Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Southern Methodist University at a Glance
Southern Methodist University (SMU) is a private research university in University Park, Texas, United States, with a satellite campus in Taos County, New Mexico. SMU was founded on April 17, 1911, by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South—now part of the United Methodist Church—in partnership with Dallas civic leaders. It is currently non-sectarian in its teaching and enrolls students of all religious affiliations. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research spending a…
1911
115 years old
$2.5B
$2.48 billion
12,544
7,545 undergrad · 4,999 grad
1,163
234 acres
Identity
Is Southern Methodist University Worth It?
Southern Methodist University offers moderate value at $40,892/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $78,354, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
With a 2.1-year payback period, most graduates recoup their total cost of attendance relatively quickly.
The 84% graduation rate means roughly 16% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Southern Methodist University compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 10 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Southern Methodist University | 40 | $40,892 | $78,354 |
| #2 | Fordham University | 39 | $44,338 | $85,569 |
| #3 | American University | 36 | $41,943 | $77,370 |
| #4 | Merrimack College | 35 | $37,927 | $75,584 |
| #5 | Bellevue University | 34 | $17,550 | $61,289 |
| #6 | Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global | 32 | $16,898 | $59,986 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Southern Methodist University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Southern Methodist University
The highest-earning program at Southern Methodist University is Computer Science at $72,100/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $17,600/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from Southern Methodist University earns $72,100, while a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduate earns $17,600. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Science graduates carry $21,312 in median debt vs. $21,500 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $40,892/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $72,100 | $72,100 | $21,312 |
| Operations Research | $70,100 | $70,100 | $15,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $68,400 | $68,400 | $20,500 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $68,100 | $68,100 | $19,270 |
| Mathematics | $60,500 | $60,500 | $23,250 |
| Economics | $59,000 | $59,000 | $19,500 |
| Marketing | $53,900 | $53,900 | $12,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $49,100 | $49,100 | $17,825 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $45,600 | $45,600 | $19,500 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $41,900 | $41,900 | $18,407 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $39,900 | $39,900 | $21,500 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $39,300 | $39,300 | $16,250 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $39,100 | $39,100 | $23,250 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $38,300 | $38,300 | $22,221 |
| Journalism | $34,900 | $34,900 | $19,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $34,200 | $34,200 | $25,000 |
| Sociology | $32,100 | $32,100 | $22,972 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $27,900 | $27,900 | $21,441 |
| Biology, General | $26,500 | $26,500 | $23,375 |
| Psychology, General | $26,400 | $26,400 | $21,470 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $17,600 | $17,600 | $21,500 |
Similar Colleges in TX
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Dallas, TX
- Student Body
- 7,277 students
- Admission Rate
- 63%
- Graduation Rate
- 84%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $40,892
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $78,354
- Median Student Debt
- $19,500