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TCU Baylor UCLA UT Austin Stanford UT Dallas NYU Pomona Loyola Marymount Texas A&M Claremont McKenna Tulane| University of Southern California | Southern Methodist University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
USC | SMU | ||
| Location | Los Angeles, CA | Dallas, TX | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 48,945 | 12,053 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #34 | #67 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | usc.edu | smu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
USC | SMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $63,468 | $55,012 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $63,468 | $55,012 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,436 | $17,750 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $36,808 | $45,094 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $45,262 | $35,344 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 71% | 73% |
Admission |
USC | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 69,062 | 16,150 | ||
| Admitted | 8,304 | 8,439 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 12% | 52.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 41.2% | 19.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.83 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 32/35 | 31/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1450/1550 | 1370/1510 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2024 |
Academics |
USC | SMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
USC | SMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 90% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $85,500 | $73,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 81% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,375 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $231 | $222 |
Diversity |
USC | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 50% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 50% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 40% | 65% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 14% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 13% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
USC | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 42% | 38% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 58% | ||
Campus |
USC | SMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Southern California is larger than than SMU based on total student enrollment (48,945 students vs. 12,053 students)
USC vs. SMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, USC or SMU?
- University of Southern California is 15.4% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($63,468.00 vs. $55,012.00)
- Out of state tuition is 15.4% higher at USC than Southern Methodist University ($63,468.00 vs. $55,012.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Southern California than SMU ($36,808 vs. $45,094)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Southern California are 1.8% lower than costs at Southern Methodist University ($17,436 vs. $17,750)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Methodist University than University of Southern California (73% vs. 71%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern California students is 28.1% larger than aid received Southern Methodist University ($45,262 vs. $35,344)
USC vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, USC or SMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMU or USC .
- The average SAT score at University of Southern California (1391) is 61 points higher than at SMU (1330)
- Incoming USC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at SMU (30)
- Accepted freshman USC students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at SMU (3.68)
- SMU has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than USC (12%)
USC vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, USC or SMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SMU and USC.
- The graduation rate at USC is higher than Southern Methodist University (90% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from University of Southern California earn on average $12,500 more per year than SMU graduates after ten years. ($85,500 vs. $73,000)
- Southern Methodist University students graduate with a $875 lower median federal student loan debt than USC graduates. ($21,500 vs. $22,375)
- SMU graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than USC graduates. ($222 vs. $231)
- More USC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMU students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 76%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/