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IPEDS ID: 228246
OPE ID: 00361300
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Southern Methodist University
6425 Boaz St, Dallas, Texas 75275-0221
General information:  (214) 768-2000
Website:  www.smu.edu
Type:  4-year, Private not-for-profit
Awards offered:  Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree
First-professional degree
Campus setting:  City: Large
Campus housing:  Yes
Student population:  10,965 (6,240 undergraduate)
Student-to-faculty ratio:  12 to 1
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open-close General Information
Admissionswww.smu.edu/admission/home.asp
Financial Aidwww.smu.edu/admission/financial.asp
Apply Onlinewww.smu.edu/admission/online_application.asp
Mission Statement
  www.smu.edu/catalogs/undergrad/description.asp
Carnegie Classification
Doctoral/Research Universities
Religious Affiliation
United Methodist
Federal Aid
Eligible students may receive Pell Grants and other federal aid (e.g. Direct Loans).
Undergraduate students enrolled who are formally registered with office of disability services
7%
Special Learning Opportunities
ROTC (Army, Air Force)
Teacher certification
Distance learning opportunities
Study abroad
Student Services
Remedial services
Academic/career counseling service
Employment services for students
Placement services for completers
On-campus day care for students' children
Credit Accepted
Dual credit
Advanced placement (AP) credits
open-close Estimated Student Expenses (Before Aid)
Undergraduate academic year prices
Detailed Expenses2008-20092007-20082006-2007
Tuition and fees$33,170$30,880$28,630
Books and supplies$800$800$600
Living arrangement
On Campus
Room and board$11,805$10,995$10,115
Other$1,600$1,600$1,400
Total Expenses2008-20092007-20082006-2007
On Campus$47,375$44,275$40,745
  • All student expenses data apply to full-time first-time degree/certificate-seeking students.
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This calculator uses estimated student expenses data to estimate the total tuition and fees charged over the duration of a typical 4-year program at this school.
1. Select starting academic year
2. Select tuition inflation rate
 
 
% (0-100 allowed)
  • This school has a guaranteed tuition plan and a tuition prepayment plan which may reduce the total estimated tuition and fees over the duration of a program. For further details please contact the institution.
  • The output is only an estimate and not a guarantee of the actual amount the student may be charged; it is not binding on the Secretary, the institution of higher education, or the State; and it may change, subject to the availability of financial assistance, State appropriations, and other factors. The student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible for, and receive, an actual financial aid award that includes federal grant, loan, or work-study assistance.
  • The estimated price does not include room and board, books and supplies, &c. (where applicable) and is based on typical tuition and fees figures listed above. Tuition and fees may vary by program. Please contact this institution for detailed price information.
  • Tuition inflation rate estimates for this school are based on the 3 years of data shown in the student expenses section.
Estimate the total tuition costs over the duration of a typical program at this school.
 Multiyear Tuition Calculator
Alternative Tuition Plans
Type of PlanOffered
Tuition guarantee planX
Prepaid tuition planX
Tuition payment planX
Other alternative tuition plan
open-close Financial Aid
Undergraduate students 2007-2008
Total grant aid received by all undergraduate students$63,805,743
Number of undergraduate students who received a Pell Grant806
  • Total grant aid includes dollars received from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources.
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students, 2007-2008
Percentage of students receiving any financial aid
Percentage of students receiving any financial aid Received aid: 78% Did not receive aid: 22%
Percentage of students receiving grant aid by type
Percentage of students receiving grant aid by type Total grants: 75% Federal: 9% Pell: 9% Other Federal: 8% State/Local: 13% Institutional: 75%
Average amount of grant aid received by type
Average amount of grant aid received by type Total grants: $15,764 Federal: $5,248 Pell: $3,306 Other Federal: $2,260 State/Local: $3,682 Institutional: $14,660
Percentage of students receiving loans by typeAverage amount of loans by type
Percentage of students receiving loans by type Total loans: 25% Federal: 24% Non-federal: 6%Average amount of loans by type Total loans: $6,412 Federal: $3,853 Non-federal: $10,481
  • For more information on Student Financial Assistance Programs or to apply for financial aid via the web, visit Federal Student Aid.
open-close Enrollment
Fall 2008
Total enrollment10,965
Undergraduate enrollment6,240
Undergraduate transfer-in enrollment290
Graduate enrollment4,725
Undergraduate Attendance StatusUndergraduate Student Gender
Undergraduate Attendance Status: Full-time: 95% Part-time: 5%Undergraduate Student Gender: Male: 46% Female: 54%
Undergraduate Race/ethnicity
Undergraduate Race/ethnicity: American Indian or Alaska Native: 1% Asian/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 6% Black or African American: 5% Hispanic/Latino: 8% White: 74% Two or more races: 0% Race/ethnicity unknown: 1% Non-resident alien: 6%
Undergraduate Student AgeUndergraduate Student Residence
Undergraduate Student Age: 24 and under: 95% 25 and over: 5% Age unknown: 0%Undergraduate Student Residence: In-state: 43% Out-of-state: 49% Foreign countries: 5% Unknown: 2%
  • Age data are reported for Fall 2007.
  • Residence data are reported for first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates.
Graduate Attendance Status
Graduate Attendance Status: Full-time: 47% Part-time: 53%
open-close Admissions
Undergraduate application fee (2008-2009): $60
Undergraduate Admissions Fall 2008
TotalMaleFemale
Number of applicants8,2703,6744,596
Percent admitted50%48%51%
Percent admitted who enrolled34%37%32%
Admissions ConsiderationsRequiredRecommended
Secondary school GPAX
Secondary school rankX
Secondary school recordX
Completion of college-preparatory programX
RecommendationsX
Formal demonstration of competenciesX
Admission test scores (SAT/ACT)X
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign language)X
Test Scores: Fall 2008 (enrolled first-time students)
Students submitting scoresNumberPercent
SAT96569%
ACT71952%
Test Scores25th Percentile*75th Percentile**
NOTES:
*  25% of students scored at or below
** 25% of students scored above
  • Data apply to first-time degree/certificate-seeking students.
  • Institutions are asked to report test scores only if they are required for admission.
SAT Critical Reading560660
SAT Math590680
SAT Writing560660
ACT Composite2530
ACT English2531
ACT Math2530
open-close Retention and Graduation Rates
First-to-Second Year Retention Rates

Retention rates measure the percentage of first-time students who are seeking bachelor's degrees who return to the institution to continue their studies the following fall.

Retention Rates for First-Time Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees
Student retention: Full-time students: 89% Part-time students: 100%
Percentage of Students Who Began Their Studies in Fall 2007 and Returned in Fall 2008
Overall Graduation Rate and Transfer-Out Rate

The overall graduation rate is also known as the "Student Right to Know" or IPEDS graduation rate. It tracks the progress of students who began their studies as full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking students to see if they complete a degree or other award such as a certificate within 150% of "normal time" for completing the program in which they are enrolled.

Some institutions also report a transfer-out rate, which is the percentage of the full-time, first-time students who transferred to another institution.

Note that not all students at the institution are tracked for these rates. Students who have already attended another postsecondary institution, or who began their studies on a part-time basis, are not tracked for this rate. At this institution, 83 percent of students entering students were counted as "full-time, first-time" in 2008.

Overall Graduation and Transfer-Out Rates for Students Who Began Their Studies in Fall 2002
Overall graduation rate: Overall graduation rate: 74% (*) Transfer-out rate:
Percentage of Full-time, First-Time Students Who Graduated or Transferred Out Within 150% of "Normal Time" to Completion for Their Program
  • (*) Not all institutions report transfer-out rates.
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rates

Bachelor’s degree graduation rates measure the percentage of entering students beginning their studies full-time and are planning to get a bachelor’s degree and who complete their degree program within a specified amount of time.

Graduation Rates for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees
Bachelor's degree rate: 4-year: 58% 6-year: 74% 8-year: 75%
Percentage of Full-time, First-time Students Who Graduated in the Specified Amount of Time
6-Year Graduation Rate by Gender for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees
6-Year Graduation Rate by Gender for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees: Male: 72% Female: 76%
Percentage of Full-time, First-time Students Who Began Their Studies in Fall 2002 and Received a Degree or Award Within 150% of "Normal Time" to Completion for Their Program
6-Year Graduation Rate by Race/Ethnicity for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees
6-Year Graduation Rate by Race/Ethnicity for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees: (!)American Indian or Alaska Native: 93% Asian/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 80% Black or African American: 60% Hispanic/Latino: 73% White: 75% Non-resident alien: 75%
Percentage of Full-time, First-time Students Who Began Their Studies in Fall 2002 and Received a Degree or Award Within 150% of "Normal Time" to Completion for Their Program
  • (!) Interpret data with caution. There are insufficient cases for a reliable estimate.
  • One or more categories are not present in the race/ethnicity graph because of an insufficient number of cases.
open-close Programs/Majors
Completions 2007-2008
sort byProgramBachelorMasterDoctorCertificate
  • Data shown are for first majors.
  • (-) Program is not offered at this award level.
Area, ethnic, cultural, and gender studies
African-American/Black Studies0---
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, and Gender Studies, Other0---
German Studies0---
Hispanic-American,Puerto Rican & Mexican-American/Chicano Studies0---
Italian Studies1---
Latin American Studies0---
Women's Studies---0
Category total1--0
Biological and biomedical sciences
Biochemistry9---
Biology/Biological Sciences, General5022-
Category total5922-
Business, management, marketing, and related support services
Accounting and Business/Management-0--
Accounting5965--
Business Administration and Management, General32153--
Business, Management, Marketing & Related Support Services, Other-0--
E-Commerce/Electronic Commerce-0--
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies-34--
Finance and Financial Management Services, Other00--
Finance, General165153--
Financial Planning and Services151--
Labor and Industrial Relations-32-10
Management Information Systems, General011--
Management Science, General19---
Marketing/Marketing Management, General7153--
Organizational Behavior Studies0---
Real Estate28---
Category total389502-10
Communication, journalism, and related programs
Advertising74---
Journalism50---
Mass Communication/Media Studies0---
Public Relations/Image Management73---
Radio and Television00--
Category total1970--
Communications technologies/technicians and support services
Animation, Interactive Tech, Video Graphics and Special Effects-16-26
Category total-16-26
Computer and information sciences and support services
Computer Science11144-
Computer/Info Tech Services Administration & Management, Other317--
Information Technology00--
Category total14314-
Education
Bilingual and Multilingual Education-33--
Education, General-0--
Education, Other-51--
Education/Teaching Individuals - Specific Learning Disabilities---29
Music Teacher Education63--
Special Education and Teaching, General---0
Category total687-29
Engineering technologies/technicians
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other-0-0
Engineering/Industrial Management0682-
Hazardous Materials Management and Waste Technology/Technician-0--
Telecommunications Technology/Technician-57--
Category total012520
Engineering
Civil Engineering, General1031-
Computer Engineering, General5141-
Computer Software Engineering-36-0
Construction Engineering-0--
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering19205-
Engineering Science-0--
Engineering, General1123-
Engineering, Other-12--
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering24--
Manufacturing Engineering-9--
Mechanical Engineering29183-
Operations Research-180-
Systems Engineering-76--
Category total76212130
English language and literature/letters
Creative Writing19---
English Language and Literature, General425--
Category total615--
Family and consumer sciences/human sciences
Facilities Planning and Management-8--
Category total-8--
Foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics
French Language and Literature13---
German Language and Literature3---
Italian Language and Literature0---
Spanish Language and Literature26---
Category total42---
Health professions and related clinical sciences
Music Therapy/Therapist00--
Category total00--
History
History, General2234-
Category total2234-
Legal professions and studies
American/US Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence (LLM, MCJ, JSD/SJD)-01-
Law (LLB, JD)--291-
Programs for Foreign Lawyers (LLM, MCL)-35--
Tax Law/Taxation (LLM, JSD/SJD)-12--
Category total-47292-
Liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities
General Studies4---
Humanities/Humanistic Studies4---
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other34--0
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies-44--
Category total4244-0
Mathematics and statistics
Applied Mathematics-00-
Computational Mathematics-45-
Mathematics, General38---
Statistics, General213-
Category total4058-
Multi/interdisciplinary studies
International/Global Studies26---
Medieval and Renaissance Studies22--
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other0---
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution-0-0
Category total282-0
Natural resources and conservation
Environmental Science2---
Environmental Studies0---
Category total2---
Philosophy and religious studies
Philosophy9---
Religion/Religious Studies302-
Category total1202-
Physical sciences
Chemistry, General151--
Geology/Earth Science, General311-
Geophysics and Seismology110-
Physics, General200-
Category total2131-
Psychology
Clinical Psychology-51-
Psychology, General9820-
Category total9871-
Public administration and social service professions
Public Policy Analysis7---
Category total7---
Social sciences
Anthropology, Other-0--
Anthropology37111-
Applied Economics06--
Archeology-0--
Economics, General158104-
International Relations and Affairs0---
Political Science and Government, General58---
Social Sciences, General6---
Sociology31---
Category total290275-
Theology and religious vocations
Divinity/Ministry (BD, MDiv)--64-
Religious/Sacred Music-6--
Theology/Theological Studies-2315-
Category total-2979-
Visual and performing arts
Art History, Criticism and Conservation2511--
Arts Management-0--
Cinematography and Film/Video Production-2--
Conducting-1--
Dance, General131--
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General288--
Film/Cinema Studies33---
Fine/Studio Arts, General104--
Music History, Literature, and Theory-1--
Music Performance, General1313-12
Music Theory and Composition04--
Music, General3---
Piano and Organ24--
Voice and Opera73--
Category total13452-12
Grand total1,5411,20741377
open-close Varsity Athletic Teams
2007-2008 Varsity Athletes
NCAA Division I-A MenWomen
All Track Combined–56
Basketball1615
Equestrian–29
Football123–
Golf138
Rowing–45
Soccer2924
Swimming and Diving2724
Tennis1212
Volleyball–14
open-close Accreditation
Institutional Accreditation
AgencyPeriods of AccreditationStatus
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges 1/1/1921 -  Accredited
Specialized Accreditation
Agency / ProgramPeriods of AccreditationStatus
American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar
Law (LAW) - Professional schools1/1/1927 -  Accredited
American Psychological Association, Committee on Accreditation
Clinical Psychology (CLPSY) - PhD Doctoral programs5/19/2009 -  Accredited
Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools
Theology (THEOL) - Freestanding schools, as well as programs affiliated with larger institutions, offering graduate professional education for ministry and graduate study of theology(!)7/1/1938 -  Accredited
National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation
Art and Design (ART) - Degree-granting schools and departments and non-degree-granting programs(!)7/1/2007 -  Accredited
National Association of Schools of Dance, Commission on Accreditation
Dance (DANCE) - Institutions and units within institutions offering degree-granting and non-degree-granting programs(!)9/1/1982 -  Accredited
National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on Accreditation, Commission on Community/Junior College Accreditation
Music (MUS) - Institutions and units within institutions offering degree-granting and/or non-degree-granting programs(!)9/1/1931 -  Accredited
National Association of Schools of Theatre, Commission on Accreditation
Theatre (THEA) - Institutions and units within institutions offering degree-granting and/or non-degree-granting programs(!)9/1/1993 -  Accredited
  • (!) Estimated date
open-close Campus Security
2007 Crime Statistics
Arrests - On-Campus200520062007
Illegal weapons possession011
Drug law violations62012
Liquor law violations122196111
Arrests - On-Campus Residence Halls !200520062007
Illegal weapons possession010
Drug law violations599
Liquor law violations8716839
Criminal Offenses - On-Campus200520062007
Murder/Non-negligent manslaughter000
Negligent manslaughter000
Sex offenses - Forcible3133
Sex offenses - Non-forcible (incest and statutory rape only)010
Robbery031
Aggravated assault102
Burglary203730
Motor vehicle theft7108
Arson161
Criminal Offenses - On-Campus Residence Halls !200520062007
Murder/Non-negligent manslaughter000
Negligent manslaughter000
Sex offenses - Forcible3133
Sex offenses - Non-forcible (incest and statutory rape only)010
Robbery000
Aggravated assault100
Burglary101821
Motor vehicle theft100
Arson011
  • (!) Residence Halls are a subset of On-Campus statistics
  • The crime data reported by the institutions have not been subjected to independent verification by the U.S. Department of Education. Therefore, the Department cannot vouch for the accuracy of the data reported here.
  • These data do not include incidents that: (a) took place off campus on public property immediately adjacent to and accessible from the Campus; (b) took place on a noncampus building or property owned or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized by the institution; or (c) incidents at buildings/property owned or controlled by an institution but is not contiguous to the institution. For further information, see http://ope.ed.gov/security.
open-close Federal Loans
Average amount of undergraduate student loans by type, 2007-2008
Loan typeAverage amount
FFEL Subsidized Stafford Loan$3,992
FFEL Unsubsidized Stafford Loan$3,726
Default Rates
Fiscal Year200720062005
Default rate3.0%2.1%1.9%
Number in default454640
Number in repayment1,4902,1852,015
Aid Programs
  • Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL)
  • Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan)
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