Wesleyan University vs. SMU

Should I go to Wesleyan University or Southern Methodist University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Wesleyan University 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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Wesleyan University vs. Southern Methodist University comparison
Wesleyan University Southern Methodist University College 3 College 4
Wesleyan University Southern Methodist University
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Overview

Wesleyan University SMU
Location Middletown, CT Dallas, TX
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 3,253 12,053
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #33 #67
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wesleyan.edu smu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wesleyan University SMU
Tuition (In State) $63,722 $55,012
Tuition (Out of State) $63,722 $55,012
Room & Board $18,180 $17,750
Avg Net Price $21,270 $45,094
Avg Grant Aid $59,825 $35,344
% Receiving Grant Aid 44% 73%

Admission

Wesleyan University SMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,521 16,150
Admitted 2,096 8,439
Acceptance Rate 14.4% 52.3%
Enrolled % 35.4% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA - 3.68
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 31/34 31/34
SAT Range 1320/1510 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

Wesleyan University SMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (24%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Ethnic Studies (12%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

Wesleyan University SMU
Graduation Rate 92% 75%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,000 $73,000
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,500 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $180 $222

Diversity

Wesleyan University SMU
% Men 46% 50%
% Women 54% 50%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 53% 65%
% Black 7% 5%
% Hispanic 11% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 4%
% International 9% 8%
% Unknown Race 5% 0%

Students

Wesleyan University SMU
% In-State 8% 38%
% Out-of-State 80% 58%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Southern Methodist University is larger than than Wesleyan University based on total student enrollment (12,053 students vs. 3,253 students)

Wesleyan University vs. SMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wesleyan University or SMU?

  • Wesleyan University is 15.8% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($63,722.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.8% higher at Wesleyan University than Southern Methodist University ($63,722.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wesleyan University than SMU ($21,270 vs. $45,094)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Methodist University are 2.4% lower than costs at Wesleyan University ($17,750 vs. $18,180)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Methodist University than Wesleyan University (73% vs. 44%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wesleyan University students is 69.3% larger than aid received Southern Methodist University ($59,825 vs. $35,344)

Wesleyan University vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • SMU has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Wesleyan University (14.4%)

Wesleyan University vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wesleyan University 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 Wesleyan University.

  • The graduation rate at Wesleyan University is higher than Southern Methodist University (92% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from Southern Methodist University earn on average $15,000 more per year than Wesleyan University graduates after ten years. ($73,000 vs. $58,000)
  • Wesleyan University students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than SMU graduates. ($17,500 vs. $21,500)
  • Wesleyan University graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than SMU graduates. ($180 vs. $222)
  • More Wesleyan University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 76%)

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