Dallas, Texas · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Large suburb
Overview
Southern Methodist University is a private nonprofit four-year institution in Dallas, Texas. Its campus is in a large suburban area. Fall 2024 enrollment was 12,116, made up of 7,285 undergraduates and 4,831 graduate students. It holds the Carnegie R1 designation for very high research activity. Its religious affiliation is United Methodist.
Southern Methodist University offers certificates, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, doctoral degrees, and professional doctorates across 151 programs. Its largest programs by number of graduates are Management Science, Economics, and Finance. It awarded 3,943 degrees and certificates in 2024-25. 21 of its programs can be completed entirely online.
91% of full-time first-year students return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio is 11 to 1.
Key figures
12,116
Students enrolled
91%
First-year retention
3,943
Degrees and certificates awarded, 2024-25
151
Programs and majors
11:1
Student-to-faculty ratio
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Delivery modes
CampusOnlineHybrid
Program levels
CertificateBachelorMasterPhDProfessional
Programs and majors offered 151
Graduate counts are degrees and certificates awarded in each program between July 2024 and June 2025. Largest fields are listed first.
Retention is for students who started in fall 2023 and returned in fall 2024.
First-year retention, full-time students
91%
Student-to-faculty ratio
11:1
Degrees and certificates awarded
Awards conferred between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Bachelor's degrees
1,939
Master's degrees
1,602
Doctoral degrees (research)
119
Professional doctorates
225
Postbaccalaureate certificates
58
Enrollment
Students, fall 2024
12,116
Undergraduates, fall 2024
7,285
Graduate students, fall 2024
4,831
Full-time, fall 2024
80%
Students over the full 2024-25 year
13,269
Undergraduates, 2024-25
7,692
Graduate students, 2024-25
5,577
Full-time, 2024-25
77%
Size category
10,000 to 19,999 students
Student body
Share of all students enrolled during 2024-25. Small groups can round to zero and are not listed.
Women
50%
Men
50%
White
51%
Hispanic or Latino
16%
Black or African American
8%
Asian
8%
Two or more races
4%
International (U.S. nonresident)
9%
Race or ethnicity unknown
3%
Online and flexible learning
Distance education in 2024-25.
Programs that can be completed fully online
21
Programs with a fully online option
1
Online graduate programs
Yes
Students studying fully online
8%
Students taking some online courses
17%
Weekend or evening classes
Yes
Campus and services
Setting
Large suburb
Academic calendar
Semester
Religious affiliation
United Methodist
Carnegie classification
Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Research designation
Research 1: Very High Spending and Doctorate Production
Athletic association
NCAA
Athletic conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
President
Jay Hartzell
Services and opportunities
Study abroad, ROTC, Undergraduate research, Teacher certification, Academic and career counseling, Student employment services, Job placement for graduates, On-campus day care, Accepts AP credit, Credit for life experience
For veterans and service members
Yellow Ribbon Program, Credit for military training, Dedicated veterans contact, Student veteran organization