Southern Methodist University vs Chapman University

Southern Methodist University and Chapman University are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Chapman University is more selective with a 55.6% acceptance rate compared to Southern Methodist University's 61.2%. Average SAT scores are 1424 and 1353 respectively.

Cost: Southern Methodist University offers a lower average net price at $41,778, which is $5,749 less than Chapman University ($47,527). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Southern Methodist University earn a median salary of $78,354 ten years after enrollment, which is $8,284 more than Chapman University graduates ($70,070).

Graduation: Southern Methodist University leads with a 82.8% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 89.6% vs 90.0%.

Campus Size: Chapman University is the larger campus with 7,629 total students, while Southern Methodist University has 7,106.

Bottom Line: Southern Methodist University stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.