Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist University (SMU) is a private research university in the Park Cities area, about five miles north of downtown Dallas. The campus, known for its Collegiate Georgian architecture and its tree-lined Boulevard, sits next to Highland Park and University Park.

SMU was founded in 1911 and has grown into a nationally ranked university with undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. They include Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, the Cox School of Business, the Lyle School of Engineering, the Meadows School of the Arts, the Simmons School of Education and Human Development, the Dedman School of Law and Perkins School of Theology. The campus is also home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum.

The university has waived application fees for prospective students, and campus visits can be scheduled through its website. SMU’s athletic teams, the Mustangs, compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

SMU plays a growing role in the Dallas arts calendar. In 2026 the university announced that the Dallas Art Fair will move to its campus, which SMU describes as the first international contemporary art fair held on a university campus. General information, admissions and visit details are available on the university’s website.