Private research university in Dallas blending rigorous academics with hands-on experience in a vibrant metropolitan setting.
SMU operates eight degree-granting schools: Cox School of Business, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman School of Law, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, Perkins School of Theology, and Simmons School of Education and Human Development. The university offers over 100 majors and 85 minors, with an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio. In 2020, SMU granted 3,827 degrees including 315 doctorates, 1,659 master's degrees, and 1,853 bachelor's degrees. Graduate programs rank notably in law (43rd), business (34th), and statistics (54th) according to U.S. News & World Report.
The main 234-acre campus in University Park features Dallas Hall, the iconic centerpiece built in 1915, and hosts the George W. Bush Presidential Center. The campus was ranked most beautiful in America by Condé Nast Traveler in 2016. SMU maintains a satellite 423-acre campus in Taos, New Mexico, offering intersession and summer courses. The university supports active Greek life, student organizations, athletics in NCAA Division I FBS and the ACC, and a vibrant residential community with diverse housing and dining options.
For fall 2020 entry, SMU received 14,010 applications with a 52.7% admission rate and 20.7% yield. The middle 50% SAT range was 630–710 (Evidence-Based Reading & Writing) and 620–740 (Math), with ACT Composite 29–33. First-year retention rate was 92%. The University Honors Program automatically reviews top 10% of admitted first-year students for selective honors coursework and culminating senior projects.
SMU is classified as an R1 doctoral university with very high research spending. The university operates numerous research centers including the AT&T Center for Virtualization, Darwin Deason Institute for Cyber Security, and SMU DataArts (National Center for Arts Research). SMU Guildhall offers the only graduate program in the country with all four pillars of game development and has been ranked #1 for game design by Princeton Review. Faculty and students collaborate as co-creators of knowledge across arts, sciences, engineering, business, and humanities.