Dallas, TX · 7.3k students
Trajecta score
-3.1 since '20Ranked #131 of 2,375
5-year trend
65.0 · #120
2020
63.4 · #209
2021
63.1 · #221
2022
61.7 · #283
2023
61.9 · #284
2024
Academic Profile
57/ 100
Career Outcomes
78/ 100
Student Success
74/ 100
Affordability
43/ 100
Academic Investment
90/ 100
Access & Equity
36/ 100
Academic Profile
57
Career Outcomes
78
Student Success
74
Affordability
43
Academic Investment
90
Access & Equity
36
AI Fit Analysis
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Cost / Net Price
$86k / $41k
SAT Avg
1,428
Retention
91%
Grad Rate
84%
Admissions
Test Scores
Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.
Finances
Tuition
In-State Tuition
$67,040
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$67,040
per year
Aid & Debt
Pell Grant Share
13%
undergraduates receiving Pell
Federal Loan Share
21%
students borrowing
Median Debt
among completers
$19,500
Admissions Factors
Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.
3.67
average high school GPA of enrolled freshmen · 100% reporting
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what Southern Methodist University reports weighing in admissions.
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | Rigor of secondary school record: Very Important | |||
| Class rank | Class rank: Important | |||
| Academic GPA | Academic GPA: Very Important | |||
| Standardized test scores | Standardized test scores: Important | |||
| Application essay | Application essay: Very Important | |||
| Recommendation(s) | Recommendation(s): Very Important | |||
| Interview | Interview: Not Considered | |||
| Extracurricular activities | Extracurricular activities: Important | |||
| Talent/ability | Talent/ability: Important | |||
| Character/personal qualities | Character/personal qualities: Important | |||
| First generation | First generation: Considered | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | Alumni/ae relation: Considered | |||
| Geographical residence | Geographical residence: Not Considered | |||
| State residency | State residency: Not Considered | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Religious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered | |||
| Volunteer work | Volunteer work: Considered | |||
| Work experience | Work experience: Considered | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | Level of applicant's interest: Considered |
Supplemental Essays · 2025-26
school's admissions site ↗Southern Methodist University publishes its supplemental prompts only inside the application portal.
Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →
Methodology
The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.
Read the full methodologyMedian earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.
Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.
Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.
Graduation rate and first-year retention.
Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.
Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.
Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.
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