Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $85,606. College Scorecard.
Net price by family income
Average after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year
Sticker price, line by line
| Per year, living on campus | All students |
|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $67,040 |
| Housing & meals | $18,230 |
| Books & supplies | $800 |
| Personal & travel | $2,600 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$3,064 |
| Total cost of attendance | $85,606 |
Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two.
Debt after graduation
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
State aid: Texas residents with financial need attending eligible private nonprofit Texas colleges may receive a Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG); amounts are set each year. Not included in the prices above. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (College for All Texans)
College Scorecard
Need-based and merit aid at SMU
What SMU reported for full-time first-year students in fall 2025. Merit aid is the money net price averages miss for families who don't qualify for need-based aid.
If you qualify for need-based aid
If you don't qualify for need-based aid
Items H2-H2A. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
SMU net price compared with other Texas colleges
SMU has the 95th-lowest average net price of 96 Texas colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | $26,106 | 49% | $56,132 |
| 89 | Abilene Christian University | $26,182 | 59% | $55,736 |
| 90 | LeTourneau University | $28,185 | 59% | $57,103 |
| 91 | Dallas Baptist University | $28,516 | 57% | $56,807 |
| 92 | Parker University | $29,135 | 74% | $42,091 |
| 93 | Southwestern University | $29,224 | 73% | $56,878 |
| 94 | Texas Christian University | $36,660 | 86% | $68,424 |
| 95 | Southern Methodist University | $40,892 | 84% | $78,354 |
| 96 | Baylor University | $41,104 | 80% | $65,793 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All Texas colleges →
Why SMU costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Methodist University | 63% | $40,892 | 84% | $78,354 | This school |
| Texas Christian University | 44% | $36,660 | 86% | $68,424 | |
| Abilene Christian University | 66% | $26,182 | 59% | $55,736 | |
| Parker University | — | $29,135 | 74% | $42,091 | |
| University of Dallas | 53% | $22,610 | 73% | $58,285 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
Southern Methodist University would cost you $4,232 more per year than Texas Christian University, on average.
- Higher sticker price at Southern Methodist University, mostly from higher tuition & fees (+$5,300).
- Southern Methodist University gives aided families $4,770 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, Texas resident | SMU | TCU | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $67,040 | $61,740 | +$5,300 |
| Books & supplies | $800 | $800 | $0 |
| Housing & meals | $18,230 | $14,800 | +$3,430 |
| Personal & travel | $2,600 | $4,240 | −$1,640 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$3,064 | −$4,976 | +$1,912 |
| Sticker price | $85,606 | $76,604 | +$9,002 |
| Average grants | −$44,714 | −$39,944 | −$4,770 |
| You pay | $40,892 | $36,660 | +$4,232 |
“+” means SMU costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
SMU cost questions
How much is tuition at SMU?
Tuition and fees are $67,040 a year.
What is the total cost of attending SMU?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $85,606 a year.
What do families actually pay at SMU?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $40,892 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $23,544; $48–75k pay $24,152; $110k+ pay $58,213.
Does SMU give merit scholarships?
For fall 2025, 501 full-time first-year students with no financial need received merit scholarships or grants from Southern Methodist University, averaging $30,239 (Common Data Set 2025-26, excluding athletic awards). Students with need had 90% of it met on average.
How much debt do SMU graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $15,311, and 2.1% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to Southern Methodist University overview