Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Southern Methodist University is a private national university located in Dallas, Texas. Southern Methodist University is moderately inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Southern Methodist University is in the top 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $72,514 10 years after enrolling, 4th in Texas, and in the top 10% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Southern Methodist University bachelor students earn 22% more than the national average. Southern Methodist University is ranked 20th in Texas.
Southern Methodist University’s median net annual cost of $38,208 and average years to graduate of 4.2 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Southern Methodist University sorted by number of graduates - Finance, Economics, Biology, Advertising & PR, Health & Fitness, Accounting - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$38,208
Average years to graduate
4.2
Computer Science
Rank: #182
Economic score: 2.34
Operations Research.
Rank: #4
Economic score: 2.58
Mathematics
Rank: #103
Economic score: 2.76
Marketing
Rank: #109
Economic score: 2.83
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #261
Economic score: 3.46
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Rank: #42
Economic score: 3.63
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: #170
Economic score: 4.25
Business Administration
Rank: #666
Economic score: 5.51
Romance Language & Linguistics
Rank: #89
Economic score: 6.23
Psychology
Rank: #415
Economic score: 8.45
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Southern Methodist University - Quantitative methods Mgmt., Education, Other, Computer Systems Analysis, Business Administration, Theological Studies, Accounting - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Manufacturing Engineering
Rank: #10
Economic score: 0.36
Engineering Fields
Rank: #21
Economic score: 0.4
Multilingual education
Rank: #4
Economic score: 0.5
Music
Rank: #9
Economic score: 0.57
Legal Research
Rank: #12
Economic score: 0.7
Peace & Conflict RES
Rank: #5
Economic score: 0.84
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Rank: #27
Economic score: 1.21
Health & Fitness
Rank: #140
Economic score: 1.24
Mental & Social Health Services
Rank: #145
Economic score: 1.61
Graphic Comms
Rank: #2
Economic score: 1.77
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.2 years. 81% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Southern Methodist University is 29% higher than the state average, and 14% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At Southern Methodist University, Pell Grant recipients represent 11% of the measured graduating class, 24% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Southern Methodist University graduates within 4.2 years.
Southern Methodist University is in the bottom 5% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Southern Methodist University’s economic mobility score of 8.77 is calculated by adjusting the 1.87 economic score of lower-income students by the 11% pell grant recipients within the student body. Southern Methodist University’s EMS of 8.77 ranks in the bottom 25% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 25%
The average Title IV recipient at Southern Methodist University pays $38,208 a year, $40,842 less than the $79,050 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $38,208
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Southern Methodist University, 74% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $38,208 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 26% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $10,532. This is 28% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,241
Pell grants
$4,746
State grants
$3,738
Institutional grants
$34,047
Southern Methodist University's moderately inclusive admissions are indicated by their 53% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 15,685 applicants, of which 8,333 were admitted and 1,572 enrolled. Southern Methodist University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
99%
83%
Female
51%
59%
First time
75%
59%
In-state
40%
68%
1st generation
16%
35%
White
64%
52%
Black
5%
14%
Hispanic
13%
15%
Asian
8%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
11%
12%