Side-by-side
American University vs Southern Methodist University
The numbers that actually decide it — net price after aid, how hard each is to get into, and how many students finish — compared straight across. Net price beats sticker price every time.
Both admit around 62% of applicants, with 7k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
| American University | Southern Methodist University | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 62% | 63% |
| Net price (in-state) what the average family actually pays after aid | $58,771 | $67,040 |
| Net price (out-of-state) | $58,771 | $67,040 |
| Sticker tuition (in-state) | — | $67,040 |
| Sticker tuition (out-of-state) | — | $67,040 |
| Graduation rate | 77% | 84% |
| Total enrollment | 7,266 | 7,277 |
Net price = sticker price minus the average grant aid for that school (IPEDS / Dept. of Education data). Real numbers vary by family income and student stats — verify each school's own Net Price Calculator before committing. Canonical: /compare/american-university-vs-southern-methodist-university.