Tuition, net price and cost to go Southern Methodist University (2024)

Annual Costs

Undergraduate Tuition

Tuition for Southern Methodist University is $53,464 for the 2021/2022 academic year. This is 76% more expensive than the national average private non-profit four year college tuition of $30,365.The cost is 210% more expensive than the average Texas tuition of $17,245 for 4 year colleges. Tuition ranks 92nd in Texas amongst 4 year colleges for affordability and is the most expensive 4 year college in the state. Price does not vary by residence.

The school charges an additional fees of $6,772 in addition to tuition bringing the total effective in-state tuition to $60,236.

Housing Costs

On campus room and board is provided by the school at a cost of $17,438 per academic year. Students electing to live off campus elsewhere in Dallas should budget at least this amount.

Books and Supplies

The estimated annual cost for books and supplies is $800.

Other Living Expenses

If living on-campus, students should budgetfor $2,600 in additional living expenses. Off-campus students should budget for $2,600 in other miscellaneous living expenses.

Total Costs

The annual tuition and living expense budget to go to SMU was $81,074 for the 2021/2022 academic year. The cost is the same for all students regardless of Texas residence status as there is no in-state discount.

Citation: Price data from the U.S. Department of Education's 2022 IPEDS survey response for Southern Methodist University and represent reported costs for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Costs and Tuition for Southern Methodist University
Estimated Budgets
Texas Resident Total Budget $81,074
In-State Tuition$53,464
Other Fees$6,772
Room and Board$17,438
On-Campus Other Budget$2,600
Books and Supplies$800
Non-Resident Total Budget $81,074
Out-of-State Tuition$53,464
Other Fees$6,772
Room and Board$17,438
On-Campus Other Budget$2,600
Books and Supplies$800

Tuition, net price and cost to go Southern Methodist University (1)

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Find out which students are getting accepted at SMU, which are not, and how your GPA, SAT, or ACT scores compare.

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Tuition, net price and cost to go Southern Methodist University (2)

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What it Really Costs

Depending on many factors including student and parent income and assets, the total cost of attendance may be less than the $81,074 published price if scholarship or grant aid is made available to you.

Net Price

The net out-of-pocket total cost you end up paying or financing though student loans is known as the net price. The reported SMU net price for in-state students is $41,444* for the 2019/2020 academic year. This net price includes housing and meal expenses.

Pell Grants and other Grant Aid

77% of Southern Methodist University students received grant aid in 2019/2020. The average total aid amount was $34,890. 9 percent of students received aid in the form of Pell Grants from the U.S. Federal Government. The average Pell Grant awarded for 2019/2020 was $4,600. To apply for a Pell Grant to attend Southern Methodist University, the first step is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Net Price and Financial Aid for Southern Methodist University
Financial Aid Summary
Average Annual Net Price$41,444*
Percent of Students Receiving Grant Aid77%
Average Total Grant Aid$34,890
Percent of Students Receiving Pell Grants9%
Average Amount of Pell Grant Aid$4,600

Average Net Price by Family Income

The average net total cost of attendance for different levels of family income after federal, state or local government, institutional grant and scholarship aid are awarded. Data last published for the 2019/2020 academic year.

Family IncomeAvg. Net Price
$0 to $30,000$27,427
$30,001 to $48,000$24,226
$48,001 to $75,000$29,892
$75,001 to $110,000$33,820
$110,000+$47,781

Average Financial Aid Mix - $81,074 In-State Total Cost

CollegeCalc has estimated typical coverage of the annual in-state tuition and living expenses of $81,074. Breakdown is based on average grant aid and federal loan aid which will vary based on your family income.

44%

7%

49%

Grants and Scholarships

44%-$34,890

Money granted to you by the U.S. Department of Education, Southern Methodist University or other organizations. These are not loans and do not need to be repaid.

Federal Loans

7%-$5,262

Low interest student loans funded by the U.S. Department of Education. This amount will need to be repaid.

Out of Pocket

49%-$38,322

Covered by family savings, work or private student loans which you will have to repay.

*Reported Average Annual Net Price for students receiving grant or scholarship aid reported to the U.S. Department of Education's Academic Year 2019/2020 IPEDS Survey. Financial aid is only available to those who qualify. Consult this school's net price calculator for further understanding of your potential net price.

Note that for colleges with no reported on-campus room and board, the average net price has been increased to account for living expenses. This number may not only reflect the net price paid to the school for tuition.

Is it Worth the Cost?

To make a comparative assessment if SMU is worth the price, measures of it's relative value for tuition dollar can be examined. We've calculated an academic national percentile rating of 84/100 for Southern Methodist University. Considering an average net price paid of $29,140, this leads to an overall value ranking of 60/100. This places the school 235th on our national Best Value Colleges ranking as a provider of a very high value education compared to actual overall price paid.

Tuition Comparison to Similar Private Colleges in the Region

SchoolCost vs. Southern Methodist University
Texas Christian University3.5% less expensive
Trinity University12.5% less expensive
Tulane University6% more expensive

Cost of a Degree

When considering ability to pay for college, the annual cost is often discussed but it's the "all in" multi-year degree cost which matters in the end. Let's take a look at what it could really cost for four years at Southern Methodist University.

Estimated 4 Year Cost at Published Tuition

At the current published rates, an estimated total tuition, fees and living expense price for a 4 year bachelor's degree at SMU is $324,296 for students graduating in normal time. This methodology for estimating the 4 year cost is a straight multiple of the most recent reported annual total cost and does not factor in tuition increases during the time you're in school. It also assumes you receive no grant or scholarship aid and pay the full list price.

A potentially more accurate but less conservative estimate of a degree cost can be made by using the school's annual $29,140 in-state net price as the basis. Applying this cost over 4 would estimate the cost of a degree at $116,560**

If you end up on the "five year plan" and need an additional year to graduate, your five year cost could be as high as $405,370 or $145,700 using an average net price.

**Based on a 4 year multiple of Average Annual Net Price for students receiving grant or scholarship aid reported to the U.S. Department of Education's 2019/2020 IPEDS Survey. Financial aid is only available to those who qualify. Consult this school's net price calculator for further understanding of your potential net price.

Other Costs

Estimated Cost Per Semester

Most colleges don't charge students on an annual basis but instead require payment semester by semester. If you ever need to take an additional semester of classes to complete you degree you shouldn't have to pay for a full academic year. These our estimated costs for a semester at Southern Methodist University.

Texas Resident Tuition Per Semester$26,732
Texas Resident Total Cost Per Semester$40,537

Cost Per Credit Hour and Cost for a Class

Some schools offer the ability to take single classes by paying on a per credit hour basis. The reported price per credit hour and estimated cost for one class at Southern Methodist University are as follows. Per credit costs are for reference only as many schools will not allow students to pay by credit hour.

Cost per credit hour and per class at Southern Methodist University
Price per credit hour$2,234
Cost for one class (3 credit hours)$6,702
Cost for one class (4 credit hours)$8,936

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Student Loans and Debt

The second consideration after understanding the cost of college is determining how to finance it. Some students are fortunate enough to have some form of family financial assistance, but student loans end up financing a significant portion of higher education in the U.S. 22% of Southern Methodist University students receive U.S. Federal Student Loans with an average annual Federal Loan aid amount of $5,262.

Example Loan Payments and Costs

How much are student loan payments for Southern Methodist University? Obviously this varies based on a number of factors - offsetting financial aid you receive, percentage of fee you pay upfront while enrolled and the interest rate on your loans. We've modeled a sample student loan based on current Stafford loan rates to give you an approximate idea.

The following are the costs for a loan if you borrowed $116,560, 100% of the estimated average net price for a four year program and paid nothing while enrolled. The total of all payments including interest would sum $148,287.60. This could be your effective total out of pocket cost of an education at Southern Methodist University. Note that this calculation assumes you don't pay full list price tuition, are part of the reported 77% of students at this school who receive financial aid and you are paying an average annual net price of $29,140. If you do not financially qualify for a reduced net price, your student loan payments could be significantly higher than this example. Use our Southern Methodist University student loan calculator below to change loan assumptions and recalculate.

Student loans are not free money and must be repaid. You cannot dismiss student loans by via bankruptcy.

Southern Methodist University Student Loan Payments
Example Payments
Monthly Loan Payment$1,235.73
Amount Borrowed$116,560.00
Interest Rate4.99%
Term10 years
Number of Monthly Payments120
Total Interest Cost$31,727.60
Sum of All Payments over 10 years$148,287.60

Affording Student Loan Payments and Post Graduation Salary

Can I afford to attend SMU? In the end, the answer comes down a determination if you will earn enough to comfortably pay back a student loan with your post graduation salary. This is an extremely important point to consider. In order to afford student loan payments and still meet all your other costs of living, it is recommended not to borrow more than you can pay back using 10% of your monthly income earned after graduation. If you're considering attending Southern Methodist University, you need to carefully consider if it will be realistic to make the post graduation loan payments based on your expected salary.

Using the 10% of salary threshold, an annual income of $148,287.60 would be needed to afforda $1,235.73 monthly payment in the example $116,560.00 loan modeled above. You will need to determine if it is at all realistic that you will be earning this type of salary after graduation. This assumes a loan payback over 10 years. You can change the terms of this example loan using the student loan calculator below.

Estimated Future Cost and Expected Tuition Increase

What will it cost to send your child to Southern Methodist University in the future? In the past four years, this school's published in-state tuition and fee total rose from $44,694 to $53,464. This amounts to an average annual price increase of 3.9%. Nationally, university tuition prices are rising around 5% per year. Looking out five, ten, fifteen or eighteen years, these are CollegeCalc's estimates how much you could expect to pay for a 4 year degree assuming tuition increases at the national average rate. Estimated future prices are based on the current 4 year cost of $324,296.00. Use the college savings plan calculator below to perform a more comprehensive analysis on future costs and how much you will need to save for Southern Methodist University.

Annual4 Year Degree
Estimated Cost in 5 years for students enrolling in 2028$111,496$445,983
Estimated Cost in 10 years for students enrolling in 2033$142,300$569,199
Estimated Cost in 15 years for students enrolling in 2038 $181,615$726,459
Estimated Cost in 18 years for students enrolling in 2041 $210,242$840,967

Calculators

Use the calculators below to formulate a college savings plan for Southern Methodist University or model a student loan.

College Savings Calculator

Plan and Save for College

Discover how much will you need to start saving now to afford Southern Methodist University in the future.

Student Loan Calculator

Estimate Loan Payments

Modify the loan assumptions to fit your financial situation and likely tuition price. Then calculate your payoff and loan payments for a Southern Methodist University student loan.

How much will Southern Methodist University cost in 18 years?
How much is the monthly student loan payment for Southern Methodist University?

About Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist University is a four year private college located in Dallas, Texas.The school is affiliated with the United Methodist faith.Full time enrollment is 9,366 and part time is 3,019.Learn more about getting accepted at Southern Methodist University at CollegeSimply.

Students attending this school may pursue both undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Address
Southern Methodist University
6425 Boaz St
Dallas, Texas
75275-0221
http://www.smu.edu

For Profit / Not For Profit Status

Southern Methodist University is a private not for profit institution.

Southern Methodist University cost and financial aid data source: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=228246 IPEDS survey data. Data last updated February 2023 and reflects academic year 2021/2022 costs reported by the school.

Tuition, net price and cost to go Southern Methodist University (2024)

FAQs

Tuition, net price and cost to go Southern Methodist University? ›

Tuition for Southern Methodist University is $53,464 for the 2021/2022 academic year. This is 76% more expensive than the national average private non-profit four year college tuition of $30,365. The cost is 210% more expensive than the average Texas tuition of $17,245 for 4 year colleges.

What is the tuition for Southern Methodist University? ›

How do you calculate net cost for college? ›

The net price is calculated by taking the total cost of attendance — including tuition, room and board and books — and subtracting any grants and scholarships you're eligible for.

How much is SMU tuition 2023 2024? ›

Beginning Fall 2023, the general student fee is $304 per term credit hour*, $3,624 maximum. Students paying the maximum general student fee of $3,624 are eligible to receive the Sports Pack. Students paying less than the maximum general student fee may receive the Sports Pack for an additional $90.

Is SMU worth the money? ›

SMU is one of only 300 schools nationwide that are worth the investment, according to Forbes' 2019 Best Value Colleges ranking, which is based on quality, net price, net debt, alumni earnings, timely graduation and access for low-income students.

Does SMU offer full ride scholarships? ›

The President's Scholars Program

President's Scholarships are awarded to students who have shown exemplary academic skills, and is SMU's most prestigious merit-based scholarship. The award is full tuition and fees plus study abroad. Students who live on campus also receive a scholarship for room and board.

What is the most expensive US college? ›

Most Expensive Colleges List
CollegeTuition Cost
1. Franklin & Marshall College$65,652
2. Columbia University$65,524
3. Reed College$64,450
4. Vassar College$63,840
16 more rows
Jun 1, 2023

Is net price the same as tuition? ›

A net price is an estimate of the actual cost you and your family need to pay in a year to cover education expenses for you to attend a particular college or career school. It is the institution's cost of attendance minus any grants and scholarships for which you may be eligible.

What is your net cost? ›

Net price is the cost that customers are willing to pay for a product or service. It not only includes the product's list price but the taxes and discounts applied to a product.

What is the net price calculator? ›

What is a Net Price Calculator? Net price calculators are available on a college's or university's website and allow prospective students to enter information about themselves to find out what students like them paid to attend the institution in the previous year, after taking grants and scholarship aid into account.

Why is SMU so expensive? ›

Financial aid, compensation for faculty and staff, utilities, debt service, and facilities and grounds maintenance are the major categories funded from tuition as well as other revenue sources. All of these reasons are factored into SMU's tuition dollar amount.

Is SMU 3 years or 4 years? ›

The expected duration is 4 years for non-Law double degree students. Law students who are enrolled in a double degree programme will complete the programme in 5 years.

Is SMU a good school? ›

Southern Methodist University's ranking in the 2022-2023 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #72. Its tuition and fees are $61,980.

Is SMU a school for rich kids? ›

Southern Methodist University. The median family income of a student from Southern Methodist is $198,900, and 67% come from the top 20 percent. About 1.8% of students at Southern Methodist came from a poor family but became a rich adult.

Why is SMU ranking so low? ›

Compared against last year's rankings, its Academic Reputation has decreased 3 points. This might suggest a perceived slip in its teaching quality. This ties in with its lower Faculty to Student ratio, which saw a decrease of some 200 faculty staff last year.

What is SMU popular for? ›

A nationally ranked private university located near the heart of Dallas, SMU is a distinguished center for global research with a liberal arts tradition.

What GPA will get me a full ride? ›

A 4.0 Grade Point Average is not only a high GPA, it's an impressive GPA that's sure to catch the eyes of many scholarship providers. Since the minimum GPA for a full-ride scholarship is usually set at 3.5, a 4.0 is sure to always be above and beyond what's required.

Do you get money with a full ride scholarship? ›

Usually, full-ride scholarships cover all of your college expenses: not just tuition, but also everything else you need to pay for to support your education, such as books, lab fees, accommodation, and meals. Some full-ride scholarships even include a stipend that you can use to pay for additional living expenses.

What is the difference between full ride and full scholarship? ›

Full-ride and full-tuition scholarships may sound similar, but there is a big difference between them. While full-ride scholarships cover all the costs of college, full-tuition scholarships do not. They only cover tuition, leaving the student responsible for room and board, books, and other expenses.

What is the cheapest college? ›

Cheapest Colleges in the US
  • South Texas College. ...
  • Northern State University. ...
  • California State University. ...
  • Manhattanville College. ...
  • Oklahoma Panhandle State University. ...
  • Texas A&M University. ...
  • Alcorn State University. Alcorn is a historically black public land grant university that was started in 1871. ...
  • Minot State University.

What is the cheapest private college? ›

Least Expensive Schools
School Name (state)2022-2023 tuition and fees
Brigham Young University—Provo (UT)$6,304
Stillman College (AL)$11,392
Tougaloo College (MS)$11,398
Voorhees College (SC)$12,630
7 more rows

What is the hardest school to get into? ›

Harvard, Stanford and Princeton, unsurprisingly, are America's toughest colleges to get into in 2023, according to Niche's most recent rankings.

Does net price include student loans? ›

Net price is the college's annual cost of attendance minus the grants, scholarships, tuition waivers and other gift aid a student receives for one year of college. This does not factor in loans.

Is sticker price or net price more important? ›

This is a massive mistake because sometimes, the colleges with the highest sticker prices offer the lowest net prices to students who don't have much money. This is why the net price is a more important number to consider than the sticker price.

Is the college net price calculator accurate? ›

The quality of net price calculators can vary significantly. The least reliable ones for many families will rely upon the federal calculator template, which schools can use for free. Roughly half of the schools use net price calculators that depend upon the federal template.

What is net price and cost? ›

The net price is sometimes confused with the term "net cost." Net cost is the amount paid by the customer after all discounts and rebates are applied. It does not include any taxes or other added costs. In contrast, the net price includes all added costs and is the final amount the customer pays.

What is an example of net cost? ›

Examples of net cost are: The gross cost of a machine, minus the margin on all goods produced with that machine. The gross cost of attending college, minus the incremental increase in earnings derived from obtaining a college degree.

How much should I expect from FAFSA? ›

But, the maximum amount can be in the low tens of thousands of dollars per year. Average amounts are about $9,000, with less than half of that in the form of grants. This table shows the maximum and average amounts for various types of federal student aid for undergraduate students for 2020-2021.

How do you calculate list price and net price? ›

The list price, or the MSRP, is the full price of a product without any discounts, deals, or promotions. The buyer and seller will both use the net or selling price as the basis for its accounting entries. The net price formula is the list price minus trade discounts.

Does anyone pay full price for college? ›

Higher income students are more likely to pay full price. As this table shows, college students are about twice as likely to pay full price at a public four-year college as they are at a private, non-profit four-year college (28 percent and 13 percent of freshmen, respectively).

Is SMU a top university? ›

Southern Methodist University is ranked #72 out of 443 National Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.

Is SMU or UT a better school? ›

Education ranking website Niche just released their 2020 Best College rankings. No surprise, the Longhorns are on top of the game. On the Best Colleges in Texas list, UT Austin ranks No. 2, just below Houston's Rice University and right above Dallas's Southern Methodist University (SMU).

Why did SMU get in trouble? ›

It was discovered by the NCAA that a slush fund from the athletic department and boosters had paid out over $61,000 to 13 players between 1985-86. The sanctions issued were harsh. SMU was banned from bowl games for two seasons and the program was stripped of 45 scholarships.

What GPA do you need to get into SMU? ›

With a GPA of 3.64, SMU requires you to be above average in your high school class. You'll need at least a mix of A's and B's, with more A's than B's. You can compensate for a lower GPA with harder classes, like AP or IB classes.

What are SMU students called? ›

SMU Mustangs
NicknameMustangs
Fight songPeruna
ColorsRed and blue
Websitesmumustangs.com
11 more rows

What does having 2 majors mean? ›

A double major entails studying two separate fields for a single degree. Pros of a double major include potentially higher earnings and a more diverse skill set. Cons include less free time and little flexibility in your class schedule.

Is SMU the Harvard of the South? ›

When it comes to the Southern states, several colleges have been called the Harvard of the South. The title is most commonly applied to Duke University. However, Vanderbilt, Emory, Southern Methodist, Sewanee, and Davidson have also been given it at one time or another.

Is SMU very religious? ›

Founded in 1911 by what is now known as the United Methodist Church, SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and is committed to the values of academic freedom and open inquiry.

Is SMU liberal or conservative? ›

Niche rates Southern Methodist University as having the 18th most conservative students among the surveyed schools.

What is the richest high school in America? ›

Most expensive private high schools in US: IMG Academy makes the list.

How many billionaires went to SMU? ›

Two schools from the Lone Star State – SMU and the University of Texas at Austin – made the list with three billionaires each.

What high schools send the most kids to Harvard? ›

In total, one out of every 20 Harvard freshmen attended one of the seven high schools most represented in the class of 2017—Boston Latin, Phillips Academy in Andover, Stuyvesant High School, Noble and Greenough School, Phillips Exeter Academy, Trinity School in New York City, and Lexington High School.

What is the most popular major at SMU? ›

The most popular majors at Southern Methodist University include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Social Sciences; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Mathematics and Statistics; Engineering; Visual and Performing Arts; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Parks, Recreation, ...

Is SMU a hard school to get into? ›

Southern Methodist University admissions is more selective with an acceptance rate of 53%. Half the applicants admitted to SMU have an SAT score between 1340 and 1510 or an ACT score of 31 and 34. However, one quarter of admitted applicants achieved scores above these ranges and one quarter scored below these ranges.

What billionaires went to SMU? ›

#83 Southern Methodist University

team onto the field for home games. Notable SMU alumni include business billionaires Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder of Bumble, and Indianapolis Colts owner James Irsay. Use Forbes logos and quotes in your marketing.

What percent of SMU is Catholic? ›

Our students come from diverse economic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. Among students reporting a religious affiliation, 26 percent are Catholic and 18 percent are Methodist.

Is SMU a nice campus? ›

The campus is beautiful, and the people are amazing. There's a nice balance between academics and a social life. In my experience, the professors are easy to talk to, both inside and outside of class. The campus is in the heart of Dallas, so there's always something to do at night, whether on or off campus.

Why is Southern Methodist so expensive? ›

Financial aid, compensation for faculty and staff, utilities, debt service, and facilities and grounds maintenance are the major categories funded from tuition as well as other revenue sources. All of these reasons are factored into SMU's tuition dollar amount.

How much is SMU tuition 2023? ›

Undergraduate (Costs shown are per semester)
EnrollmentPer Term Credit Hour
1 - 11 Term Credit Hours$2,298 + general student fee*
12-18 Term Credit Hours$27,506 flat rate + general student fee*
Over 18 Term Credit Hours$27,506 + $1,766/TCH + general student fee*
IEP (English as a Second Language)
17 more rows

Is SMU more expensive than TCU? ›

SMU is the most expensive college in Texas and also ranks 17th on the national list for 2022.

Is Southern Methodist conservative? ›

The Southern Methodist Church is a conservative Protestant Christian denomination with churches located in the southern part of the United States.

What is SMU known for? ›

A nationally ranked private university located near the heart of Dallas, SMU is a distinguished center for global research with a liberal arts tradition.

Does SMU require freshmen to live on campus? ›

SMU requires most incoming students to live on campus for two years. Living on campus is important for having the most robust and fulfilling SMU experience. First-year students must live on campus for their first two years at SMU and are assigned to one of our 11 Residential Commons.

What is SMU ranked in US News 2023? ›

SMU (Simmons) 2023-2024 Rankings

SMU (Simmons) is ranked No. 49 (tie) in Best Education Schools. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. See how this school scored on the key indicators used in the rankings.

What GPA does Texas A&M require? ›

Minimum 2.0 cumulative transfer GPA on a 4.0 scale; Minimum 30 academic, college-level transferable semester hours.

What is the lowest GPA U of M accepts? ›

The average GPA of first-year students the University of Michigan accepts is 3.88. More than half of applicants the school admits have high school GPAs of 4.0. Like many institutions, UM does not have a minimum GPA requirement applicants should meet for their applications to be considered.

What GPA do you need to get into Harvard? ›

The GPA requirements for Harvard University are between 3.9 to 4.1. You will need an incredibly high GPA and will likely be graduating at the top of their class in order to get into Harvard University.

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