Southern Methodist University Acceptance Rate
Dallas, Texas · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 15,092
- Admitted
- 9,240
- Yield
- 17.2%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Southern Methodist University's acceptance rate has risen from 52.4% in 2014–15 to 61.2% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 11,817 to 15,092 (+28%) over that period.
Its 61.2% rate makes Southern Methodist University more selective than about 74% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 65 tracked Texas schools, it is more selective than about 74%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (63.5% for women vs 58.6% for men, a 4.9-point gap). Southern Methodist University has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 17.2% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 11,817 | 6,192 | 52.4% | 1,459 |
| 2015–16 | 12,992 | 6,360 | 49% | 1,374 |
| 2016–17 | 13,250 | 6,482 | 48.9% | 1,522 |
| 2017–18 | 13,128 | 6,402 | 48.8% | 1,423 |
| 2018–19 | 12,603 | 6,457 | 51.2% | 1,530 |
| 2019–20 | 13,959 | 6,601 | 47.3% | 1,544 |
| 2020–21 | 14,010 | 7,379 | 52.7% | 1,531 |
| 2021–22 | 15,685 | 8,333 | 53.1% | 1,572 |
| 2022–23 | 16,150 | 8,439 | 52.3% | 1,639 |
| 2023–24 | 15,092 | 9,240 | 61.2% | 1,592 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 7,992 | 5,078 | 63.5% |
| Men | 7,100 | 4,162 | 58.6% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 660–730 | 17% |
| SAT Math | 660–750 | |
| ACT Composite | 30–34 | 15% |
How Southern Methodist University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Southern Methodist University's acceptance rate?
Southern Methodist University's acceptance rate is 61.2% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (9,240 admitted of 15,092 applicants).
Is Southern Methodist University test optional?
Southern Methodist University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Southern Methodist University?
Southern Methodist University received 15,092 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 9,240.
What SAT score do you need for Southern Methodist University?
Admitted students at Southern Methodist University typically scored 660–730 on SAT Reading/Writing and 660–750 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Southern Methodist University getting harder to get into?
Southern Methodist University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 52.4% in 2014–15 to 61.2% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://www.smu.edu/.