More selective than 72% of Texas colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
17% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 15% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose SMU over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
High school GPA of SMU first-year students
Share of fall 2025 first-year students in each high school GPA range. Colleges report GPAs as they record them, weighted or not.
100% of first-year students reported a high school GPA.
Items C11-C12; enrolled students, not admitted students. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Early decision, early action and the waitlist
You hear early and can still apply elsewhere.
4,249 offered a spot, 1,074 took it, 243 admitted.
Items C2, C21-C22. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
SMU SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, SMU is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 670 | 740 |
| SAT math | 670 | 750 |
| ACT composite | 30 | 34 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1340 | 1490 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
SMU admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 63% | 670–740 | 670–750 | 30–34 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 61% | 660–730 | 660–750 | 30–34 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is SMU compared with other Texas colleges?
SMU has the 20th-lowest acceptance rate of 70 Texas colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | McMurry University | 57% | 44% | $19,581 |
| 17 | Texas A&M University-College Station | 57% | 84% | $21,315 |
| 18 | East Texas Baptist University | 58% | 47% | $23,911 |
| 19 | The King's University | 61% | 47% | $14,140 |
| 20 | Southern Methodist University | 63% | 84% | $40,892 |
| 21 | Texas A&M University-Texarkana | 64% | 30% | $12,997 |
| 22 | The University of Texas at Dallas | 65% | 76% | $18,267 |
| 23 | Abilene Christian University | 66% | 59% | $26,182 |
| 24 | Howard Payne University | 67% | 28% | $23,627 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All Texas colleges →
Who enrolls at SMU
College Scorecard; IPEDS
SMU admissions questions
What is the SMU acceptance rate?
Southern Methodist University accepts 63% of applicants, about 1 in 2. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 9,240 of 15,092 applicants were admitted.
Does SMU require the SAT or ACT?
Southern Methodist University considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 17% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 15% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for SMU?
The middle 50% of Southern Methodist University enrolled first-year students scored 1340–1490 on the SAT and 30–34 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at SMU?
17% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (1,592 of 9,240).
How many students get off the SMU waitlist?
For fall 2025, 4,249 applicants were offered a waitlist spot, 1,074 accepted one and 243 were admitted (23% of those who stayed on the list).
Is SMU getting harder to get into?
Southern Methodist University accepted 63% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 61% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; SMU's Common Data Set 2025-26; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Southern Methodist University overview