Tulane vs. SMU

Tulane University of Louisiana and Southern Methodist University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Tulane University of Louisiana
Southern Methodist University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Tulane (14% admitted vs 63.3%). Typical SAT 1460 vs 1420.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $47,427 at Tulane vs $48,179 at SMU. Tulane in-state tuition is about $1,638 more per year.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Tulane $74,200 vs SMU $73,000 (median).
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Key differences

Tulane University of Louisiana Southern Methodist University
Acceptance rate
Tulane more selective
Tulane14%
SMU63.3%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Tulane higher
Tulane1400-1520
SMU1340-1490
Average net price
About even
Tulane$47,427
SMU$48,179
In-state tuition
SMU $1,638 less
Tulane$68,678
SMU$67,040
Out-of-state tuition
SMU $1,638 less
Tulane$68,678
SMU$67,040
Graduation rate
SMU +75 pts
Tulane-
SMU75%
Median earnings (10 years)
Tulane +$1,200
Tulane$74,200
SMU$73,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Tulane 32,609
  • SMU 15,245
  • Admitted
  • Tulane 4,559
  • SMU 9,657
  • Acceptance rate
  • Tulane 14%
  • SMU 63.3%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Tulane 40.3%
  • SMU 17.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tulane 1460
  • SMU 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tulane 32
  • SMU 32
  • Average high school GPA
  • Tulane 3.64
  • SMU 3.68
  • Typical high school grades
  • Tulane A-
  • SMU A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Tulane Exceptional
  • SMU Exceptional
  • Applicant competition
  • Tulane Very High
  • SMU Low
  • SAT range
  • Tulane 1400-1520
  • SMU 1340-1490
  • ACT range
  • Tulane 31-34
  • SMU 30-34
  • Submit test scores
  • Tulane Test optional
  • SMU Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Tulane Jan 15, 2027
  • SMU Jan 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Tulane $68,678
  • SMU $67,040
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Tulane $68,678
  • SMU $67,040
  • Room & board
  • Tulane $18,868
  • SMU $19,064
  • Average net price
  • Tulane $47,427
  • SMU $48,179
  • Average grant aid
  • Tulane $39,654
  • SMU $37,520
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Tulane 60%
  • SMU 67%
  • Graduation rate
  • Tulane -
  • SMU 75%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Tulane $74,200
  • SMU $73,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Tulane 62%
  • SMU 76%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Tulane $27,529
  • SMU $21,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Tulane $284
  • SMU $222
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Tulane 7:1
  • SMU 11:1
  • Popular majors
  • Tulane
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Foreign Languages (5%)
  • SMU
    • Business (22%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Location
  • Tulane New Orleans, LA
  • SMU Dallas, TX
  • Setting
  • Tulane Large City
  • SMU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Tulane 13,310
  • SMU 12,116
  • Type
  • Tulane Private 4 Year
  • SMU Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Tulane
  • SMU #72

Comparable Facts

Compare Tulane University of Louisiana in New Orleans, LA with Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Tulane University of Louisiana is larger than SMU based on total student enrollment (13,310 students vs. 12,116 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Tulane University of Louisiana is located in New Orleans, LA (Large City setting); Southern Methodist University is in Dallas, TX (Large Suburban setting).
  • Tulane University of Louisiana is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Southern Methodist University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Tulane University of Louisiana 7:1; Southern Methodist University 11:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tulane University of Louisiana are 1% lower than at Southern Methodist University ($18,868 vs. $19,064).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.4% higher at Tulane than at Southern Methodist University (about $1,638 more per year; $68,678 vs. $67,040).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southern Methodist University than at Tulane University of Louisiana (67% vs. 60%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tulane University of Louisiana students is 5.7% larger than aid received by Southern Methodist University students ($39,654 vs. $37,520).

Admissions details

  • Incoming Tulane students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 32) as students at SMU (32).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Tulane and SMU.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Tulane Jan 15, 2027; SMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at SMU average a 3.68 high school GPA, 0.04 higher than at Tulane (3.64).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.3% at Tulane vs. 17.8% at SMU.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southern Methodist University graduates have a $6,029 lower median loan debt than Tulane graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,529).
  • Among borrowers, SMU graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tulane graduates ($222 vs. $284).
  • More SMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tulane students, three years after graduation (76% vs. 62%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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