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SMU Dedman School of Law

Rank 45 (USNWR 2023)
164
Median LSAT
3.71
Median GPA
33.9%
Acceptance rate

Also known as

  • SMU Dedman School of Law
  • Southern Methodist University
  • SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY
  • SMU

SMU Dedman School of Law is a law school located in Dallas, Texas. The school was ranked 45 in 2023 by USNWR. Annual enrollment for SMU Dedman School of Law is approximately 226.

Admissions website: https://www.smu.edu/Law/Admissions

Admissions email: lawadmit@smu.edu

Admissions phone: 214-768-2550

Can I get into SMU Dedman School of Law with aGPA andLSAT?

SMU Dedman School of Law Key Statistics

Previous year ABA 509 data
Percentiles 25 50 75
LSAT 160 164 165
GPA 3.35 3.71 3.87
Miscellaneous Count Percentile
# Applications 2253 71
# Admissions offers 764 -
Class size 226 74
% Accepted 33.9% 66
% Yield 28.9% 47

During the 2023 application cycle, 2,253 people applied and 764 were offered admission.

Southern Methodist University has a 1L class size of 226, and yield of 28.93%. 221 out of 764 applicants who were offered admission accepted, meaning that 28.93% of the people who were offered admission ended up attending the school.

The 1L class at Southern Methodist University has a median LSAT of 164. The 25th percentile LSAT is 160 and the 75th percentile LSAT is 165.

The median GPA is 3.71. The 25th percentile GPA is 3.35 and the 75th percentile GPA is 3.87.

SMU Dedman School of Law LSAT & GPA graph for 2022-2023

LSD has stats for 318 applicants for the 2022-2023 application cycle.

The graphs show applicant results plotted against GPA and LSAT. The dotted lines on the graphs represent the 25/50/75th percentiles reported by the school in their ABA 509 report from the previous year.

Each data point represents an LSD user that shared their application results for the benefit of future applicants.

Click on a data point to see that user's profile.

25th, 50th, 75th refer to percentiles from last year's admitted class

How much does SMU Dedman School of Law cost per year?

$61,058.00
Tuition
61st percentile
$89,565.00
CoA
67th percentile
67.40%
Grads with debt
32nd percentile
$146,637.00
Average debt
90th percentile
$80,000.00
Salary, 25th %
86th percentile
$125,000.00
Salary
91st percentile
$69,684.00
PI Salary
92nd percentile
62.70%
Employment rate
65th percentile
87.00%
Bar pass rate
70th percentile

Cost of attending SMU Dedman School of Law

In 2023, tuition was $61,058 and the annual cost of attending was $89,565 (tuition plus living expenses).

Cost of Attendance (CoA) is the estimated total amount you will have to spend every year to go to school. Unlike tuition, CoA includes expenses like rent, food, and insurance.

SMU Dedman School of Law employment outcomes

JD graduates from Southern Methodist University make $125,000 (median) upon graduation if they work in the private sector. If they go into the public sector, a grad can expect to make $69,684.

70.5% of law graduates from Southern Methodist University go directly to work for law firms, while 7.7% clerk for a judge. 2.9% of graduates go into public interest.

87.0% of Southern Methodist University graduates pass the bar on their first try.

Some interesting facts about SMU Dedman School of Law

Founded in 1925, SMU Dedman School of Law is located on a magnificent tree-lined campus in a beautiful residential neighborhood just five miles north of downtown Dallas. SMU offers an intimate learning community within a vibrant urban center.

With a relatively small entering class size, an outstanding teaching faculty, and distinguished guest lecturers, SMU offers a scholarly community with fantastic opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. SMU also has a well-rounded, diverse student body from approximately 200 colleges and universities, 35 states, and over 20 countries.

Law School Campus

SMU offers a beautiful setting in which to pursue legal studies. The Law School Quadrangle, a six-acre, self-contained corner of the campus, offers students convenient access to all law school facilities. The larger SMU campus offers students a variety of housing options, a childcare facility, a health center, and a fitness/wellness center.

The law school has its own dining hall and a four-story parking garage with 500 spaces.

Southern Methodist University

Chat for Southern Methodist University
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Opossum
10:17
I think they were waiting to gauge the yield from current offers, since the second deposit deadline was April 15th. Now they'll have a better idea of what they are working with.
HappyLittlePanda
10:30
Oops just got denied admission hehe
HappyLittlePanda
10:30
Six
HappyLittlePanda
10:31
More months til the next cycle!
Opossum
10:32
@HappyLittlePanda: Wishing you luck! I might be R&R myself if i don't get off the waitlist.
10:45
You’d think, but last cycle they reduced the size of the class and this hurt waitlist candidates, so only one person got off
They're expanding the class this year
@Lilabeans12: so you were waitlisted this cycle as well?
Lol they were super vague the last time someone ask
Might call their bluff and say they didn't actually apply and are just stirring the pot...
12:59
Nope, applied twice, waitlisted twice. Met with Dean of admissions this cycle. She directly said all this information to me, so it’s accurate.
nopain18
13:01
Does date change mean anything?
HappyLittlePanda
13:32
@Opossum: I am R&R so I can at least get my LSAT up to median I knew I wasn’t gonna get in and i signed up for the June LSAT a while ago, but I just applied since they waived the fees for me
I mean I met with them too and they said they're expanding the class...
So like which one is right?
14:22
I've also heard that they're expanding the class and I also spoke with the Dean.
Okay! That gives me hope!
15:08
But he said they're only adding like two seats
I heard 30 like a jump from whatever it is now to 220
Opossum
15:41
That would make sense prior classes ranged to 200 - last year it looks like they over corrected to keep medians but that is weighted less and they can still maintain. 2019 had 269 students who enrolled so if they're increased they'll land at least 200+ this year similar to 2020-2022.
I wonder why we're all hearing different things
9:24
Yeah it's weird...
HappyLittlePanda
10:06
I haven’t heard anything but I’ve /seen/ posts on Reddit speculating their trying to tailor their class due to A and Ms jump
Can you explain more?
@HappyLittlePanda: where did you find that? I'm just curious and want some clarity on what's going on!
11:14
I was told at ASD that they were aiming for 220.
11:22
I wonder how many people are already deposited...
Anyone have that info on how full the class is?
nopain18
18:08
Dos anyone think that there will be another A wave from SMU? Or is it too late in the cycle?
nopain18
18:08
Applied late feb^
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