The University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) vs Southern Methodist University (SMU)

When it comes to higher education in Texas, two prominent universities that often draw comparisons are The University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) and Southern Methodist University (SMU). While both institutions offer a diverse range of academic programs and opportunities, they differ in several key aspects. UTPB, located in Odessa, is a public university with a focus on undergraduate education, while SMU, situated in Dallas, is a private research university with a strong emphasis on graduate studies. This side-by-side comparison delves into the acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates of these two universities, providing valuable insights for prospective students seeking the best fit for their academic and personal goals.
Southern Methodist University logo

Southern Methodist University

The University of Texas Permian Basin logo

The University of Texas Permian Basin

Overview

Location Dallas, Texas Odessa, Texas
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 91.0% 67.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation Methodism

Admission

Acceptance rate 53.1% 64.7%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $75
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $50
SAT range 1340 - 1510 920 - 1140
ACT range 31 - 34 17 - 23
Students submitting SAT score 16.0% 46.0%
Students submitting ACT score 23.0% 13.0%
Total number of applicants 15,685 1,212
Total number of admissions given out 8,333 784
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,572 388
Yield rate 18.9% 49.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $72,336
In state: $25,644

Out of state: $38,298
Average net price $41,986 $9,447
Tuition $53,464
In state: $6,328

Out of state: $18,988
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $10,860

Meal plan: $6,578
Room/dormitory: $6,384

Meal plan: $3,998
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

74.0%
Average amount $34,940
94.0%
Average amount $11,696
Students receiving federal student loan 25.0%
Average amount $5,241
31.0%
Average amount $4,726
Students taking out private loans 5.0%
Average amount $29,055
1.0%
Average amount $13,293

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 6,908
Men 50.5% Women 49.5%
4,249
Men 40.6% Women 59.4%
Graduate students 5,477
Men 52.4% Women 47.6%
1,285
Men 41.0% Women 59.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 59.4% 2.2%
International students 8.1% 3.1%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 3,403 1,181
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 Texas Nevada New Mexico Arizona California

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Legal Profession
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Business
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
Students to faculty ratio 12:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 82.4% 41.6%
Dropout rate 4.7% 23.3%
Transferred out 12.4% 31.5%
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
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,833
  • Year 2: $87,532
  • Year 3: $104,395
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,596
  • Year 2: $69,732
  • Year 3: $89,641
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $56,931
  • Year 3: $62,641
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $42,188
  • Year 3: $57,396
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $53,894
  • Year 3: $55,018
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $54,252
  • Year 3: $53,753
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,307
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $53,067
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $48,823
  • Year 3: $51,366
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $43,798
  • Year 3: $45,871
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,520
  • Year 2: $44,356
  • Year 3: $44,299

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