Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX 75205
Southern Methodist University is a private religious university in TX, founded in 1911 and offers Bachelor’s degrees for undergraduates and Master’s and Doctoral degrees for graduate students. The undergraduate enrollment is 6,827, and the graduate enrollment is 5,546. Southern Methodist University is a moderately selective school, receiving 14,010 applications and accepting 52.7% of applicants. Southern Methodist University’s athletics teams compete at the club, intramural, and varsity levels. Additionally, Southern Methodist University employs 767 full-time instructional staff (85% of whom hold doctorate degrees) and has an 11:1 student to faculty ratio.
Empowerly Score®
66
University Score
- School Performance
- Extracurriculars
- Standardized Tests
- Essays
Empowerly Score®
At Empowerly, we prioritize data to customize our approach to student counseling. College admissions is becoming more selective by the year, so it’s never been more important than now to prepare in advance and give yourself the best chance for success.
Take the Empowerly QuizESSAYS
Applicants applying to Southern Methodist University will apply through the Common Application, the Coalition Application, or the ApplyTexas Application. Applicants will be required to write one personal statement based on a set of prompts within the application and will also be required to answer an additional supplementary essay question(s).
Deadlines For Submitting Applications
Early Decision I Application Deadline
November 1st
Early Action Application Deadline
November 1st
Early Decision II Application Deadline
January 15th
Regular Application Deadline
January 15th
ATTENDANCE FACTORS
- Academic GPA - Very Important
- Application Essay - Very Important
- Recommendation(s) - Very Important
- Rigor of Secondary School Record - Very Important
- Standardized Test Scores - Very Important
Average Acceptance Rate
52.70%
Empowerly Acceptance Rate
100.00%
STUDENT LIFE
The Southern Methodist Campus has been in existence for 110 years and in this time, has attained the status of a private R2 Doctorate research university with very high research activity. It has three campuses within its ranks. The main campus is located in Dallas and two Satellite campuses in Tao and Dallas. However, the school sold the fourth, Plano campus, in 2019.
SMU’s main campus is the central hub of the school’s academic, administrative, athletic, and recreational events, spanning 235 acres, and is located between High Hill Park and University Park, Dallas, Texas, United States. The facilities and structures present on the campus earned the campus title of the most beautiful campus in the nation in 2016; one of its distinct buildings is the George W. Bush Presidential Center. The Taos campus spans 423 acres in Fort Burg win outside of Taos, New Mexico.
The school has eight degree-granting colleges and schools in its ranks and mandates that all undergraduates entering its schools or colleges obtain pre-majors. It is rated as one of the most selective institutes because it accepted 20.97% of its applicants in the fall of 2020. Additionally, SMU ranks 66th and 477th in 2021’s review of best universities nationally and globally.
Housing
- 54% of students live on campus
- Guaranteed housing for freshmen
- Freshmen and sophomores required to live on campus
The Southern Methodist University housing system consists of various options, ranging from Greek housing to common houses and apartment-style houses. It mandates that all its first- and second-year students live in the common houses on campus, although it restricts the choice of the common house to the second-year students (while the first-year students are sorted into standard rooms by the housing board).
Other undergraduate and graduate students are allowed to choose from any of the housing options on-campus. While graduate students can also choose to live off-campus based on their taste, there are 11 common residence halls on the main campus for undergraduate students only.
Life as a Student
Southern Methodist University offers students a peaceful, secure, and beautiful environment for the best living-learning experience. The school’s student demography consists of students from 50 states in the nation and 83 countries globally. It also offers many student organizations, from Greek societies to student clubs to student athletics. The school’s athletic teams consist of 17 athletic teams collectively called the Mustangs. They compete as members of the AAC in the NCAA Division 1.
TOP MAJORS
Mathematics
Accounting
Economics
Finance
Biology
Psychology
SERVICES
Health and Safety
- 24-hour trained security on campus
- Late night ride/safe escort service available
Student Services
- Health Center
- Psychological Counseling
- Women's Center
Athletics
Varsity
Varsity
Baseball
Basketball
Cheerleading
Fencing
Football
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Rugby
Soccer
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Wrestling
Basketball
Cheerleading
Crew
Equestrian Sports
Fencing
Golf
Rugby
Soccer
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Cross-Country Running
Club
Club
Rock Climbing
Table Tennis
Weight Lifting
Rock Climbing
Table Tennis
Weight Lifting
Intramural
Intramural
Basketball
Bowling
Football
Golf
Racquetball
Soccer
Softball
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Water Polo
Basketball
Bowling
Golf
Racquetball
Soccer
Softball
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Water Polo
FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
Southern Methodist University provides various need-based and merit-based scholarships for students based on specific criteria students must meet.
*All costs below are estimates and may differ based on your circumstances.
- Tuition (On-Campus) - $55,012
- Fees (On-Campus) - $6,968
- Housing and Dining (On-Campus) - $17,750
- Books/Supplies (On-Campus) - $876
- Transportation (On-Campus) - $1,000
- Personal/Misc. (On-Campus) - $1,600
- Total Estimated Cost of Attendance (On-Campus) - $83,206
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP / AFFILIATES
HISTORY
The Southern Methodist University, sometimes called SMU, is a private research university founded in 1911. It was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in partnership with Dallas Civic Leaders and has matured to own two campuses under its ranks: its main campus in University Park, Texas, and a satellite campus in Taos County, New Mexico. SMU, as an idea, was born when the church leaders of the southern denomination of the Methodist Episcopal Church saw the need to establish an institution in a metropolitan area. They intended to merge the Texas Wesleyan University and the Southwestern University to support their vision, meaning the institution would have been located in Fort Worth, Texas. However, they were unsuccessful and instead opted to create a new university in Dallas. The school was established in 1911 and received its charter on the 17th of April. The establishment of the school attracted interest from the General Conference of the Methodist Church, which was seeking to establish a Connected institution. With the support of the General Conference, the school became a Connectional institution with the name Southern Methodist University.
The school was poised to commence in 1913 but was delayed by constructing the school’s first building, Dallas Hall. In 1915, the school opened with the Dallas Hall serving as the university’s building, and it hosted a bank and a barbershop as well for students and faculty. The school was opened with the medical college as the first and only functioning academic department. During World War II, the school helped train a series of soldiers who participated in the war and provided facilities to serve as barracks and a training center for cadets. This made it one of the 131 colleges and institutions participating in the V-12 Navy College Training. SMU now houses many faculties and buildings, with some of its buildings registered in the National Register Of Historic Places. In November 2019, the school separated from the control of the Methodist Church and was then experiencing some differences. Today, it is governed by a secular board of trustees.