ULM vs. SMU

Comparable Facts

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

Southern Methodist University is larger than ULM based on total student enrollment (12,116 students vs. 8,601 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Louisiana at Monroe is located in Monroe, LA (Small City setting); Southern Methodist University is in Dallas, TX (Large Suburban setting).
• University of Louisiana at Monroe is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Southern Methodist University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Louisiana at Monroe 18:1; Southern Methodist University 11:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Louisiana at Monroe are 44.6% lower than at Southern Methodist University ($10,554 vs. $19,064).
• Out-of-state tuition is 214.9% higher at SMU than at University of Louisiana at Monroe (about $45,750 more per year; $67,040 vs. $21,290).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Louisiana at Monroe than at Southern Methodist University (95% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Methodist University students is 181.3% larger than aid received by University of Louisiana at Monroe students ($37,520 vs. $13,338).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 11 points higher at SMU than at ULM (32 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both ULM and SMU.
• Typical fall application deadline: SMU Jan 15, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at SMU average a 3.68 high school GPA, 0.15 higher than at ULM (3.53).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.1% at ULM vs. 17.8% at SMU.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Louisiana at Monroe graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than SMU graduates ($20,000 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, ULM graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMU graduates ($206 vs. $222).
• More SMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ULM students, three years after graduation (76% vs. 49%).

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