Southern Methodist University (SMU) is a private research university in Dallas whose liberal-arts foundation is combined with professional education, engineering, business, law, theology, arts, education, and graduate research. Founded in 1911 and based in Dallas, Texas, the institution combines its historical mission with contemporary undergraduate, graduate, professional, and research activity. SMU pairs a residential Dallas campus with direct access to one of the country’s largest business, technology, finance, health, arts, and nonprofit markets. The main campus is in University Park, within metropolitan Dallas, placing students close to corporate headquarters, startups, arts institutions, schools, law firms, hospitals, and public-sector organizations. Academically, Southern Methodist University is organized around eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Dedman School of Law, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, Perkins School of Theology, and Simmons School of Education and Human Development. Representative undergraduate fields include Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, while graduate study includes Business Administration, Business Analytics, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering Management. At SMU, doctoral and professional education is administered by the relevant schools under their own degree requirements. SMU students therefore encounter both broad university resources and program-specific advising, accreditation, research, or professional expectations. Teaching commonly uses small classes, studio and performance work, laboratory courses, design projects, research, internships, service learning, entrepreneurship, and professional-school practice. Research and creative work span data science, engineering, computing, economics, business, education, earth sciences, humanities, arts, public policy, and interdisciplinary scholarship. At SMU, depending on the field, students may work with faculty through laboratories, capstones, independent study, creative projects, clinical experiences, field placements, or research assistantships. At SMU, this gives academic work a practical dimension while preserving the disciplinary methods and scholarly standards of the selected program. At SMU, career preparation and student development are built into the wider experience. The Hegi Family Career Development Center serves students and alumni across majors with career exploration, résumé and interview support, networking, job and internship search, graduate-school planning, and the SMU 12twenty platform. SMU student organizations, service, leadership, cultural programs, athletics, international opportunities, and academic support add further routes for involvement. The Dallas setting can also extend learning beyond campus through employers, public institutions, schools, hospitals, cultural organizations, or community partners connected to the university’s programs. Admission and cost at SMU should be evaluated using current university rules. First-year applicants may use the Common Application, ApplyTexas, or other university-approved application routes. SMU currently operates a fully test-optional undergraduate policy; students who do not submit SAT or ACT scores are not disadvantaged in admission or merit-scholarship consideration. Applicants submit academic records, required school materials, SMU-specific responses, and any audition or portfolio required by arts programs. Business applicants can indicate Cox School interests, while artistic and performance programs may have supplementary review. Major first-year rounds include Early Decision I/Early Action in early November and Early Decision II/Regular Decision in mid-January under the current admission calendar. For 2026–27, full-time undergraduate tuition for 12–18 credit hours is $31,868 per term. Part-time tuition is $2,662 per credit hour and overload tuition above the standard full-time range is charged separately; one-time and course-specific fees may also apply.