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 2023

Endowment (June 30, 2023) $2.03 billion
Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget $861.14 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 2023 enrollment – 11,842

Undergraduate students – 7,115
Graduate students – 4,727
Total first-year undergraduate students – 1,944
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 2023 identified minority enrollment – 4,156

Hispanic – 1,786 
Asian – 951 
Black/African American – 904 
American Indian/Alaska Native – 35 
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander – 10 
Two or more races – 470
Minority percentage of total enrollment – 35%

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 1,007 students (8.5% of total enrollment) from 87 foreign countries. The largest international groups are from China, India and Mexico.

Religious – Among students reporting a religious preference, 28% are Catholic; 11% 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 Summer 2022–May 2023

Total – 4,184

Bachelor’s – 1,943
Master’s – 1,881 
Doctoral-Professional (J.D.) – 221 
Doctoral-Research/Scholarship – 139
Degrees Awarded by School in Academic Year 2023

Cox School of Business – 1,467
Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences – 915
Lyle School of Engineering – 586
Meadows School of the Arts – 376
Dedman School of Law – 256
Simmons School of Education and Human Development – 442
Perkins School of Theology – 67
The Guildhall – 97