Is SMU test optional?

We haven't confirmed SMU's test policy for 2026–27. Check their admissions site; many colleges have changed their policy since 2020.

What is SMU's acceptance rate?

63% of applicants were admitted in 2025–26, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 9,657 of 15,245 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 17%, from 12,992 in 2015 to 15,245 in 2024, and SMU's admit rate went from 49% to 63%.

What ACT score do you need for SMU?

9% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 31–34, with a median of 32. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1360–1470 works out to about 30–33.

Does applying early decision help at SMU?

80% of early decision applicants were admitted (424 of 528), against 63% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at SMU?

243 of the 1,074 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 23%, per the Common Data Set 2025–26.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for SMU? (Middle 50%: 1360–1470)

First-year students at SMU who sent an SAT scored 1360–1470, with a median of 1410 (Common Data Set 2025–26). SMU admits 63% of applicants.

Southern Methodist University · Dallas, TX

Where your score lands at SMU

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1360–1470, median 1410

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier SMU is for you and whether to send your score.

Add SMU to my list

SMU by the numbers

Admit rate: 63%
Middle 50% SAT: 1360–1470
Median SAT: 1410
About on the ACT: 30–33
Sent an SAT: 9%

Test policy not confirmed for 2026–27 · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2025–26; admit rate from it or IPEDS

SMU admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 17%, from 12,992 in 2015 to 15,245 in 2024, and SMU's admit rate went from 49% to 63%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	15,245	9,657	63%
2023	15,092	9,240	61%
2022	16,150	8,439	52%
2021	15,685	8,333	53%
2020	14,010	7,379	53%
2019	13,959	6,601	47%
2018	12,603	6,457	51%
2017	13,128	6,402	49%
2016	13,250	6,482	49%
2015	12,992	6,360	49%

In fall 2024, 1,716 of the 9,657 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at SMU

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?*

Under 1310Far reachHold
1310–1350ReachHold
1360–1400TargetHold
1410–1460TargetSend
1470 and upLikelySend

12001300140015001600

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges. *Send it? assumes they're test optional; we haven't confirmed their policy.

SMU SAT sections, ACT and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	670	710	750
SAT Reading and Writing	670	710	730
SAT total	1360	1410	1470
ACT composite	31	32	34

Of enrolled first-year students, 9% sent an SAT and 9% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2025–26.

Top 10% of their class: 49%; of new students who reported a rank

SMU early decision and waitlist

Early decision

424 of 528 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision80%
All applicants63%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

4,249 applicants were offered a spot, 1,074 took it, and 243 were admitted from it.

23%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2025–26.

SMU cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $40,892; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 84%
Median earnings: $78,354; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 7,692

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Sources

SMU Common Data Set 2025–26
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
SMU website
Southern Methodist University

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1360–1470, and the median was 1410. At 1410 or higher you're above half of them. SMU admits 63% of applicants.

Raise your score before you apply

The 15-minute starting check finds the question types costing you points, then plans each day up to your test date.

Start SAT free Check your whole list

Starting check

SAT Math · 1 of 5

Calculator allowed

A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$