Southern Methodist UniversitySouthern Methodist University
Dallas, TX · Southwest
- Acceptance rate
- 63.3%
- SAT mid-50
- 1340-1490
- Cost after aid
- $40,892
- Graduation rate
- 84%
What Southern Methodist University says matters
How Southern Methodist University rates each admissions factor in its Common Data Set, with the full published numbers below.
- Acceptance rate
- 63%
- 9,657 of 15,245
- Yield
- 18%
- 1,716 enrolled
- SAT mid-50
- 1340-1480
- ACT mid-50
- 30-34
- CDS year
- 2024-25
Acceptance rate by gender
- Men
- 61%4,384 of 7,131
- Women
- 65%5,273 of 8,114
Very important
- Rigor of secondary school record
- Class rank
- Academic GPA
- Standardized test scores
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- Character or personal qualities
- First generation
- Alumni relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation or commitment
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
The full Common Data Set
Every figure Southern Methodist University published for 2024-25, section by section.
First-Time, First-Year Admission104
Applications
- Total first-time, first-year men who applied
- 7,131
- Total first-time, first-year women who applied
- 8,114
- Total first-time, first-year another gender who applied
- 0
- Total first-time, first-year men who were admitted
- 4,384
- Total first-time, first-year women who were admitted
- 5,273
- Total first-time, first-year another gender who were admitted
- 0
- Total full-time, first-time, first-year men who enrolled
- 840
- Total part-time, first-time, first-year men who enrolled
- 1
- Total full-time, first-time, first-year women who enrolled
- 875
- Total part-time, first-time, first-year women who enrolled
- 0
- Total full-time, first-time, first-year another gender who enrolled
- 0
- Total part-time, first-time, first-year another gender who enrolled
- 0
- Total first-time, first-year students who applied
- 15,245
- Total first-time, first-year students who were admitted
- 9,657
- Total first-time, first-year students who enrolled
- 1,716
- Total first-time, first-year who applied
- 7,564
- Total first-time, first-year who were admitted
- 4,413
- Total first-time, first-year who enrolled
- 711
- Total first-time, first-year who applied
- 6,540
- Total first-time, first-year who were admitted
- 4,761
- Total first-time, first-year who enrolled
- 927
- Total first-time, first-year who applied
- 960
- Total first-time, first-year who were admitted
- 386
- Total first-time, first-year who enrolled
- 64
- Total first-time, first-year who applied
- 181
- Total first-time, first-year who were admitted
- 97
- Total first-time, first-year who enrolled
- 14
Wait List
- Number of qualified applicants offered a place on waiting list:
- 1,480
- Number accepting a place on the waiting list:
- 607
- Number of wait-listed students admitted:
- 67
Admissions Requirements
- Total academic units
- 15
- English
- 4
- Mathematics
- 3
- Science
- 3
- Of these, units that must be lab
- 2
- Foreign language
- 2
- Social studies
- 3
- Total academic units
- 20
- English
- 4
- Mathematics
- 4
- Science
- 3
- Of these, units that must be lab
- 2
- Foreign language
- 3
- History
- 3
- Academic electives
- 3
Basis for Selection
- Rigor of secondary school record
- Very Important
- Class rank
- Very Important
- Academic GPA
- Very Important
- Standardized test scores
- Very Important
- Application Essay
- Very Important
- Recommendation(s)
- Very Important
- Extracurricular activities
- Very Important
- Talent/ability
- Very Important
- Character/personal qualities
- Very Important
- First generation
- Very Important
- Alumni/ae relation
- Very Important
- Geographical residence
- Very Important
- State residency
- Very Important
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Very Important
- Volunteer work
- Very Important
- Work experience
- Very Important
- Level of applicant’s interest
- Very Important
First-time, first-year Profile
- Submitting SAT Scores
- 0.155
- Submitting ACT Scores
- 0.093
- Submitting SAT Scores
- 266
- Submitting ACT Scores
- 160
- SAT Composite: 25th Percentile
- 1,340
- SAT Composite: 50th Percentile
- 1,420
- SAT Composite: 75th Percentile
- 1,480
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 25th Percentile
- 670
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 50th Percentile
- 700
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 75th Percentile
- 740
- SAT Math: 25th Percentile
- 670
- SAT Math: 50th Percentile
- 720
- SAT Math: 75th Percentile
- 750
- ACT Composite: 25th Percentile
- 30%
- ACT Composite: 50th Percentile
- 32%
- ACT Composite: 75th Percentile
- 34%
- ACT Math: 25th Percentile
- 27%
- ACT Math: 50th Percentile
- 30%
- ACT Math: 75th Percentile
- 33%
- ACT English: 25th Percentile
- 30%
- ACT English: 50th Percentile
- 33%
- ACT English: 75th Percentile
- 35%
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 700-800
- 56.4
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 600-699
- 39.5
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 500-599
- 4.1
- SAT Math: 700-800
- 61.7
- SAT Math: 600-699
- 33.1
- SAT Math: 500-599
- 5.2
- SAT Composite: 1400-1600
- 60.5
- SAT Composite: 1200-1399
- 34.6
- SAT Composite: 1000-1199
- 4.9
- ACT Composite: 30-36
- 82.5
- ACT Composite: 24-29
- 17.5
- ACT Composite: Below 6
- 100
- Percent in top tenth of high school graduating class
- 49%
- Percent in top quarter of high school graduating class
- 77%
- Percent in top half of high school graduating class
- 95%
- Percent in bottom half of high school graduating class
- 5.1%
- Percent in bottom quarter of high school graduating class
- 50%
- Percent of total first-time, first-year students who submitted high school class rank:
- 24%
Admission Policies
- Can it be waived for applicants with financial need?
- Yes
- If yes, maximum period of postponement:
- -
About Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a small private university in Dallas, TX, in a city setting.
What Southern Methodist University looks for
Southern Methodist University admits the majority of applicants who meet its baseline academic profile. For most students applying here, the work is in writing applications that reflect real fit rather than treating the application as a checklist. Demonstrated interest matters more here than at the most selective schools. Visiting, attending an info session, and asking real questions of admissions all move the needle.
Frequently asked
What SAT score do I need for Southern Methodist University?
Southern Methodist University's middle 50% SAT range is 1340 to 1490. A score in or above that band keeps you in the conversation; below it, the rest of your application has to do more work.
What ACT score do I need for Southern Methodist University?
Middle 50% ACT range is 30 to 34. The top of that range or above is what most admitted students submit when they choose to send a score.
What is the acceptance rate at Southern Methodist University?
Southern Methodist University admits roughly 63% of applicants. An acceptance rate above 40% means a strong application can land here without high-end stats.
What does Southern Methodist University actually cost after financial aid?
Average net cost (after institutional aid) is about $40,892 per year. Net cost varies enormously by family income; run the school's net price calculator for an estimate that reflects your situation.
Is Southern Methodist University a reach, match, or safety for me?
Compare your stats to the middle 50% above. If you are at or below the 25th percentile, treat Southern Methodist University as a reach. If you are in the middle 50%, it is a match. Above the 75th percentile and the school accepts above 25% overall, it is closer to a safety. Selectivity below 20% should be treated as a reach for everyone, period.
