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 3,271 11,842
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #30 #71
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wesleyan.edu smu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wesleyan University SMU
Tuition (In State) $66,716 $57,212
Tuition (Out of State) $66,716 $57,212
Room & Board $19,034 $18,230
Avg Net Price $20,463 $45,792
Avg Grant Aid $64,709 $36,850
% Receiving Grant Aid 38% 69%

Admission

Wesleyan University SMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,500 15,092
Admitted 2,479 9,240
Acceptance Rate 17.1% 61.2%
Enrolled % 31.5% 17.2%
Avg High School GPA - 3.68
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 33/35 30/34
SAT Range 1450/1540 1320/1480
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, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

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 2% 21%
% Women 4% 19%
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 10% 41%
% Out-of-State 75% 55%

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 (11,842 students vs. 3,271 students)

Wesleyan University vs. SMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wesleyan University or SMU?

  • Wesleyan University is 16.6% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($66,716.00 vs. $57,212.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.6% higher at Wesleyan University than Southern Methodist University ($66,716.00 vs. $57,212.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wesleyan University than SMU ($20,463 vs. $45,792)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Methodist University are 4.4% lower than costs at Wesleyan University ($18,230 vs. $19,034)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Methodist University than Wesleyan University (69% vs. 38%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wesleyan University students is 75.6% larger than aid received Southern Methodist University ($64,709 vs. $36,850)

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 (61.2%) than Wesleyan University (17.1%)

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/