84%
Graduation Rate
10%
Transfer-out Rate
91%
Retention Rate
[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).
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.
| Candidates | Completers | Graduation Rates |
| Total | 1,526 | 1,286 | 84.27% |
| Men | 804 | 653 | 81.22% |
| Women | 722 | 633 | 87.67% |
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
| Total | Male | Female |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 50.00%(1/2) |
- |
100.00%(1/1) |
|---|
| Asian | 87.60%(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) |
|---|
| Hispanic | 86.34%(139/161) |
82.67%(62/75) |
89.53%(77/86) |
|---|
| White | 85.26%(885/1,038) |
82.79%(457/552) |
88.07%(428/486) |
|---|
| Two or More Race | 80.88%(55/68) |
82.86%(29/35) |
78.79%(26/33) |
|---|
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%.
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Transfer-out Rate
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Retention Rate
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%.