Southern Methodist University (SMU) vs University of Tulsa

Southern Methodist University (SMU) and the University of Tulsa (TU) are two esteemed private universities located in vibrant cities with rich histories. SMU, nestled in the heart of Dallas, Texas, boasts a lower acceptance rate of 48% compared to TU's 65%, indicating a more selective admissions process. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with SMU excelling in fields like business, engineering, and the arts, while TU is renowned for its engineering, business, and petroleum engineering programs. While SMU's student body is slightly larger, both universities share a commitment to providing a personalized and engaging learning experience. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further distinctions between these two institutions, including graduation rates, student demographics, and additional program offerings, to determine which university best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Southern Methodist University logo

Southern Methodist University

University of Tulsa logo

University of Tulsa

Overview

Location Dallas, Texas Tulsa, Oklahoma
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 91.0% 82.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation Methodism Presbyterian

Admission

Acceptance rate 53.1% 75.2%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $75
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $60
SAT range 1340 - 1510 1070 - 1370
ACT range 31 - 34 22 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 16.0% 19.0%
Students submitting ACT score 23.0% 56.0%
Total number of applicants 15,685 5,958
Total number of admissions given out 8,333 4,483
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,572 583
Yield rate 18.9% 13.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $72,336 $65,806
Average net price $41,986 $26,341
Tuition $53,464 $44,238
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $10,860

Meal plan: $6,578
Room/dormitory: $7,184

Meal plan: $6,220
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

74.0%
Average amount $34,940
99.0%
Average amount $34,473
Students receiving federal student loan 25.0%
Average amount $5,241
43.0%
Average amount $5,586
Students taking out private loans 5.0%
Average amount $29,055
13.0%
Average amount $20,841

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 6,908
Men 50.5% Women 49.5%
2,728
Men 50.4% Women 49.6%
Graduate students 5,477
Men 52.4% Women 47.6%
1,104
Men 52.4% Women 47.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 59.4% 45.9%
International students 8.1% 9.3%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 3,403 2,614
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Texas California Florida New York Illinois Oklahoma Texas Missouri Arkansas Kansas

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Legal Profession
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Engineering
  • Legal Profession
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 12:1 11:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 82.4% 73.4%
Dropout rate 4.7% 26.0%
Transferred out 12.4% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,915
  • Year 2: $111,196
  • Year 3: $127,135
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $118,537
  • Year 2: $120,363
  • Year 3: $120,106
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $99,239
  • Year 2: $101,558
  • Year 3: $116,891
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $104,021
  • Year 2: $101,072
  • Year 3: $112,196
Marketing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $89,842
  • Year 2: $101,072
  • Year 3: $107,302
Computer Systems Analysis (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $108,251
  • Year 2: $81,491
  • Year 3: $100,026
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $101,824
  • Year 2: $86,867
  • Year 3: $99,671
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $81,633
  • Year 2: $81,554
  • Year 3: $99,143
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,678
  • Year 2: $73,446
  • Year 3: $89,611
Operations Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $89,319
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $121,440
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $137,366
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $92,170
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,580
  • Year 2: $67,660
  • Year 3: $86,753
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $85,730
  • Year 2: $80,022
  • Year 3: $83,883
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,997
  • Year 2: $67,812
  • Year 3: $65,339
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,250
  • Year 2: $61,020
  • Year 3: $64,639
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,209
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $64,504
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,903
  • Year 2: $44,971
  • Year 3: $62,262
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,175
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $60,736
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $49,019
  • Year 3: $58,191

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