10-yr median earnings
$78,354
Federal aid recipients only
Private Nonprofit · Dallas, Texas
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private nonprofit institution in Dallas, Texas. as a private nonprofit, published Scorecard outcomes cover federal-aid recipients at this campus — endowment and sticker price sit outside those cohort fields.
- $78,354
- 10-yr median earnings
- 63.3%
- Acceptance rate
- $40,892
- Avg net price / yr
- 83.8%
- 150%-time completion
The verdict
Southern Methodist University pairs top-5% former-student earnings with a moderately open admit.
According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
- Top 4%
- former-student earnings, US
- 63.3%
- acceptance rate
- 83.8%
- 150%-time completion
- +20%
- earnings, 6→10 yrs
Suburb: Large
Carnegie: R2
Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.
How to read this Southern Methodist University profile
Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.
Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.
Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.
College Value Score
B-
College Value Score
65/100
Southern Methodist University
A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.
Earnings A+
$78,354
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price F
$40,892
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate A
83.8%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$19,500
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment A
81.0%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention A-
90.5%
First-year students returning for year two
Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.
Avg net price
$40,892
After grants and scholarships
150%-time completion
83.8%
Full-time, first-time cohort
150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 83.8%
Four-year-institution cohort
College ROI Quadrant - Southern Methodist University vs peers
Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.
How Southern Methodist University ranks nationally
Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.
Southern Methodist University: former-student earnings vs. every US college
10-year median earnings, College Scorecard
$78,354 Top 4% higher than 96% of 5,103 US colleges
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals
| Metric | Southern Methodist University | National rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $78,354 | #218 of 5103 | 96th |
| Average net price | $40,892 | #4894 of 5020 | 3rd (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 83.8% | #507 of 4858 | 90th |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,277 | #516 of 5462 | 91st |
National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.
Quick Facts
7,277
Undergraduate enrollment
63.3%
Acceptance rate
1,428
SAT average
83.8%
150%-time completion
$78,354
10-yr median earnings
90.5%
First-year retention
How Southern Methodist University ranks in Texas
State rank among 324 reporting Texas colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.
| Metric | Southern Methodist University | State rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $78,354 | #12 of 324 | 96th |
| Average net price | $40,892 | #337 of 340 | 1st (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 83.8% | #34 of 324 | 90th |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,277 | #42 of 366 | 89th |
Highest former-student earnings in Texas
| # | School | 10-yr earnings | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Coast University-Texas | $102,672 | $53,020 |
| 2 | University of North Texas Health Science Center | $93,615 | - |
| 3 | The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston | $92,961 | - |
| 4 | Chamberlain University-Texas | $92,405 | $32,209 |
| 5 | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | $92,348 | - |
| 6 | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center | $90,232 | - |
| 7 | Rice University | $89,718 | $13,370 |
| 8 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | $88,757 | - |
| 9 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | $82,206 | - |
| 10 | Denver College of Nursing-Houston | $81,809 | - |
| 11 | Covenant School of Nursing and Allied Health | $78,724 | - |
| 12 | Southern Methodist UniversityThis school | $78,354 | $40,892 |
Admissions
| Admission Rate | 63.3% |
| SAT Average | 1,428 |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 670 – 750 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 670 – 740 |
| ACT Average | 33 |
| ACT (25th-75th) | 30 – 34 |
Costs & Financial Aid
Net price by family income at Southern Methodist University
Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket
- $0 – $30k
$0 – $30k
$23,544 net price / yr
- $30k – $48k $20,038
$30k – $48k
$20,038 net price / yr
- $48k – $75k
$48k – $75k
$24,152 net price / yr
- $110k+
$110k+
$58,213 net price / yr
What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at Southern Methodist University - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.
Tuition & Net Price
| In-State Tuition | $67,040 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $67,040 |
| Average Net Price | $40,892 |
12.8%
Pell Grant Rate
21.5%
Federal Loan Rate
$19,500
Median Debt
$207/mo
Monthly Payment
What students pay at Southern Methodist University rose +37.4% since 2013
Average net price for the reported Title IV-recipient cohort went from $30,408 in 2013 to $41,778 in 2023, a rise of $11,370 in nominal dollars. Across the 4,315 colleges measured over the same 2013–2023 span, the median change was +14.6%.
11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
2013 · $30,4082023 · $41,778
Over the same years, enrollment went +12.9% (6,295 → 7,106 students).
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.
Student Demographics
Race & ethnicity
Student body at a glance
51.0%
Female
15.7%
First Generation
Outcomes
90.5%
Retention Rate
$65,556
Median Earnings (6yr)
80.2%
Earning Over $25K
81.0%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)
Outcomes & debt snapshot
| Measure | Cohort / horizon | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Completion within 150% of normal time | First-time, full-time | 83.8% |
| First-year retention | First-time, full-time freshmen | 90.5% |
| Median earnings | 6 years after entry | $65,556 |
| Median earnings | 10 years after entry | $78,354 |
| Share earning over $25,000 | Working, not enrolled | 80.2% |
| Loan repayment rate | Completers, 3 years after leaving | 81.0% |
| Median federal student debt | At completion | $19,500 |
| Estimated monthly payment | Standard 10-year plan | $207/mo |
Programs & Earnings
Field-of-study summary by credential
| Credential | Programs | Award count | Avg earnings | Top earnings | Avg debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 34 | 1,893 | $91,861 | $133,852 | $20,102 |
| Master's | 28 | 1,572 | $117,240 | $188,716 | $59,342 |
| First Professional | 1 | 268 | $153,614 | $153,614 | $145,569 |
| Graduate Certificate | 1 | 39 | - | - | - |
| Doctoral | 1 | 20 | - | - | $67,969 |
Top programs at Southern Methodist University by completer earnings
Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file
- Business Administration, M…
Business Administration, Management and Operations
$188,716 median earnings
- Information Science/Studies
Information Science/Studies
$173,816 median earnings
- Computer Systems Analysis
Computer Systems Analysis
$172,353 median earnings
- Systems Engineering
Systems Engineering
$163,769 median earnings
- Finance and Financial Mana…
Finance and Financial Management Services
$155,769 median earnings
- Law
Law
$153,614 median earnings
- Real Estate
Real Estate
$147,770 median earnings
- Applied Mathematics
Applied Mathematics
$144,761 median earnings
What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.
| Program | Credential | Completers | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's | 57 | $188,716 | $98,182 |
| Information Science/Studies | Master's | 89 | $173,816 | $52,712 |
| Computer Systems Analysis | Master's | 0 | $172,353 | $95,275 |
| Systems Engineering | Master's | 40 | $163,769 | - |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Master's | 0 | $155,769 | $85,733 |
| Law | First Professional | 268 | $153,614 | $145,569 |
| Real Estate | Master's | 0 | $147,770 | $51,966 |
| Applied Mathematics | Master's | 81 | $144,761 | $60,500 |
| Manufacturing Engineering | Master's | 43 | $141,296 | - |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | Master's | 501 | $140,799 | $50,500 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Bachelor's | 290 | $133,852 | $19,439 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | Master's | 0 | $133,137 | $70,114 |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's | 90 | $126,590 | $25,625 |
| Marketing | Master's | 0 | $124,730 | - |
| Accounting and Related Services | Master's | 86 | $112,268 | $36,500 |
Explore Data-Matched Colleges
Independent Scorecard matches among reporting colleges — not recommendations from the institution or a counselor.
Similar Enrollment and Sector
Other Private Nonprofit institutions closest in reported enrollment, preferring the same Carnegie classification.
Similar Reported Net Price
Other Private Nonprofit institutions with the nearest reported average net price.
Similar 2013–2023 Net-Price Trend
Same-sector institutions with the same direction and nearest fitted annual change; only series with R² of at least 0.40 qualify.
New England Institute of Technology
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+$1,179/year · $4/year apart
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Southern Methodist University? ▼
Southern Methodist University is a private nonprofit institution in Dallas, Texas. The acceptance rate is 63.3%. The average SAT score is 1,428. Undergraduate enrollment is 7,277 students.
How much do Southern Methodist University former students earn? ▼
Federally aided former students at Southern Methodist University who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $78,354 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $65,556.
How much does Southern Methodist University cost? ▼
The average net price at Southern Methodist University is $40,892. In-state tuition is $67,040 and out-of-state tuition is $67,040. Median student debt at graduation is $19,500.
What is the graduation rate at Southern Methodist University? ▼
Southern Methodist University has a 83.8% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 90.5%.
Is Southern Methodist University worth the student debt? ▼
The median student debt at Southern Methodist University is $19,500, while former students earn a median of $78,354 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 25% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 81.0% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $207.
Sources & methodology
Private-nonprofit profiles emphasize Scorecard cost-after-aid and completion alongside IPEDS Carnegie class. Endowment, gifts, and sticker price are not Scorecard fields on this page.
Figures are the Mar–Jul 2026 federal retrievals. Nonprofit campuses vary widely in aid practice — net price here is the Title-IV-recipient cohort average, not an individual award letter. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.
- College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education - former-student earnings, cost & completion (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics - enrollment, admissions, Carnegie class & demographics (nces.ed.gov/ipeds).
- U.S. Treasury / IRS earnings linkage - median earnings 6 & 10 years after enrollment for federal-aid recipients (irs.gov).
- College Scorecard, Field of Study - program-level (credential) earnings & debt (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- Federal Student Aid (Title IV / NSLDS) - U.S. Department of Education - net price, student debt & aid-recipient repayment outcomes (studentaid.gov).
Where to go next from Southern Methodist University
- Compare Southern Methodist University against schools with similar outcomes at a lower average net price.Find similar schools that cost less
- Browse every reporting college in Texas side by side.Browse Texas
- See how fields of study differ on former-student earnings and debt.Explore programs
Nonprofit Scorecard medians describe federal-aid recipients who were working and not enrolled — they are not sticker-price ROI and not advice.
Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Private-nonprofit profiles compile Scorecard net-price and earnings cohorts with IPEDS structure fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.