SMU vs. Whitman College

Should I go to Southern Methodist University or Whitman College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SMU or Whitman College 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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Southern Methodist University vs. Whitman College comparison
Southern Methodist University Whitman College College 3 College 4
Southern Methodist University Whitman College
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Overview

SMU Whitman College
Location Dallas, TX Walla Walla, WA
Setting Large Suburban Remote Town
Enrollment 12,053 1,493
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #67 #84
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website smu.edu whitman.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

SMU Whitman College
Tuition (In State) $55,012 $58,200
Tuition (Out of State) $55,012 $58,200
Room & Board $17,750 $14,220
Avg Net Price $45,094 $39,935
Avg Grant Aid $35,344 $32,047
% Receiving Grant Aid 73% 94%

Admission

SMU Whitman College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,150 5,497
Admitted 8,439 2,622
Acceptance Rate 52.3% 47.7%
Enrolled % 19.4% 12.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.68
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 31/34 30/33
SAT Range 1370/1510 1293/1473
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 15, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

SMU Whitman College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Physical Sciences (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

SMU Whitman College
Graduation Rate 75% 86%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $73,000 $56,900
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 93%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $17,500
Median Loan Payment $222 $180

Diversity

SMU Whitman College
% Men 50% 44%
% Women 50% 56%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 65% 72%
% Black 5% 1%
% Hispanic 11% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 7%
% International 8% 5%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

SMU Whitman College
% In-State 38% 27%
% Out-of-State 58% 59%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Southern Methodist University is larger than than Whitman College based on total student enrollment (12,053 students vs. 1,493 students)

SMU vs. Whitman College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMU or Whitman College?

  • Whitman College is 5.8% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($58,200.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.8% higher at Whitman College than Southern Methodist University ($58,200.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Whitman College than SMU ($39,935 vs. $45,094)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Whitman College are 24.8% lower than costs at Southern Methodist University ($14,220 vs. $17,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Whitman College than Southern Methodist University (94% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Methodist University students is 10.3% larger than aid received Whitman College ($35,344 vs. $32,047)

SMU vs. Whitman College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Southern Methodist University (1330) is 16 points higher than at Whitman College (1314)
  • Incoming SMU students have at the same average ACT score (30) as students at Whitman College (30)
  • Accepted freshman SMU students have at the same average high school GPA (3.68) as students at Whitman College (3.68)
  • SMU has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Whitman College (47.7%)

SMU vs. Whitman College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SMU or Whitman College? 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 Whitman College and SMU.

  • The graduation rate at Whitman College is higher than Southern Methodist University (86% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from Southern Methodist University earn on average $16,100 more per year than Whitman College graduates after ten years. ($73,000 vs. $56,900)
  • Whitman College students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than SMU graduates. ($17,500 vs. $21,500)
  • Whitman College graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than SMU graduates. ($180 vs. $222)
  • More Whitman College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMU students, three years after graduation. (93% vs. 76%)

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