Graduation Rate at SMU

[updated for 2024-2025 graduation data]

At Southern Methodist University, the graduation rate is 84 % within 150% normal time, the retention rate is 91 %, and the transfer-out rate is 10 %, as of August 31, 2025.

Its graduation rate is relatively higher than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 75.70% (private (not-for-profit) Research University with high research activity).

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Graduation Rates in Reasonable Completion Time

For the academic year 2024-2025, 1,286 students out of 1,526 candidates have completed their courses within 150% normal time (i.e. in 6 years for 4-year BS degree) at Southern Methodist University.

By gender, 653 male and 633 female students graduated the school last year completing their jobs in the period.

CandidatesCompletersGraduation Rates
Total1,5261,28684.27%
Men80465381.22%
Women72263387.67%
Southern Methodist University graduation rate by gender

Graduation Rate By Race/Ethnicity

The following table shows graduation rate by race and at Southern Methodist University.

  • American Indian or Alaska Native: 50.00%
  • Asian: 87.60%
  • Black (Non-Hispanic): 70.49%
  • Hispanic: 86.34%
  • White: 85.26%
  • Two or More Race: 80.88%
Graduation Rate by Gender
TotalMaleFemale
American Indian or Alaska Native50.00%(1/2) - 100.00%(1/1)
Asian87.60%(106/121) 84.62%(55/65) 91.07%(51/56)
Black (Non-Hispanic)70.49%(43/61) 61.29%(19/31) 80.00%(24/30)
Hispanic86.34%(139/161) 82.67%(62/75) 89.53%(77/86)
White85.26%(885/1,038) 82.79%(457/552) 88.07%(428/486)
Two or More Race80.88%(55/68) 82.86%(29/35) 78.79%(26/33)
Southern Methodist University graduation rate by race

Transfer-out and Retention Rates

At SMU, the transfer-out rate is 10.09%. Its transfer-out rate is lower than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 13.80%.

SMU's retention rate is 91% last year. Its retention rate is around the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 87.05%.


Non-Resident Alien Graduation Rate

A non-resident alien student is not a US citizen/green card holder and studies with a student visa, such as an F visa, in the United States. At Southern Methodist University, 57 of 75 non-resident alien students completed their studies and the graduation rate was 76.00%.

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