SCU vs. SMU

Should I go to Santa Clara University or Southern Methodist University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SCU or SMU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Santa Clara University vs. Southern Methodist University comparison
Santa Clara University Southern Methodist University College 3 College 4
Santa Clara University Southern Methodist University
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Overview

SCU SMU
Location Santa Clara, CA Dallas, TX
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 9,178 12,053
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #62 #67
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website scu.edu smu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

SCU SMU
Tuition (In State) $56,880 $55,012
Tuition (Out of State) $56,880 $55,012
Room & Board $17,112 $17,750
Avg Net Price $50,551 $45,094
Avg Grant Aid $25,295 $35,344
% Receiving Grant Aid 72% 73%

Admission

SCU SMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,650 16,150
Admitted 8,677 8,439
Acceptance Rate 52.1% 52.3%
Enrolled % 18.9% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.68
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/33 31/34
SAT Range 1290/1480 1370/1510
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 7, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

SCU SMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (33%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

SCU SMU
Graduation Rate 85% 75%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $81,900 $73,000
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $222 $222

Diversity

SCU SMU
% Men 50% 50%
% Women 50% 50%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 49% 65%
% Black 3% 5%
% Hispanic 17% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 4%
% International 3% 8%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

SCU SMU
% In-State 50% 38%
% Out-of-State 40% 58%

Campus

SCU SMU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Southern Methodist University is larger than than SCU based on total student enrollment (12,053 students vs. 9,178 students)

SCU vs. SMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU or SMU?

  • Santa Clara University is 3.4% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($56,880.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.4% higher at SCU than Southern Methodist University ($56,880.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern Methodist University than SCU ($45,094 vs. $50,551)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Clara University are 3.7% lower than costs at Southern Methodist University ($17,112 vs. $17,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Methodist University than Santa Clara University (73% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Methodist University students is 39.7% larger than aid received Santa Clara University ($35,344 vs. $25,295)

SCU vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCU or SMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMU or SCU .

  • The average SAT score at Southern Methodist University (1330) is 17 points higher than at SCU (1313)
  • Incoming SCU students have at the same average ACT score (30) as students at SMU (30)
  • Accepted freshman SMU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at SCU (3.67)
  • SMU has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than SCU (52.1%)

SCU vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SCU or SMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SMU and SCU.

  • The graduation rate at SCU is higher than Southern Methodist University (85% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn on average $8,900 more per year than SMU graduates after ten years. ($81,900 vs. $73,000)
  • Southern Methodist University and SCU graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($21,500 vs. $21,500)
  • Southern Methodist University and SCU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($222 vs. $222)
  • More SCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 76%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/