788.00)
- Out of state tuition is 219.8% higher at SMU than University of Louisiana Monroe ($57,212.00 vs. $17,888.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Louisiana Monroe than SMU ($11,160 vs. $45,792)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Louisiana Monroe are 79% lower than costs at Southern Methodist University ($10,182 vs. $18,230)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Louisiana Monroe than Southern Methodist University (96% vs. 69%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Methodist University students is 180.8% larger than aid received University of Louisiana Monroe ($36,850 vs. $13,124)
ULM vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ULM or SMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMU or ULM .
- The average SAT score at Southern Methodist University (1330) is 276 points higher than at ULM (1054)
- Incoming SMU students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at ULM (23)
- Accepted freshman SMU students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at ULM (3.53)
- ULM has a higher acceptance rate (74.6%) than SMU (61.2%)
ULM vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ULM or SMU? 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 SMU and ULM.
- The graduation rate at SMU is higher than University of Louisiana Monroe (75% vs. 33%)
- Graduates from Southern Methodist University earn on average $27,200 more per year than ULM graduates after ten years. ($73,000 vs. $45,800)
- University of Louisiana Monroe students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than SMU graduates. ($20,000 vs. $21,500)
- ULM graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than SMU graduates. ($206 vs. $222)
- More SMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ULM students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 49%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/