Southern Methodist University, or SMU, is a private, coeducational university in University Park, Texas. It was established in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal and is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church. It consistently ranks among the top three national universities in U.S. News & World Report's annual guidebook, America's Best Colleges. SMU offers an array of degrees and programs in diverse areas of study. It has seven degree-granting academic divisions. They are:
SMU's athletic teams are nicknamed the Mustangs. They participate in the NCAA's Division I (I-A for football) as a member of Conference USA (C-USA).
SMU is located in a large city, in Dallas, TX. The school is officially a United Methodist school. SMU is a private, not-for-profit institution. Degree levels at the school top out at the Doctoral degree.
The range of program offerings available from SMU is especially impressive compared to its number of students. Students at the school often study engineering, music, media, and business and management.
The admissions department at SMU does not accept all those who apply. In 2007, 50% of applicants were rejected at the school. Most students' verbal SAT scores were in the range of 560 to 660 in 2007. A quarter of students admitted in 2007 scored 670 or higher on the math SAT.
Students at the school benefit from the low student/teacher ratio. The school's tenure system is geared toward rewarding and keeping the most valuable professors. By paying its faculty better than most schools, the school tries to attract and retain a high quality teaching staff.
SMU offers classes to 10,829 students (9,118 full-time equivalent).
The school serves primarily full-time students. SMU does offer meal plans to students. Students sports include formal participation in Conference USA competitions.
More complete details are provided below.
Southern Methodist University
6425 Boaz St
Dallas, TX 75275-0221
General Phone: (214) 768-2000
http://www.smu.edu
| General Category | Degrees | Most Common Majors [see all] |
|---|---|---|
| Business And Management | 845 | finance, business management, accounting, marketing, financial planning, entrepreneurship, management science, MIS, ... |
| Liberal Arts | 642 | economics, liberal arts and sciences, English, political science, peace and conflict resolution, history, anthropology, sociology, ... |
| Engineering | 330 | systems engineering, engineering management, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, operations research, civil engineering, various engineering courses, environmental engineering, ... |
| Law | 263 | law, foreign lawyers, tax law, US law |
| Media | 253 | advertising, public relations, journalism, animation and special effects, radio and television, mass communication |
| Therapy And Counseling | 137 | psychology, clinical psychology, music therapy |
| Computer Science And Engineering | 129 | software engineering, computer science, computer services management, computer engineering, information technology |
| Religion And Philosophy | 113 | ministry, theology, religion, philosophy, religious music |
| Education And Teaching | 97 | education courses, education of learning disabled, multilingual education, music teaching, education, special ed |
| Science | 84 | biology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, geology, geophysics |
| Music | 77 | music performance, voice, music, conducting, piano, music theory and composition |
| Engineering Technician | 67 | telecommunications tech, drafting and design tech, hazardous materials tech |
| Fine Arts | 62 | art history and criticism, fine arts |
| Drama And Performing Arts | 50 | dance, drama |
| Mathematics | 43 | mathematics, computational mathematics, statistics, applied mathematics |
| Real Estate And Construction Management | 22 | real estate |
| Photography And Commercial Art | 19 | film studies, cinematography |
| Family And Social Work | 11 | facilities management, public policy analysis |
| Art Studies | 3 | arts management |
| Conservation And Resource Management | 1 | environmental studies, environmental science |
Number of programs and degrees for SMU in 2007:
| Degree Level | Total Awarded | Number of Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 1,661 | 76 |
| Master's degree | 1,170 | 75 |
| First-professional degree | 273 | 2 |
| Postbaccalaureate certificate | 88 | 9 |
| Doctor's degree | 56 | 22 |
In 2007, SMU had a total enrollment of 10,829 students (9,118 full-time equivalent).
Students in the Freshman Class:
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Men | 47% |
| Women | 53% |
| Full-Time | 100% |
| Part-Time | 0% |
Students By Class:
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 55% |
| Graduate | 35% |
| First Professional | 10% |
| Race | Percent |
|---|---|
| White | 70% |
| Black | 6% |
| Hispanic | 8% |
| Asian | 7% |
| American Indian | 1% |
| Unknown | 0% |
| (Foreign Students) | 8% |
Students by Age:
| Age | Percent |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | 1% |
| 18-19 | 22% |
| 20-21 | 24% |
| 22-24 | 16% |
| 25-29 | 15% |
| 30-34 | 8% |
| 35-39 | 5% |
| 40-49 | 6% |
| 50-64 | 3% |
| 65+ | 0% |
Incoming (Freshman) Students by Place of Residence:
(From available data sampling)
| Residence | Percent |
|---|---|
| Texas | 43% |
| California | 10% |
| Florida | 4% |
| (International Students) | 3% |
| Illinois | 3% |
| Louisiana | 3% |
| Oklahoma | 2% |
| Georgia | 2% |
| Missouri | 2% |
| Maryland | 2% |
| Connecticut | 2% |
| Tennessee | 2% |
| New York | 2% |
| Colorado | 2% |
| Kansas | 1% |
| Arizona | 1% |
| Alabama | 1% |
| Arkansas | 1% |
| Virginia | 1% |
| Minnesota | 1% |
| Indiana | 1% |
| Wisconsin | 1% |
| Pennsylvania | 1% |
| Ohio | 1% |
| New Jersey | 1% |
| Massachusetts | 1% |
| North Carolina | 1% |
| Washington | 1% |
Retention Rates (2007):
| Group | Returning From Previous Year |
|---|---|
| Full-Time | 89 % |
| Part-Time | 100 % |
SMU offers campus housing for 2,350 of its 9,118 (full-time) students. Freshmen are required to live on campus.
(Please refer to our profile of Dallas, Texas for details about the area surrounding the campus. Also see our list of other Texas Colleges).
The school offers students a meal plan with 21 meals per week.
Acceptances:
| Group | Applicants | Accepted | Percent Accepted | Enrolled | Percent of Accepted Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 8,253 | 4,134 | 50% | 1,309 | 32% |
| Men | 3,722 | 1,741 | 47% | 610 | 35% |
| Women | 4,531 | 2,392 | 53% | 699 | 29% |
Standardized Test Scores:
| Test | 25th Percentile | 75th Percetile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT Verbal | 560 | 660 |
| SAT Math | 570 | 670 |
| SAT Writing | 560 | 650 |
| ACT Verbal | 24 | 30 |
| ACT Math | 24 | 29 |
| ACT Composite | 25 | 29 |
Application Requirements:
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| GPA | required |
| Class Rank | recommended |
| High School Record | required |
| College Prep Program | required |
| Recommendations | required |
| Formal Demonstration of Competence | recommended |
| Standardized Tests (SAT and/or ACT) | required |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting SAT | 75% |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting ACT | 47% |
| TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | required |
Expenses and Financial Aid:
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| In-state tuition and fees | $ 30,880 |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $ 30,880 |
| Room and board | $ 10,995 |
| Room charge | $ 6,900 |
| Board (meal plan) charge | $ 4,095 |
| Books and supplies | $ 800 |
| Other expenses | $ 1,600 |
Financial Aid:
SMU participates in Federal Title IV financial aid programs. (The school's OPE ID is 361300)
SMU has a tenure system for faculty.
Tenure Status of Faculty (2007):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Tenured | 262 | 74 |
| Non-tenured, but on tenure track | 81 | 44 |
| Non-tenured and not on tenure track | 78 | 100 |
Salaries for full-time faculty:
Full-Time Faculty (2007):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | academic year | 161 | $126,783 | 28 | $110,521 |
| Associate professor | academic year | 109 | $86,590 | 46 | $78,283 |
| Assistant professor | academic year | 81 | $81,562 | 49 | $73,405 |
| Instructor | academic year | 1 | * | 1 | * |
| Lecturer | academic year | 63 | $56,491 | 89 | $48,125 |
| No academic rank | academic year | 3 | $88,846 | 2 | * |
| All faculty total | academic year | 418 | $96,734 | 215 | $68,997 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Athletic Conferences:
| Sport | Conference |
|---|---|
| Football | Conference USA |
| Basketball | Conference USA |
| Track | Conference USA |
Students on Athletic Scholarships (2007):
| Sport | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 25 | 16 | 41 |
| Football | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| Basketball | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Track | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| All Other Sports | 3 | 10 | 13 |
BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Accounting
Accounting and Business/Management
Business Administration and Management, General
Business, Management, Marketing & Related Support Services, Other
E-Commerce/Electronic Commerce
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies
Finance and Financial Management Services, Other
Finance, General
Financial Planning and Services
Management Information Systems, General
Management Science, General
Marketing/Marketing Management, General
Organizational Behavior Studies
COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Computer Engineering, General
Computer Science
Computer Software Engineering
Computer/Info Tech Services Administration & Management, Other
Information Technology
CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS
Dance, General
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
EDUCATION AND TEACHING
Bilingual and Multilingual Education
Education, General
Education, Other
Education/Teaching Individuals - Specific Learning Disabilities
Music Teacher Education
Special Education and Teaching, General
ENGINEERING
Archeology
Civil Engineering, General
Construction Engineering
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
Engineering Science
Engineering, General
Engineering, Other
Engineering/Industrial Management
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Operations Research
Systems Engineering
ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other
Hazardous Materials Management and Waste Technology/Technician
Telecommunications Technology/Technician
FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK
Facilities Planning and Management
Public Policy Analysis
FINE ARTS
Art History, Criticism and Conservation
Fine/Studio Arts, General
LAW
American/US Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence (LLM, MCJ, JSD/SJD)
Law (LLB, JD)
Programs for Foreign Lawyers (LLM, MCL)
Tax Law/Taxation (LLM, JSD/SJD)
LIBERAL ARTS
African-American/Black Studies
Anthropology
Anthropology, Other
Applied Economics
Creative Writing
Economics, General
English Language and Literature, General
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, and Gender Studies, Other
French Language and Literature
General Studies
German Language and Literature
German Studies
Hispanic-American,Puerto Rican & Mexican-American/Chicano Studies
History, General
Humanities/Humanistic Studies
International Relations and Affairs
International/Global Studies
Italian Language and Literature
Italian Studies
Latin American Studies
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
Political Science and Government, General
Social Sciences, General
Sociology
Spanish Language and Literature
Women's Studies
MATHEMATICS
Applied Mathematics
Computational Mathematics
Mathematics, General
Statistics, General
MEDIA
Advertising
Animation, Interactive Tech, Video Graphics and Special Effects
Journalism
Mass Communication/Media Studies
Public Relations/Image Management
Radio and Television
MUSIC
Conducting
Music Performance, General
Music Theory and Composition
Music, General
Piano and Organ
Voice and Opera
PHOTOGRAPHY AND COMMERCIAL ART
Cinematography and Film/Video Production
Film/Cinema Studies
REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
Real Estate
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
Divinity/Ministry (BD, MDiv)
Philosophy
Religion/Religious Studies
Religious/Sacred Music
Theology/Theological Studies
SCIENCE
Biochemistry
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Chemistry, General
Geology/Earth Science, General
Geophysics and Seismology
Physics, General
THERAPY AND COUNSELING
Clinical Psychology
Music Therapy/Therapist
Psychology, General
(Details are provided further down on this page.)
What Sets SMU Apart:
| Category | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of degree programs (vs. all colleges) | Top 2% | ![]() ![]() |
| % of degrees in religion and philosophy (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 4% | ![]() ![]() |
| Salaries of full-time faculty (vs. all colleges) | Top 4% | ![]() ![]() |
| % of degrees in law (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 6% | ![]() |
| Number of students (vs. all colleges) | Top 7% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in drama and performing arts (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 7% | ![]() |
| Student SAT scores (vs. all colleges) | Top 10% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in fine arts (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 15% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in media (vs. all colleges) | Top 15% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in music (vs. all colleges) | Top 15% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in engineering (vs. all colleges) | Top 16% | ![]() |
| Faculty/student ratio (full-time) (vs. all colleges) | Top 16% | ![]() |
| Male % of student body (vs. all colleges) | Top 18% | ![]() |
| Selectivity (based on % of applicants accepted) (vs. colleges with similar degree levels) | Top 18% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in computer science and engineering (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 18% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in business and management (vs. all colleges) | Top 19% | ![]() |
Notable:
United Methodist affiliation
Accepts some high school credits
Grants credits for AP courses
Offers distance learning
Career counseling
Career services
Student employment services
On-campus day care
Remedial classes for students
Option to study abroad
Offers part-time study
On-campus library
Offers campus housing
Offers a board (meal) plan
Tenure system for quality teaching
Has ROTC (army, air force)
Offers athletic scholarships
NCAA athletic conference member
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