2025-2026
Accept rate
47.6%
- Applicants
- 24,053
- Admits
- 11,459
- Enrolled
- 1,715
- Yield
- 15.0%
- ED Apps
- -
- ED Admits
- -
Total Applications
24,053
2025-2026
Acceptance Rate
47.6%
2025-2026
Enrolled Students
1,715
2025-2026
SAT Middle 50%
1360-1470
2025-2026
Southern Methodist University Admissions at a Glance
Southern Methodist University received 24,053 applications for 2025-2026 and admitted 47.6% of applicants; 1,715 admitted students enrolled (a 15.0% yield). That compares with an acceptance rate of 48.9% in 2016-2017. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1360–1470 on the SAT and 31–34 on the ACT. The total cost of attendance was $92,766, and the average need-based grant was $52,260.
Applications & Acceptance Rate Over Time
ApplicationsAcceptance Rate
Early Decision Applications
ED ApplicationsED Admits
Complete Admissions Data
2024-2025
Accept rate
63.3%
- Applicants
- 15,245
- Admits
- 9,657
- Enrolled
- 1,716
- Yield
- 17.8%
- ED Apps
- 404
- ED Admits
- 353
2023-2024
Accept rate
61.2%
- Applicants
- 15,092
- Admits
- 9,240
- Enrolled
- 1,592
- Yield
- 17.2%
- ED Apps
- 579
- ED Admits
- 430
2022-2023
Accept rate
52.3%
- Applicants
- 16,150
- Admits
- 8,439
- Enrolled
- 1,639
- Yield
- 19.4%
- ED Apps
- 587
- ED Admits
- 416
| Year | Applications | Admits | Enrolled | Accept Rate | Yield Rate | ED Apps | ED Admits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 | 24,053 | 11,459 | 1,715 | 47.6% | 15.0% | - | - |
| 2024-2025 | 15,245 | 9,657 | 1,716 | 63.3% | 17.8% | 404 | 353 |
| 2023-2024 | 15,092 | 9,240 | 1,592 | 61.2% | 17.2% | 579 | 430 |
| 2022-2023 | 16,150 | 8,439 | 1,639 | 52.3% | 19.4% | 587 | 416 |
| 2021-2022 | 15,685 | 8,333 | 1,572 | 53.1% | 18.9% | 637 | 350 |
| 2020-2021 | 14,010 | 7,379 | 1,531 | 52.7% | 20.8% | 527 | 343 |
| 2019-2020 | 13,959 | 6,601 | 1,544 | 47.3% | 23.4% | 485 | 315 |
| 2018-2019 | 12,603 | 6,457 | 1,530 | 51.2% | 23.7% | 464 | 285 |
| 2017-2018 | 13,128 | 6,402 | 1,423 | 48.8% | 22.2% | 738 | 266 |
| 2016-2017 | 13,250 | 6,482 | 1,522 | 48.9% | 23.5% | 829 | 261 |
SAT Score Trends (Middle 50%)
MedianMiddle 50% Range
25th Percentile
1360
50th Percentile
1410
75th Percentile
1470
Financial Aid Overview
Avg Aid PackageTotal Cost
Students Receiving Aid
33%
Need Fully Met
48%
Cost of Attendance Over Time
$92,766
2025-2026 Total COA
TuitionFeesRoom & Board
Tuition
$63,736
Fees
$8,080
Room & Board
$20,950
Change Since 2016
+34%
Student Demographics
Enrollment Over Time
UndergraduateGraduate
Demographics Over Time (% of Undergraduates)
WhiteAsianHispanic/LatinoBlack/African AmericanInternationalTwo or More
Undergraduates
7,545
Total Enrollment
12,544
International
4%
Students of Color
46%
Admissions Factors
Relative importance reported in the latest available Common Data Set.
Academic
- Rigor of secondary school record
- Very Important
- Class rank
- Important
- Academic GPA
- Very Important
- Standardized test scores
- Important
- Application essay
- Very Important
- Recommendation(s)
- Very Important
Nonacademic
- Interview
- Not Considered
- Extracurricular activities
- Important
- Talent/ability
- Important
- Character/personal qualities
- Important
- First generation
- Considered
- Alumni/ae relation
- Considered
- Geographical residence
- Not Considered
- State residency
- Not Considered
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Not Considered
- Volunteer work
- Considered
- Work experience
- Considered
- Level of applicant's interest
- Considered
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | ||||
| Rigor of secondary school record | ✓ | |||
| Class rank | ✓ | |||
| Academic GPA | ✓ | |||
| Standardized test scores | ✓ | |||
| Application essay | ✓ | |||
| Recommendation(s) | ✓ | |||
| Nonacademic | ||||
| Interview | ✓ | |||
| Extracurricular activities | ✓ | |||
| Talent/ability | ✓ | |||
| Character/personal qualities | ✓ | |||
| First generation | ✓ | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | ✓ | |||
| Geographical residence | ✓ | |||
| State residency | ✓ | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | ✓ | |||
| Volunteer work | ✓ | |||
| Work experience | ✓ | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | ✓ | |||