Southern Methodist University Rankings by Salary Score™
Bachelor's
Master's
Salary and Debt by Major at Southern Methodist University
We calculated a Salary Score for each of Southern Methodist University's programs by comparing program-specific median alumni earnings to median alumni earnings for the same program across all schools that provide this data. This way, students can compare the relative salary strength of a specific major at Southern Methodist University to the same major at other schools. A school's overall score by level is based on the school's by-program performance weighted by student enrollment in each program. Data is sourced from the December 2020 release of the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and reflects median alumni debt upon graduation and median alumni earnings in the year after graduation for students who received federal financial aid. Debt and salary numbers are shown rounded to the nearest $10.
Salary Score ™ for SMU Bachelor's Degrees
| Field of Study | Employment Rate | Median Debt | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropology | $20,500 | $33,990 | |
| Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management | Not Reported | $41,190 | |
| Biology, General | $21,750 | $28,960 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $14,000 | $59,050 | |
| Communication and Media Studies | $23,250 | $41,570 | |
| Computer Science | $17,500 | $75,990 | |
| Dance | Not Reported | $25,190 | |
| Design and Applied Arts | Not Reported | $52,730 | |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $19,560 | $25,190 | |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | Not Reported | $46,480 | |
| Economics | $18,750 | $55,440 | |
| English Language and Literature, General | Not Reported | $38,290 | |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $15,500 | $71,660 | |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $24,030 | $47,260 | |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $16,750 | $47,730 | |
| History | $23,000 | $41,340 | |
| International/Global Studies | Not Reported | $42,680 | |
| Journalism | $21,500 | $40,770 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Not Reported | $48,670 | |
| Marketing | $16,750 | $57,320 | |
| Mathematics | $19,000 | $66,400 | |
| Mechanical Engineering | $23,250 | $68,860 | |
| Music | $20,500 | $25,970 | |
| Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) | Not Reported | $43,800 | |
| Operations Research | Not Reported | $76,460 | |
| Political Science and Government | $17,000 | $35,420 | |
| Psychology, General | $21,500 | $34,600 | |
| Public Policy Analysis | $14,000 | $38,290 | |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $18,500 | $44,080 | |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $14,000 | $43,800 | |
| Sociology | Not Reported | $37,210 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | Not Reported | $33,990 |
Salary Score ™ for SMU Master's Degrees
| Field of Study | Employment Rate | Median Debt | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | $41,000 | $63,140 | |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | Not Reported | $59,490 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $90,120 | $111,770 | |
| Computer Engineering | Not Reported | $122,040 | |
| Computer Systems Analysis | $79,700 | $96,690 | |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | Not Reported | $36,400 | |
| Education, Other | $21,910 | $55,170 | |
| Engineering-Related Fields | Not Reported | $100,850 | |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $82,680 | $101,560 | |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $64,680 | $101,410 | |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | Not Reported | $45,530 | |
| Information Science/Studies | $52,380 | $109,100 | |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | $53,500 | $58,000 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Not Reported | $52,110 | |
| Manufacturing Engineering | Not Reported | $89,420 | |
| Marketing | $87,500 | $97,630 | |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $68,020 | $39,010 | |
| Music | $41,000 | $35,950 | |
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | $47,100 | $49,330 | |
| Real Estate | $100,160 | $100,520 | |
| Systems Engineering | Not Reported | $98,400 | |
| Taxation | Not Reported | $61,730 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | Not Reported | $56,930 | |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | $52,960 | $51,110 |
Salary Score ™ for SMU Doctoral Degrees
| Field of Study | Employment Rate | Median Debt | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | $141,370 | $87,720 |
Reviews by Program
Most Recent Reviews
Please be honest with students at the start of their Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program—especially at the Master’s Degree level—that employment opportunities within the field of mediation are nonexistent, UNLESS you are an attorney. Otherwise, the program is a waste of very hard work & money. I would really like for SMU to make available accurate data on ADR graduates (non-attorneys) who secure full-time professional employment within mediation. I strongly believe the numbers to be dismally low.... Read More
I highly recommend the dispute resolution program at SMU because it really prepares students for the world of work, no matter the career path. The skills we learn in the program can be applied at work, in the community, in personal relationships and even in the broader global context. We learn how to mediate between two or more people, how to conduct dispute resolution online, how to advise others on career choices, how to troubleshoot work issues, and so much more. The best part of the dispute resolution... Read More