Vanderbilt vs. SMU

Should I go to Vanderbilt University or Southern Methodist University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Vanderbilt or SMU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Vanderbilt University vs. Southern Methodist University comparison
Vanderbilt University Southern Methodist University College 3 College 4
Vanderbilt University Southern Methodist University
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Overview

Vanderbilt SMU
Location Nashville, TN Dallas, TX
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 13,710 12,053
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #14 #67
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website vanderbilt.edu smu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Vanderbilt SMU
Tuition (In State) $58,130 $55,012
Tuition (Out of State) $58,130 $55,012
Room & Board $19,862 $17,750
Avg Net Price $25,606 $45,094
Avg Grant Aid $53,932 $35,344
% Receiving Grant Aid 65% 73%

Admission

Vanderbilt SMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 46,377 16,150
Admitted 3,093 8,439
Acceptance Rate 6.7% 52.3%
Enrolled % 52.3% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 34/35 31/34
SAT Range 1490/1570 1370/1510
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 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Vanderbilt SMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • General Studies (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

Vanderbilt SMU
Graduation Rate 92% 75%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $83,100 $73,000
Making Student Loan Payments 83% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $144 $222

Diversity

Vanderbilt SMU
% Men 44% 50%
% Women 56% 50%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 55% 65%
% Black 8% 5%
% Hispanic 8% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 7% 8%
% Unknown Race 5% 0%

Students

Vanderbilt SMU
% In-State 9% 38%
% Out-of-State 79% 58%

Campus

Vanderbilt SMU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Vanderbilt University is larger than than SMU based on total student enrollment (13,710 students vs. 12,053 students)

Vanderbilt vs. SMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Vanderbilt or SMU?

  • Vanderbilt University is 5.7% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($58,130.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.7% higher at Vanderbilt than Southern Methodist University ($58,130.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Vanderbilt University than SMU ($25,606 vs. $45,094)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Methodist University are 11.9% lower than costs at Vanderbilt University ($17,750 vs. $19,862)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Methodist University than Vanderbilt University (73% vs. 65%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vanderbilt University students is 52.6% larger than aid received Southern Methodist University ($53,932 vs. $35,344)

Vanderbilt vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Vanderbilt or SMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMU or Vanderbilt .

  • The average SAT score at Vanderbilt University (1498) is 168 points higher than at SMU (1330)
  • Incoming Vanderbilt students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at SMU (30)
  • Accepted freshman Vanderbilt students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at SMU (3.68)
  • SMU has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Vanderbilt (6.7%)

Vanderbilt vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Vanderbilt 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 Vanderbilt.

  • The graduation rate at Vanderbilt is higher than Southern Methodist University (92% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from Vanderbilt University earn on average $10,100 more per year than SMU graduates after ten years. ($83,100 vs. $73,000)
  • Vanderbilt University students graduate with a $7,500 lower median federal student loan debt than SMU graduates. ($14,000 vs. $21,500)
  • Vanderbilt graduates are paying $78 less per month on federal student loans than SMU graduates. ($144 vs. $222)
  • More Vanderbilt graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 76%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/