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Southern Methodist University

Acceptance Rate

Fall 2021 admitted students

53.1%

The data shows that the ACT was more popular among the first-time enrolled students, with a majority of students opting for this test.

Average SAT Score

1425

Students submitting SAT Score

Out of the total 8333 admitted students 255 students submitted their SAT score when applying.

16%

For the admitted students who submitted SAT scores, 50% of their scores fell within the following range 1340-1510. Specifically, in the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) section, 50% of admitted students scored between 660 and 740, while 25% scored below 660 and another 25% scored above 740.

In the Math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 680 and 770, while 25% scored below 680 and 25% achieved a score of 770. The data suggests that, applicants with a composite SAT score of 1425 or higher have competitive chances of gaining admission to SMU.

Overall, for the admitted students who submitted SAT scores, their scores placed most of them within the top 10% nationally.

  • Reading and Writing

    660-740
  • Math

    680-770

Average ACT Score

The average ACT score of admitted students for Fall 2021 enrollment season.

33

Students who Submitted ACT Score

Out of the 8333 admitted students 357 students submitted their ACT score when applying.

23%

Similar to the SAT, SMU does not require applicants to submit either SAT or ACT scores. However, during the Fall 2021 admissions season, around 23% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

The middle 50% of admitted students received a composite ACT score between 31 and 34, with 25% scoring above 34 and another 25% scoring below 31.

For the admitted students who submitted ACT scores, their scores placed most of them around the middle, above 52% of test takers nationally.

  • English

    32-35
  • Math

    28-33
  • Composite

    31-34

Application Fees

Fall 2021

$60

Undergraduate

$75

Graduate

Applicants Stats

The following table details the number of students who applied, admitted, and enrolled in SMU during the Fall 2021 enrollment season.

Total Men Women
Applicants 15,685 7,325 8,360
Admitted students 8,333 3,695 4,638
Enrolled students 1,572 741 831
Acceptance rate 53% 50% 56%
Yield rate 19% 20% 18%
    • Total Applicants

      During the Fall 2021 enrollment season, SMU received a total of 15,685 applications. These applications included 7,325 male applicants and 8,360 female applicants.
    • Admitted Students

      Out of the 15,685 applicants, SMU admitted 8,333 students. Among the admitted students, there were 3,695 males and 4,638 females who received offers of admission.
    • Enrolled Students

      Among the admitted students, 1,572 students chose to enroll at SMU. This means that 1,572 students accepted the admission offers and officially registered to attend the university for the Fall 2021 term. Among the enrolled students, 741 were male and 831 were female.
    • Acceptance Rate

      The acceptance rate is the percentage of applicants who were offered admission. In this case, SMU had an overall acceptance rate of 53% for the Fall 2021 enrollment season. When we break it down by gender, the acceptance rate for male applicants was 50% while the acceptance rate for female applicants was 56%.
    • Yield Rate

      The yield rate is the percentage of admitted students who actually chose to enroll at the university. SMU had an overall yield rate of 19% for the Fall 2021 term. The yield rate for male admitted students was 20%, and for female admitted students, it was 18%.

Admission and Enrollment Trends

The following table presents the application, admission, and enrollment statistics for SMU over the past 7 years.

Applicants Admitted Students Acceptance Rate Enrolled Students Yield Rate
Year Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women
2015 12,992 5,865 7,127 6,360 2,970 3,390 49% 51% 48% 1,374 715 659 22% 24% 19%
2016 13,250 6,060 7,190 6,482 3,030 3,452 49% 50% 48% 1,522 770 752 24% 25% 22%
2017 13,128 6,096 7,032 6,402 3,036 3,366 49% 50% 48% 1,423 718 705 22% 24% 21%
2018 12,603 6,127 6,476 6,457 3,169 3,288 51% 52% 51% 1,530 808 722 24% 26% 22%
2019 13,959 6,613 7,346 6,601 3,146 3,455 47% 48% 47% 1,544 787 757 23% 25% 22%
2020 14,010 6,714 7,296 7,379 3,570 3,809 53% 53% 52% 1,531 773 758 21% 22% 20%
2021 15,685 7,325 8,360 8,333 3,695 4,638 53% 50% 56% 1,572 741 831 19% 20% 18%

Admission Requirements

Fall 2021

Southern Methodist University uses the following list of admission requirements and recommended documents when evaluating students' applications. All documents listed under the Required sections must be submitted with your application, but those listed under the Recommended section are optional.

SMU is a test-optional college where applicants are not required to submit standardized test (SAT or ACT) scores with their applications. Test scores are considered if submitted, but they are not mandatory. In the 1 enrollment season, 1 of admitted students submitted SAT scores, and 1 submitted ACT scores for admission. Please double-check with the school to verify the current and complete admission requirements.

Required

  • Secondary school GPA
  • Secondary school record
  • Completion of college-preparatory program
  • Recommendation letters
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

Recommended

  • Secondary school rank
  • Formal demonstration of competencies

Considered

  • Test scores (SAT/ACT)

Neither required nor recommended

  • Other tests (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Accepted Credits

Fall 2021

The following is a list of college preparatory work and life experience that are accepted at Southern Methodist University.

  • Credit for life experiences

    Accepted
  • Advanced placement (AP) credits

    Accepted
  • Dual credit (college credit earned while in high school)

    Accepted