Watch the video of the class of 2014 photo shoot.
The first-year undergraduate class of 1,479 is the largest in SMU history. The previous high was 1,466 in 1969. Texas students represent 46 percent of the first-year class, which also includes 108 international students from 34 countries. Minority students make up 26.2 percent of the class – an all-time high and an increase from 24 percent in fall 2009 and 20 percent in fall 2008.
The incoming class of 2014 has an average SAT score of 1244, which represents a rise of 77 points in the past 10 years. The rise is attributable to University initiatives and an increase in merit scholarships to attract and retain the best students from the United States and around the world. SMU’s Strategic Plan sets an average-SAT goal between 1275 and 1300 by 2015, the centennial of SMU’s opening.
Of the 10,938 students enrolled for the 2010 fall term, 6,192 are undergraduates and 4,746 are graduate and professional students.
Nearly all of the students in SMU’s first class in 1915 came from Dallas County, but 48 percent of undergraduates now come from outside Texas. In a typical year, students come to SMU from every state and the District of Columbia, from 90 foreign countries and from all races, religions and economic levels. Minority students make up 22.58 percent of the current total student body, which is an all-time high.