Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX
Southern Methodist University admitted 11,459 of 24,053 applicants for the fall 2025 entering class (47.6%).
Every figure on this page is published by the college or a federal survey, and carries the source it came from. They describe the fall 2025 entering class, a read on the school, not a prediction about any one applicant.
What stands out at Southern Methodist University
Three things Southern Methodist University published, ranked by how much each could change what you actually do, not by how impressive it looks. Every one describes a class that has already enrolled.
Early Decision admitted 80.3%. The regular round admitted 46.9%.
1.7×
the regular-round rate
A ratio between two rates the school published. Not a change in anyone’s odds.
424 of 528 early applicants were admitted, against 11,035 of 23,525 in the regular round. Early Decision is binding, and you can only use it at one school, which is exactly why the gap is worth knowing before you choose where to spend it.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
1.7×
the regular-round rate
A ratio between two rates the school published. Not a change in anyone’s odds.
243 admitted from a waitlist of 4,249.
1,074 students accepted a place on that list, and 243 were admitted from it, 22.6% of the students who waited. A waitlist offer here is not a near-miss anyone can plan around.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
9.4% of the enrolled class sent an SAT.
The SAT band on this page describes that share of the class, not all of it. Another 8.6% sent an ACT. Southern Methodist University files test scores under “considered”.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Every figure, in full
The same measured fields on every one of these pages. Nothing is filled in where the school published nothing.
Acceptance rate
47.6%
11,459 admitted of 24,053 applicants
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
SAT, middle 50%
1360–1470
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
ACT, middle 50%
31–34
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Average GPA of admitted students
3.69
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Enrolled students who sent an SAT
9.4%
Counted per test: a student may send both.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Enrolled students who sent an ACT
8.6%
Counted per test: a student may send both.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Where do you actually stand at Southern Methodist University?
The figures above describe a class that already enrolled. GoodGoblin reads them against your own transcript, scores and activities, then builds the balanced list, the essay plan and the deadline calendar around what it finds.
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How the rate has moved
Two measured admit rates from the federal survey, the years apart it reports them. A rate that moved, not a forecast.
Over 5 years the admit rate rose from 51% to 61%.
What Southern Methodist University says it weighs
The school's own words, from the form it fills in every year. Ranked as it ranks them.
- Essayrequired
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
- Course rigorrequired
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
- GPArequired
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
- Recommendationsrequired
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
- Test scoresconsidered
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
- Class rankconsidered
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
The early round, in counts
Two published rates side by side. Early applicants are a different group of students, so the gap is a fact about those pools, not a lever anyone can pull.
Early Decision
1.7× the rateEarly Decision admitted 80.3% (424 of 528), against 46.9% in the regular round.
11,035 of 23,525 in the comparison pool.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
The waitlist, as the school reported it
Published counts, including the ones schools rarely lead with.
- Offered a waitlist place
- 4,249
- Accepted the place
- 1,074
- Admitted from the waitlist
- 243
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
What students actually pay
Net price after grants and scholarships: not the sticker price.
Average net price: $40,892 a year.
- Family income under $30k
- $23,544
- $30k–$48k
- $20,038
- $48k–$75k
- $24,152
- $75k–$110k
- $33,477
- Over $110k
- $58,213
Source: the College Scorecard
Essays on this application
2 essay prompts on the application: 2 you would write.
Published deadlines
Each date is read from the college's own materials and re-checked on a schedule.
More colleges on the record
Every one of these carries the same measured figures, with the same sources.
Other colleges in Texas
The pages nearest this one on acceptance rate, in the same state.
Colleges with a nearby acceptance rate
Anywhere in the country, ordered by how close the published rate is to this one. A selection rule, not a ranking.
Build the list this school belongs on.
The figures above describe a class that already enrolled. GoodGoblin reads them against your own transcript, scores and activities, then builds the balanced list, the essay plan and the deadline calendar around what it finds.
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