Southern Methodist University is a private research university in Dallas, Texas, with a park-like campus in the University Park neighbourhood. It is best known for the Cox School of Business, the Lyle School of Engineering, law, the arts and communications, with Dallas's corporate headquarters as its job market. Choose it for a well-funded private degree with generous merit aid in one of America's fastest-growing cities.
Dallas, United States
Official website: smu.edu
#1001
Top 100 (U.S. News)
R1 — very high research activity
Top 50 US MBA (U.S. News)
$42,000 – $68,000
International students, undergraduate and master's programmes, before scholarships
$18,000 – $23,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on smu.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science (Lyle)
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Data Science (Lyle)
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Business Analytics (Cox)
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
MBA (Cox School of Business)
Masters DegreeDuration
21 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
MS Finance (Cox)
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
BBA Finance (Cox)
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
Cox School of Business — strong Dallas finance, energy and real estate connections.
Lyle School of Engineering — computing, data science and engineering with industry-sponsored projects.
George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on campus.
Dallas — home to more than 20 Fortune 500 headquarters within an hour of campus.
Graduates join AT&T, Texas Instruments, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Toyota North America and Dallas's consultancies.
Cox MBA graduates report median base salaries above USD 120,000.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Around 95% of undergraduates are employed or in graduate school within six months.
Undergrad
15 Jan 2027
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 230-acre campus sits in University Park, five miles north of downtown Dallas, with Georgian red-brick buildings around Dallas Hall, Cox and Lyle nearby and a DART light-rail station at the edge.
Dallas is a fast-growing city of 1.3 million with a strong corporate job market, a big arts district, professional sports and a warm climate. Rent near campus is high for Texas but below the coasts.
Form I-20 issued by SMU
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
For fall 2027 undergraduate entry, Early Decision I and Early Action close 1 November 2026, Early Decision II closes 15 January 2027 and Regular Decision closes 15 January 2027. Graduate deadlines vary: Cox business master's run rounds from October to April, and Lyle engineering master's close around 1 May for fall.
Undergraduates start in the fall (August). Lyle's computer science and data science master's programmes admit for both fall and spring (January), while Cox's business analytics, finance and MBA programmes are fall only. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. The International Student and Scholar Services office issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, data science, business analytics, the Cox MBA and finance attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 80-100 or IELTS 6.5-7.0, and the GMAT or GRE for Cox programmes. Undergraduate admission is selective, with an acceptance rate around 50%.
Yes. International undergraduates are automatically considered for merit scholarships worth up to full tuition when they apply by the Early Action deadline, though need-based aid for them is limited. Cox and Lyle offer partial merit scholarships to master's applicants with strong records. Check each school's financial aid page for current amounts.
