Southern Methodist University
Dallas, Texas · Private · 7,277 undergraduates · smu.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
48%
of 24,053 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1360 to 1470
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$100,150Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Southern Methodist University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
48% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$100,150
a year in 2027-28, from a $100,150 sticker price
What to do with your 1410
Send your score
About 84% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1310, and yours is above it.
Named scholarships you may qualify for (6)
You meet: the requirements
International Baccalaureate (IB) Scholarship
$7,500 a year
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs other requirements.
Full tuition
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs an application, essay or interview.
Nancy Ann and Ray L. Hunt Leadership Scholarship
About 75% of tuition and fees, plus one study abroad experience during May term of sophomore year
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs an application, essay or interview. · Application required
Full tuition
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs other requirements. · Application required
National Merit and National Achievement Scholarships
$5,000 a year
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs National Merit Finalist standing.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
Source: SMU Test-Optional Policy, Self-Reporting & Superscoring | SMU · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Action · November 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Nov1Early Decision · November 1, 2026Binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll.
- Jan15Early Decision II · January 15, 2027A second binding round, after Early Decision.
- Jan15Regular Decision · January 15, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
48%
of applicants were admitted: 11,459 of 24,053 for fall 2025.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by 11/1, hear by 12/31.
Early Decision
Binding. 80% of early applicants were admitted.
Wait list
4,249 students were offered a spot; 243 were later admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 9.4% of them sent SAT scores and 8.6% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1360 to 1470
Reading and Writing 670 to 730
Math 670 to 750
ACT composite 31 to 34
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160056%
- 1200 to 139944%
- 1000 to 11990%
- 800 to 9990%
- 600 to 7990%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.69
- 4.024%
- 3.75 to 3.9930%
- 3.50 to 3.7422%
- 3.25 to 3.4912%
- 3.00 to 3.247.1%
- 2.50 to 2.994%
- Below 2.500.2%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$100,150
a year
- Tuition$66,290
- Fees$8,400
- Food and housing$21,790
- Books and supplies$830
- Transportation and other$2,840
Southern Methodist University published $96,300 for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$31,728
- $30,001 to $48,000$18,708
- $48,001 to $75,000$23,206
- $75,001 to $110,000$28,047
- Over $110,000$57,328
Financial aid
90%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$56,396
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
29%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $30,239 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Required. It's a second, more detailed aid form some colleges use for their own grants.
- Also asks for
- Non-Custodial Profile
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Scholarship
$7,500 a year
Automatic · No separate application
- Complete the IB Diploma Program
To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA or higher, and stay a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours a semester); it renews for 8 terms or 4 years.
DetailsProvost Scholarship
$30,000 a year
Competitive · No separate application
To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA or higher, and stay a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours a semester); it renews for 8 terms or 4 years.
DetailsSMU Distinguished Scholarship
$25,000 a year
Competitive · No separate application
To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA or higher, and stay a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours a semester); it renews for 8 terms or 4 years.
DetailsJ. Lindsay Embrey Excellence and Engineering Scholarship
$8,000 to $20,000 a year
Competitive · No separate application
Deadline: Apply for admission by January 15 (Regular Decision/ED II). To keep it: stay a full-time student (12 credit hours a semester).
Details
Show 13 more scholarships
Second Century Scholars
$20,000 a year
Competitive · No separate application
To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA or higher, and stay a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours a semester); it renews for 8 terms or 4 years.
DetailsFounders' Scholarship
$15,000 a year
Competitive · No separate application
To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA or higher, and stay a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours a semester); it renews for 8 terms or 4 years.
DetailsMustang Award
$5,000 to $10,000 a year
Competitive · No separate application
To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA or higher, and stay a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours a semester); it renews for 8 terms or 4 years.
DetailsSMU Aspire Scholar
$5,000 to $10,000 a year
Competitive · No separate application
To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA or higher, and stay a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours a semester); it renews for 8 terms or 4 years.
DetailsUniversity Scholars
$10,000 a year
Competitive · No separate application
To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA or higher, and stay a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours a semester); it renews for 8 terms or 4 years.
DetailsVeritas Scholar
$5,000 to $10,000 a year
Competitive · No separate application
To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA or higher, and stay a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours a semester); it renews for 8 terms or 4 years.
DetailsDean's Scholar
Full tuition
Competitive · No separate application
- Must have been a President's Scholar finalist in your incoming academic year
To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA or higher, and stay a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours a semester); it renews for 8 terms or 4 years.
DetailsDiscovery Scholarship
Competitive · No separate application
$10,000 per year on average; for students with primary interest in certain STEM disciplines
To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA or higher, stay a full-time student, and declare a STEM major (science, technology, engineering, or math).
DetailsLyle Engineering Scholarship
Competitive · No separate application
$2,500 per semester for eight semesters on average; must list engineering as primary interest
- Based on class rank, academic work, and service
Deadline: Apply for admission by January 15 (Regular Decision/ED II). To keep it: ask the college for the renewal rules.
DetailsNancy Ann and Ray L. Hunt Leadership Scholarship
About 75% of tuition and fees, plus one study abroad experience during May term of sophomore year
Competitive · Application required
- Hunt Essay and YouTube statement; extraordinary leadership and high academic performance
To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA or higher, and stay a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours a semester); it renews for 8 terms or 4 years.
DetailsPresident's Scholar Award
Full tuition
Competitive · Application required
- Minimum of 20 high school academic units in a challenging curriculum; extra submissions required
To keep it: a 3.3 college GPA or higher, and stay a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours a semester).
DetailsSMU Dedman North Dallas High School Scholar
Full tuition
Competitive · In-state students · Application required
- Top 10%, North Dallas High School graduate; grade average 90+ (100-point scale); 2+ AP courses; extracurriculars; finalist interview
To keep it: stay a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours a semester).
DetailsNational Merit and National Achievement Scholarships
$5,000 a year
National Merit · No separate application
- National Merit recipient; designate SMU as first choice
Deadline: National Merit Corporation deadline (usually early June). To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA or higher, and stay a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours a semester); it renews for 8 terms or 4 years.
Details
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
38 of 38
Earn credit with a score of 3
None
You need a 4 or 5 for credit here.
A 3-credit course is worth
about $6,630Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | ASAG 10XX |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | ASAG 10XX |
| African American Studies | 4 | 3 | ETST 10XX |
| Art History | 4 | 6 | ARHS 1303, 1304 |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | BIOL 1302/1102 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 3 | MATH 1337 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 6 | MATH 1337, 1338 |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 4 | 3 | MATH 1337 |
| Chemistry | 5 | 4 | CHEM 1303/1113 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | CHIN 1401, 1402 | |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | PLSC 1340 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 3 | CSE 1341 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 3 | CS 10XX |
| Drawing | 4 | 3 | ASDR 10XX |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 6 | WRTR 10XX, WRTR 10YY |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 6 | WRTR 10XX, WRTR 10YY |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 3 | GEOL 1315 |
| European History | 4 | 6 | HIST 20XX, HIST 20YY |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | FREN 1401, 1402 | |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | GERM 1401, 1402 | |
| Human Geography | 4 | 3 | HUM 10XX |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | ITAL 1401, 1402 | |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | JAPN 1401, 1402 | |
| Latin | 4 | LATN 1401, 1402 | |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 | ECO 1312 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 3 | ECO 1311 |
| Music Theory | 4 | 3 | MUTH 10XX |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 3 | SCI 10XX |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 3 | SCI 10YY |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 3 | PHYS 1304 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 3 | PHYS 1303 |
| Pre-Calculus | 4 | 3 | MATH 1304 |
| Psychology | 4 | 3 | PSYC 1300 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | SPAN 1401, 1402 | |
| Statistics | 4 | 3 | STAT 2331 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | PLSC 1320 |
| United States History | 4 | 6 | HIST 20XX, HIST 20YY |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 3 | HUM 10YY |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
83%
Come back for a second year
91%
Typical earnings
$90,037
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Southern Methodist University$108,119
- All colleges$89,628
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 23 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Southern Methodist University. The Southern Methodist University logo is a trademark of the college.