Southern Methodist University (SMU) vs University of Virginia-Main Campus (UVA)

Southern Methodist University (SMU) and University of Virginia-Main Campus (UVA) are two highly regarded institutions of higher learning, each offering a unique educational experience. SMU, a private research university located in Dallas, Texas, boasts a smaller student body and a more diverse student population compared to UVA, a public research university situated in Charlottesville, Virginia. While both universities offer a wide range of academic programs, SMU is known for its strengths in business, engineering, and the arts, while UVA excels in fields such as medicine, law, and public policy. With different acceptance rates, graduation rates, and popular majors, SMU and UVA cater to different student preferences and aspirations. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover which university better aligns with your academic goals and personal preferences.

	Southern Methodist University	University of Virginia-Main Campus
Overview
Location	Dallas, Texas	Charlottesville, Virginia
Campus setting	Suburb: Large	Suburb: Small
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Public
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	91.0%	97.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation	Methodism

Admission
Acceptance rate	53.1%	20.7%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $60 Graduate: $75	Undergraduate: $75 Graduate: $85
SAT range	1340 - 1510	1380 - 1500
ACT range	31 - 34	32 - 35
Students submitting SAT score	16.0%	52.0%
Students submitting ACT score	23.0%	21.0%
Total number of applicants	15,685	47,971
Total number of admissions given out	8,333	9,951
Admitted students who chose to enroll	1,572	3,889
Yield rate	18.9%	39.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Not required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Not required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$72,336	In state: $36,314 Out of state: $70,696
Average net price	$41,986	$20,401
Tuition	$53,464	In state: $16,010 Out of state: $49,710
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $10,860 Meal plan: $6,578	Room/dormitory: $7,110 Meal plan: $5,550
Available payment plans	Prepaid tuition plan Tuition payment plan	Prepaid tuition plan Guaranteed tuition plan Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	74.0% Average amount $34,940	46.0% Average amount $19,612
Students receiving federal student loan	25.0% Average amount $5,241	25.0% Average amount $4,845
Students taking out private loans	5.0% Average amount $29,055	6.0% Average amount $11,030

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	6,908 Men 50.5% Women 49.5%	17,294 Men 43.7% Women 56.3%
Graduate students	5,477 Men 52.4% Women 47.6%	8,711 Men 46.9% Women 53.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Low
Out-of-state students	59.4%	35.2%
International students	8.1%	8.8%
Campus local/setting	Suburb: Large	Suburb: Small
Dormitory capacity	3,403	7,645
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	Texas California Florida New York Illinois	Virginia New York Maryland Pennsylvania New Jersey

Academics
Popular study areas	Business Engineering Education Legal Profession Computer and Information Science	Business Health Professions Engineering Social Sciences Education
Students to faculty ratio	12:1	15:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome
Graduation rate	82.4%	93.7%
Dropout rate	4.7%	2.3%
Transferred out	12.4%	3.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $100,915 Year 2: $111,196 Year 3: $127,135 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $118,537 Year 2: $120,363 Year 3: $120,106 Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $99,239 Year 2: $101,558 Year 3: $116,891 Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $104,021 Year 2: $101,072 Year 3: $112,196 Marketing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $89,842 Year 2: $101,072 Year 3: $107,302 Computer Systems Analysis (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $108,251 Year 2: $81,491 Year 3: $100,026 Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $101,824 Year 2: $86,867 Year 3: $99,671 Law (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $81,633 Year 2: $81,554 Year 3: $99,143 Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $66,678 Year 2: $73,446 Year 3: $89,611 Operations Research (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $76,460 Year 3: $89,319	Law (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $185,710 Year 2: $162,255 Year 3: $193,013 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $157,071 Year 2: $155,263 Year 3: $176,237 Computer Software and Media Applications (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $86,350 Year 2: $101,406 Year 3: $125,729 Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $103,426 Year 2: $107,256 Year 3: $120,362 Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $108,239 Year 2: $95,739 Year 3: $109,956 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $83,639 Year 2: $92,077 Year 3: $108,272 Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $84,682 Year 2: $90,146 Year 3: $101,904 Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $76,602 Year 2: $82,440 Year 3: $95,939 Systems Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $79,487 Year 2: $82,808 Year 3: $94,931 Public Policy Analysis (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $54,807 Year 2: $70,596 Year 3: $84,597

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between Southern Methodist University (SMU) and the University of Virginia (UVA)?

SMU is a private university located in Dallas, Texas, known for its strong business, law, and arts programs. It offers a more intimate learning environment with smaller class sizes. UVA, a public university in Charlottesville, Virginia, is renowned for its history, strong liberal arts, and highly ranked professional schools. UVA is significantly larger than SMU and has a more prominent public university feel.
Which university is more selective: SMU or UVA?

UVA is generally more selective than SMU. UVA consistently ranks among the top public universities in the nation, leading to a highly competitive admissions process. While SMU is also selective, its acceptance rate is typically higher than UVA's.
How do the campus cultures compare between SMU and UVA?

SMU's campus culture is often described as preppy and social, with a strong emphasis on Greek life. Dallas provides a vibrant urban environment. UVA's campus culture is steeped in tradition, with a focus on academics, student self-governance, and a strong sense of community. Charlottesville offers a more classic college town experience.
What are the typical class sizes at SMU and UVA?

SMU generally offers smaller class sizes compared to UVA. This allows for more personalized attention from professors. UVA, being a larger public university, may have larger introductory courses, especially in popular majors, but smaller upper-level classes.
How do the costs of attending SMU and UVA compare?

SMU, as a private university, typically has a higher tuition cost than UVA, especially for out-of-state students. UVA offers lower tuition rates for Virginia residents. However, financial aid packages can vary significantly, so it's essential to compare the net cost (tuition minus financial aid) at both institutions based on your individual circumstances.
Which university is stronger in business programs: SMU or UVA?

Both SMU and UVA have strong business programs. SMU's Cox School of Business is highly regarded, particularly for its finance and real estate programs, and benefits from its location in a major business hub. UVA's Darden School of Business (graduate) and McIntire School of Commerce (undergraduate) are also nationally recognized and offer a broad range of business specializations. The 'better' program depends on your specific area of interest within business.
What are the strengths of UVA's academic programs?

UVA is known for its strong liberal arts programs, including history, English, and political science. It also has highly ranked professional schools in law, medicine, engineering, and education. Its architecture school is also very well regarded.
What are the strengths of SMU's academic programs?

SMU is particularly strong in business, law, and the arts. Its Meadows School of the Arts offers excellent programs in theater, music, and visual arts. The Dedman School of Law is also well-respected.
How does the location of each university impact the student experience?

SMU's location in Dallas provides students with access to numerous internship and job opportunities in a major metropolitan area. Dallas offers a diverse cultural scene and a wide range of entertainment options. UVA's location in Charlottesville offers a more traditional college town experience, with a focus on history, natural beauty, and a close-knit community. While smaller than Dallas, Charlottesville still provides cultural and recreational opportunities.
What is the student body diversity like at SMU and UVA?

Both SMU and UVA strive to create diverse student bodies. UVA, as a public university, draws students from across Virginia and the United States, as well as internationally. SMU also attracts a diverse student population, with a significant number of students from Texas and other states, as well as international students. Specific diversity statistics are available on each university's website.
What are the career services like at SMU and UVA?

Both SMU and UVA offer comprehensive career services to help students with internships, job searches, and career planning. SMU's career services are well-connected to the Dallas business community. UVA's career services benefit from the university's strong alumni network and national reputation.
How does Greek life compare at SMU and UVA?

Greek life is a significant part of the social scene at both SMU and UVA, but it tends to be more prominent at SMU. A larger percentage of SMU students participate in fraternities and sororities compared to UVA. Both universities have a wide range of Greek organizations.
What kind of student is likely to thrive at SMU versus UVA?

A student who enjoys a smaller, more intimate campus environment, a strong Greek life presence, and access to a major city like Dallas might thrive at SMU. A student who prefers a larger public university with a strong sense of tradition, a focus on academics and student self-governance, and a classic college town atmosphere might thrive at UVA.

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.