Southern Methodist is a nationally ranked private university located near the heart of Dallas, SMU is a distinguished center for global research and teaching. SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs. 

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry and serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. Of the University’s 12,000 enrolled students, 33% identify as ethnic minorities. 51% of undergraduates and 49% of graduate students are female.  

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.  

The FY 2024 operating budget for SMU is $922 million with its current endowment valued at $2.2 billion. In 2020 the Moody Foundation made a $100 million commitment to SMU to establish the Moody School   of Graduate and Advanced Studies. This landmark gift helped to shape an ambitious strategic plan and the launch of the comprehensive capital campaign SMU Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow. Currently, SMU is in the fourth year of this $1.5 billion capital campaign, with $1.34B in commitments to date, and with a goal to attract and support outstanding students and faculty, to explore new fields with innovative research empowered by future-facing technologies, and to positively impact Dallas and the world beyond.  

SMU is located on 234 acres in the University Park area north of downtown Dallas. Faculty, students, and staff enjoy the cultural, athletic, and recreational opportunities offered by the fourth-largest city in the country. Dallas has the nation’s largest urban arts district, including world-class museums and state of the art performing arts spaces. The Winspear Opera House is described by Opera magazine as America’s finest. Dallas is home to four professional sports teams. Throughout the region there is easy access to a variety of outdoor activities. The Trinity River, White Rock Lake, almost 400 parks, and over 125 miles of urban hiking and biking trails provide rich and varied opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. The city has been named one of the Greenest Cities in the world. SMU students and faculty benefit from proximity to the Dallas metropolitan area as an extension of the classroom through engaged learning projects and community partnerships.  

The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex (“DFW”) is the fourth largest, fifth-most diverse, and among the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the U. S. The region has been identified by Forbes as one of five cities poised to be “the next Silicon Valley” tech hub. With the second largest airport in the U.S., DFW has attracted several major companies over the past decade, with 140 headquarter relocations to the region from across the U.S. and abroad, including more than 45 companies which have moved from California to the “Silicon Prairie.” Twenty-four Fortune 500 companies now make their home in the DFW area.