Campus profile

The optimistic outlook of Dallas is at the heart of SMU. For more than a century, SMU’s enterprising spirit has helped shape Dallas into a global gateway for people of all backgrounds who want to change the world. SMU was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South to promote higher education and freedom of inquiry and remains secular in its teaching. This comprehensive research university joined with an energetic city creates an opportunity powerhouse where more than 12,000 undergraduate and graduate students forge their success in a rigorous academic environment and own their future. Eight degree-granting schools elevate SMU to the top tier of national universities. SMU prepares Mustangs for the demands of a rapidly changing world and jobs that don’t yet exist. SMU’s innovative, flexible Common Curriculum builds a solid liberal arts foundation that allows students to pursue multiple majors and experience different cultures, and delivers what employers want. SMU graduates greet the workforce with multiple competencies and global savvy.

Fall 2024

Endowment (June 30, 2024) $2.12 billion
Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget $922 million
Total Staff and Administrators 1,658
Faculty

86% of full-time faculty members hold the doctorate or highest degree in their fields.
The student-faculty ratio is 11-to-1.
Total Fall 2023 Full-time Faculty – 750

Faculty Demographic Profile
Female – 43%
Male – 57%
Minority – 24%
Enrollment

Total Fall 2024 enrollment – 12,116

Undergraduate students – 7,285
Graduate students – 4,831
Total first-year undergraduate students – 1,716
Undergraduate Enrollment by Gender Female – 51%
Male – 49%
Graduate Enrollment by Gender Female – 48%
Male – 52%
Average Age Undergraduate – 20
Graduate – 30
Diversity

Total Fall 2024 identified minority enrollment – 4,424

Hispanic – 1,967 
Asian – 980 
Black/African American – 927 
American Indian/Alaska Native – 35 
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander – 11 
Two or more races – 504
Minority percentage of total enrollment – 36.5%

Socioeconomic – Seven out of 10 first-year SMU students receive scholarships and/or financial aid, including academic and need-based.

National – More than half of undergraduates come from outside Texas, with students from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Following Texas, the leading home states for first-year students are California, Florida, New York and Connecticut.

International – International enrollment of 1,117 students (9% of total enrollment) from 86 foreign countries. The largest international groups are from China, India and Mexico.

Religious – Among students reporting a religious preference, 29% are Catholic; 9% are Methodist; about 40% are from other Protestant denominations; and about 14% represent other religions (including Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and Islam). Diverse religious life organizations support and nurture students in the development of faith and ethics.
Degrees Awarded

Academic Year 2024

Total – 3,731

Bachelor’s – 1,915
Master’s – 1,429 
Doctoral-Professional (J.D.) – 247 
Doctoral-Research/Scholarship – 140
Degrees Awarded by School in Academic Year 2024

Cox School of Business – 1,200
Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences – 924
Lyle School of Engineering – 435
Meadows School of the Arts – 378
Dedman School of Law – 289
Simmons School of Education and Human Development – 456
Perkins School of Theology – 80
The Guildhall – 75