Southern Methodist University

SMU’s academic vibe is collaborative but ambitious, with an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and a curriculum that emphasizes hands-on learning. Students can choose from 100+ majors and 85 minors, with particularly strong programs in business, engineering, and the arts. The Princeton Review praises its "close-knit community" and "fun and interesting courses."

• Pedagogy: 99% of courses incorporate writing-intensive work, and 59% include service-learning components.
• Flexibility: Double majors are common, and the Cox School of Business offers direct admission for undergrads.
• Weaknesses: Only 16% of students participate in first-year experiences, and just 18% complete a senior capstone—suggesting fewer structured transitions than some peers.

Life at SMU revolves around Greek life, football games, and Dallas’s upscale social scene. With 50% of students living on campus, the vibe is tight-knit but party-heavy—Reddit threads note that "clubbing is bigger than frat parties." Over 200 student organizations cater to diverse interests, from a cappella groups to startup incubators.

• Housing: First-years are required to live on campus, but half the student body moves off by sophomore year.
• Traditions: "Boulevarding" (tailgating with tents and chandeliers) before football games epitomizes SMU’s blend of Southern tradition and Dallas glitz.
• City perks: Students frequent the Arts District and internships at Fortune 500 companies like AT&T.

SMU delivers strong ROI, with an 83% six-year graduation rate and 88% career outcomes rate (employed or in grad school within 6 months). Alumni earnings outpace national averages:

• Early career: $67,114 (1 year post-grad)
• Mid-career: $95,051 (College Scorecard)
• Top employers: ExxonMobil, Deloitte, and Texas Instruments recruit heavily on campus.

However, outcomes vary by major—business and engineering graduates earn significantly more than arts/humanities peers.

SMU is one of the priciest Texas schools, with a sticker price of $61,880/year. However, the average net price?Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. drops to $45,792 after aid—though aid skews toward merit over need:

• Affluent families: Those earning over $110K pay ~$64K/year.
• Middle-income: $21,577–$24,468 net price for families earning $30K–$75K.
• Scholarships: 52% of undergrads receive merit aid?Merit aidScholarship money awarded for achievements like grades, talents, or test scores — not based on your family's financial need., averaging $27,376.

Critics note that SMU’s aid packages often include loans, and its endowment per student is lower than elite peers.

SMU’s Dallas adjacency is its superpower: students land internships at Southwest Airlines or the Dallas Fed by sophomore year. The campus aesthetic—redbrick Georgian architecture with manicured quads—feels Ivy-esque, but the culture is unabashedly social, with a "work hard, play hard" ethos. It’s the rare school where students wear blazers to football games and cite "networking" as a top reason for attending. For those who can stomach the cost, SMU offers a pipeline to Texas’s corporate elite—but it’s less ideal for students seeking a countercultural or highly subsidized education.