Southern Methodist University

What is the cost of studying for a year at Southern Methodist University?

SMU is a private university, so its reported undergraduate tuition and required fees do not differ by Texas residency. For the 2024-25 reporting year, full-time undergraduate tuition was $59,500 and required fees were $7,540, for $67,040 before housing, food, books, and other expenses.

• Reported tuition and required fees: $67,040.
• Typical room and board charges: $19,794.
• Reported books and supplies: $876.

Those reported items total $87,710, but they are not a complete cost-of-attendance budget: transportation, personal expenses, and individual course costs may add to the total. Students living off campus will have a different housing budget. Graduate tuition and fees vary by program and should not be estimated from the undergraduate figures.

Published charges are also different from net price, which accounts for grant and scholarship aid. Reported average net price varied substantially by family income: it was $20,038 for students from families earning no more than $48,000 and $58,213 for those from families earning above $110,000. These are averages for groups, not offers to individual applicants.

SMU students may be considered for institutional merit or need-based assistance and, when eligible, federal grants, loans, and work-study. Federal aid generally requires the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); some institutional awards may have additional steps or priority dates. In the reported aid data, 71% of students received financial aid and 21% had student loans. Applicants should compare their own aid offer and full annual budget rather than subtracting an average grant from the sticker price.

What are the work-study opportunities at Southern Methodist University?

Eligible SMU students may pursue part-time employment, including Federal Work-Study positions. Federal Work-Study is need-based financial aid that lets a student earn wages through an approved job; it is not a grant paid upfront and does not guarantee a position or a set amount of earnings.

Other campus jobs may be open to students without a work-study award. In either case, students generally must find and apply for a position, satisfy employment requirements, and balance working hours with coursework. An internship is different again: it may be paid or unpaid and may carry academic credit depending on the program.

For longer-term career planning, SMU's career resources include support for exploring careers, preparing applications, seeking internships, and connecting with employers or alumni. Students should distinguish access to those services from a verified job-placement outcome. A useful first step is to compare the career services available through the university and the school housing their intended major.