Southern Methodist University

It is moderately difficult to get into Southern Methodist University. Around 52% of applicants get into Southern Methodist University each year. Out of 16,150 applications received in 2023, 8,439 students were offered admission.

If you are applying to Southern Methodist University, the deadline for Fall 2024 admissions is 1/15 and the application fee is $60.

Students who apply to Southern Methodist University for the fall semester should receive an admissions decision no later than March 15.

Southern Methodist University Admissions Stats at a Glance

The following is an overiew of some of Southern Methodist University's admissions stats.

Southern Methodist University 2023	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	3.7
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	52%
Mean SAT Score	1436
Admissions Test Policy	Not optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	17%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	21%
Waitlist	Yes

Southern Methodist University Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Southern Methodist University.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	Yes	November 1	December 31
Early Decision II	Yes	January 15	April 1
Early Action	Yes	November 1	December 31
Regular Decision	Yes	1 15	March 15

---

Considering Applying Early to Southern Methodist University?

---

Southern Methodist University offers early decision and also offers early action. Early decision is binding, meaning you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.

🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 1 EDI applicants should receive a decision by December 31.

🗓️ Early Decision II applications are due January 15. ED II Applicants will recieve their decision before April 1.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1. Southern Methodist University will release EA admissions decisions no later than December 31.

The early decision acceptance rate at Southern Methodist University is 71%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 52%.

Southern Methodist University accepts roughly 73% of early action applicants and 52% all applicants for all deadlines. In 2022, Southern Methodist University admitted 416 of the 587 students who applied early decision. Last year, Southern Methodist University admitted 6,4 of the 8,25 who applied early action.

Some students apply to college early to increase their chances of being offering admission. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase your chance of admission, since it shows your interest in a school.

➡️ Find a list of some competetive colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

---

More on Southern Methodist University Admissions

---

Transferring to Southern Methodist University

Transfer student admissions is moderately difficult.

For Students Waitlisted to Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist University has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What's Most Important for Getting Into Southern Methodist University?

Colleges consider a range of factors when determining who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college has a different way of determining which factors are are most important in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that prioritize the areas where you stand out.

Admissions Factors at Southern Methodist University

What does Southern Methodist University consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Application Essay	Very Important
Recommendation(s)	Very Important
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Character/Personal Qualities	Important
Class Rank	Important
Extracurricular Activities	Important
Standardized Test Scores	Important
Talent/Ability	Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered
Work Experience	Considered
Level of Applicant's Interest	Considered
First Generation	Considered

Make sure to check with Southern Methodist University for more information on admission factors.

Southern Methodist University 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to Southern Methodist University, all applicants must submit the following items. Check with Southern Methodist University's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Written Essay or Personal Statement	–	√	–	–
Transcript(S) of College Record	–	–	–	–
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)	–	–	–	–
Letter(s) of Recommendation	1	–	–	–
Minimum High School GPA (On 4.0 Scale)	2.02.7	–	–
Other Requirements	√	–	–	statement of good standing from prior institution(s)
Transcript of High School Record	√	–	–	–

---

GPA and Testing

---

What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Southern Methodist University?

Students admitted to Southern Methodist University have an average unweighted GPA of 3.7.

Out of all students that were admitted, 24.8% submitted a class rank. At Southern Methodist University 52% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 82% were in the top 25% and 98% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At Southern Methodist University, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	21.72%
3.75 and 3.99	34.96%
3.50 and 3.74	22.33%
3.25 and 3.49	12.51%
3.00 and 3.24	5.74%
2.50 and 2.9	2.62%
2.00 and 2.49	–

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Southern Methodist University directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Southern Methodist University does not have a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 17% of Southern Methodist University's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 21% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Southern Methodist University?

To be competitive with other Southern Methodist University applicants, you should aim to score between 1390 and 1500 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Southern Methodist University 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1500 and 25% of scored lower than 1390, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a Southern Methodist University student is 1436.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Southern Methodist University students scored 770 or higher and 75% of students scored 680 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Southern Methodist University students scored 740 or higher, and 75% scored a 680 or higher.

To be most competitive at Southern Methodist University, you should strive to earn between 31 and 34 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 34 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Southern Methodist University's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 34, and three out of four students scored lower than 34 on the ACT.

A 31 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Southern Methodist University students. Only one out of every four students scored below 31.

More Information on Transferring to Southern Methodist University

For transfer students, it is moderately difficult to get admitted to Southern Methodist University.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is April 1. Transfer applications are processed on a on a rolling basis as they are received.

Transfer students can enroll in Southern Methodist University during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Winter Term

• Spring Term

• Winter Term

• Summer Term

---

Southern Methodist University Admissions FAQs

---

Can I defer my acceptance to Southern Methodist University?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Southern Methodist University.

Does Southern Methodist University accept transfer credits?

✅ Southern Methodist University accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. Southern Methodist University accepts:

• CLEP subject tests • DSST/DANTES

Does Southern Methodist University accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ Southern Methodist University accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Southern Methodist University?

✅ Southern Methodist University is not test optional.

What is Southern Methodist University's acceptance rate?

✅ Southern Methodist University's acceptance rate is 52%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Southern Methodist University?

✅ Southern Methodist University's early decision acceptance rate was 71% in 2021.

What is the early action acceptance rate at Southern Methodist University?

✅ The early action acceptance rate at Southern Methodist University was 73% in 2021.

Want To Learn More About Southern Methodist University?

To learn more about Southern Methodist University, choose from the options below:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about Southern Methodist University

Explore other colleges in Texas or use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting into some of the top colleges and universities in the U.S.