What are SMU's average SAT scores and GPA? In this guide, we'll discuss what scores are needed for you to get admitted into SMU. You'll also get to calculate your own chances with our admissions calculator.
Location: Dallas, TX
This school is also known as: Southern Methodist University
SMU Admissions Statistics
There are three critical numbers when considering your admissions chances: SAT scores, GPA, and acceptance rate. All these combine to tell you what you scores are required to get into Southern Methodist University.
Average SAT: 1436
The average SAT score composite at SMU is a 1436.
SMU SAT Score Analysis
The 25th percentile New SAT score is 1390, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1500.
In other words, a 1390 places you below average, while a 1500 will move you up to above average. There's no absolute SAT requirement at SMU, but they really want to see at least a 1390 to have a chance at being considered.
Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
| Math | 727 | 690 | 770 |
| Reading + Writing | 709 | 680 | 740 |
| Composite | 1436 | 1390 | 1500 |
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Average GPA: 3.71
The average GPA at SMU is 3.71. This makes SMU Strongly Competitive for GPAs.
(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.
With a GPA of 3.71, SMUrequires you to be above average in your high school class. You'll need a mix of A's and B's, with a leaning toward A's. If you took some AP or IB classes, this will help boost your weighted GPA and show your ability to take college classes.
If you're a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change from this point on. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.71, you'll need a higher SAT score to compensate and show that you're prepared to take on college academics. This will help you compete effectively with other applicants.
Admissions Rate: 52.3%
The acceptance rate at SMU is 52.3%. In other words, of 100 students who apply, 52 are admitted.
This means the school issomewhat selective. You should prepare your academic scores well, but you have an excellent chance if you impress them.
Final Admissions Verdict
Because this school is moderately selective, strong academic performance will almost guarantee you admission. Scoring at a 1436 SAT or above will already give you a great shot at getting in. Scoring a 1500 will nearly guarantee you admission, given that your GPA is roughly the average of 3.71.
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Admissions Calculator
What are your chances of admission at Southern Methodist University?
Chances of admission with these scores:
Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are.
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Note: Your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. This tool provides only a simplistic estimate of your chances of admission. Instead of treating this tool as a crystal ball, we recommend you consider the big picture of what your chance means:
We recommend you apply to schools across a range of chances. Applying to some safety schools will guarantee you have a college to go to, while applying to some reach schools will give you a shot at getting into the school at the top of your range.
How would your chances improve with a better score?
Try to take your current SAT score and add 160 points to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?
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Other Schools For You
If you're interested in SMU, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to SMU.
Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into
These schools are have higher average SAT scores than SMU. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | 1500 | 34 |
| Dartmouth College | Hanover, NH | 1500 | 34 |
| Amherst College | Amherst, MA | 1497 | 34 |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore, PA | 1489 | 34 |
| Emory University | Atlanta, GA | 1484 | 33 |
| Barnard College | New York, NY | 1478 | 33 |
| Vassar College | Poughkeepsie, NY | 1477 | 33 |
Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into
If you're competitive for SMU, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.
| School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York University | New York, NY | 1455 | 34 |
| Georgetown University | Washington, DC | 1450 | 33 |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | 1440 | 32 |
| Boston College | Chestnut Hill, MA | 1435 | 33 |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | 1435 | 33 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, GA | 1435 | 32 |
| Boston University | Boston, MA | 1418 | 32 |
Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into
If you're currently competitive for SMU, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If SMU is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.
| School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, NY | 1396 | 31 |
| Villanova University | Villanova, PA | 1395 | 33 |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Troy, NY | 1393 | 30 |
| Binghamton University | Binghamton, NY | 1375 | 31 |
| University of Massachusetts Amherst | Amherst, MA | 1358 | 30 |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester, NY | 1352 | 31 |
| United States Military Academy | West Point, NY | 1331 | 30 |
Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.
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