Welcome to SMU

Anationally ranked private university located near the heart of Dallas, SMU is a distinguished center for global research with a liberal arts tradition.

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, hands-on research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs. The University offers a strong foundation in the humanities and sciences and undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs through eight schools.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is increasingly recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical leaders in their professions and communities. The University’s entrepreneurial spirit lives in people from every academic discipline who see opportunities to create something new in the world – and work hard to bring their innovations to life. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for our students, faculty and alumni to make a global impact. On the most beautiful college campus in the country, SMU Mustangs are energized by unbridled opportunities – from teaching, learning and research to creativity, performance and athletic endeavor.

SMU was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South in partnership with civic leaders. The University is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

SMU FACTS

The optimistic outlook of Dallas is at the heart of SMU. For more than a century, SMU’s enterprising spirit has helped shape Dallas into a global gateway for people of all backgrounds who want to change the world. SMU was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to promote higher education and freedom of inquiry and remains secular in its teaching. This comprehensive research university joined with an energetic city creates an opportunity powerhouse where more than 12,000 undergraduate and graduate students forge their success in a rigorous academic environment and own their future. Eight degree-granting schools elevate SMU to the top tier of national universities. SMU prepares Mustangs for the demands of a rapidly changing world, and jobs that don’t yet exist. SMU’s innovative, flexible Common Curriculum builds a solid liberal arts foundation that allows students to pursue multiple majors and experience different cultures, and delivers what employers want. SMU graduates greet the workforce with multiple competencies and global savvy. G Endowment (May 31, 2020): $1.6 billion G Fiscal Year 2019 Operating Budget: $774 million G Total Staff and Administrators: 1,579 G Faculty: 84.7% of full-time faculty members hold the doctorate or highest degree in their fields. The student-faculty ratio is 11-to-1. G Total Fall 2020 Full-time Faculty: 767 G Faculty Demographic Profile

Male – 59%

Female – 41%

Minority – 19% G Total Fall 2020 Enrollment: 12,373

Undergraduate students: 6,827

Graduate students: 5,546

Total new first-year undergraduate students: 1,531

PROMINENT ALUMNI

G First Lady Laura Bush G Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Antonio O. Garza Jr. G U.S. House of Representatives members John Culberson, Ralph Hall, Sam

Johnson, Eddie Bernice Johnson and Lamar Smith G Karen Hughes, former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and

Public Affairs G Harriet Miers, former Counsel to the President G Nobel Prize-winning physicist James Cronin G Computer memory pioneer Robert Dennard G Academy Award-winning actress Kathy Bates G Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Beth Henley G Emmy Award-winning actor Powers Boothe G Filmmaker-artist-author William Joyce G The late television producer Aaron Spelling G Tony Award winning actor Scott Waara G Robert H. Dedman Jr., chair, ClubCorp International G David Dillon, chairman and CEO of the Kroger supermarket chain G James R. Gibbs, chair, president and CEO, Frontier Oil Corporation G Ray L. Hunt, chair and CEO, Hunt Oil Company G Kenneth R. Morris, co-founder, PeopleSoft G Melissa Reiff, president, Container Store G Angela Braly, president and CEO, WellPoint, Inc. G Helmut R. Sohmen, chair, World-Wide Shipping Group, Hong Kong G Olympic gold medal swimmers Lars Frolander, Steve Lundquist, and Ryan

Berube; and gold medal track and field athlete Kevin Robinzine G The late Lamar Hunt, founder of the American Football League G The late Doak Walker, recipient of football’s Heisman Trophy G The late Payne Stewart, championship golfer G Pro Football Hall of Fame members Raymond Berry, Eric Dickerson, Forrest

Gregg, Lamar Hunt and Doak Walker G Jerry LeVias, National College Football Hall of Fame and NFL Rookie of the

Year