Transfer admission requirements
Although the average GPA of successful transfer applicants who have completed 30 or more transferable hours is considerably higher than 2.7 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), applicants with a GPA below this threshold are not typically successful in gaining admission. Candidates with a transferable GPA below 2.00 are not admitted to the University.

Another critical consideration is math readiness and foreign language. Students must have a minimum of college algebra or a high school sequence of algebra I, algebra II, and plane geometry, completed within the past three years, to be considered for admission.

The Admissions Committee considers the rigorous nature of the external courses attempted and will evaluate progress or lack of progress made towards the intended major at SMU. Depending on intended major and how many transferable hours a student has completed, it might be necessary for a student to have completed prerequisites before they can be admitted.

At a minimum applicants should have completed at least one course in English Composition, a lab science, a math course beyond College Algebra, and a course pertaining to the intended major. The Committee weighs overall academic performance as well as evidence of recent improvement. For some applicants the high school performance is also a factor. SAT and ACT results are required when less than 30 transferable hours have been earned. SAT or ACT results will not be required of students for whom five or more years have lapsed since high school or high school equivalent. 

Students who have not completed a two-year sequence of a single foreign language in high school, and have not completed a one-year sequence of a single foreign language at the college level, will be required to take two terms of a single foreign language upon matriculation at SMU, regardless of intended major. In the evaluation process the committee will consider this policy and it's impact on the student's reasonable academic progress.

Performing arts auditions
All transfer students who intend to major in the performing arts of dance, music, or theatre will have a two-fold admission process. They will be considered on academic standards as well as audition results. Click on Meadows School of the Arts for more information. Dance and theatre majors are admissible only in the fall term.

Academic forgiveness
SMU’s academic forgiveness policy permits a student to have academic work taken 10 or more years prior to the term of admission forgiven and not included in the GPA or hours earned used for actions such as the determination of admission and scholarships.