We’ve pulled together some essential information you should know about the program, including how many students graduate each year, the diversity of these students, average starting salaries, and more. Find out how SMU compares to other colleges that offer visual & performing arts.
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SMU is in the top 15% of the country for visual & performing arts. In particular, it placed #71 out of 1,185 schools by College Factual. It is also ranked #4 in Texas.
| Ranking Type | Rank |
|---|---|
| Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region | 4 |
| Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Texas | 4 |
| Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region | 4 |
| Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Texas | 4 |
| Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southwest Region | 4 |
| Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Texas | 4 |
| College Major Top Ranked | 4 |
| College Major Top Ranked | 4 |
| College Major Top Ranked | 4 |
| College Major Top Ranked | 4 |
| Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Texas | 61 |
| Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Texas | 61 |
For the most recent IPEDS reporting year, Southern Methodist University conferred 144 bachelor’s degrees in visual & performing arts.
Visual & Performing Arts students who finish a bachelor’s at SMU go on to jobs where they make a median salary of $41,559 a year. This is below $82,838, the median for all majors at SMU.
While getting their bachelor’s degree at SMU, visual & performing arts students accumulate a median of $21,208 in student loans. This is above $20,712, the typical median for all majors at SMU.
Average full-time tuition and fees are listed in the table below.
| In State | Out of State | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $53,464 | $59,500 |
| Fees | $7,540 | $7,540 |
Learn more about SMU tuition and fees.
In the most recent graduating class, 43% of visual & performing arts bachelor’s degrees went to men and 57% went to women.
The largest share of visual & performing arts bachelor’s degree graduates at SMU were White. Approximately 53% of graduates fell into this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Southern Methodist University with a bachelor’s in visual & performing arts.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 12 |
| Black or African American | 13 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 24 |
| White | 77 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 5 |
| Other Races | 13 |
For the most recent academic year available, 38% of visual & performing arts master’s degrees went to men and 62% went to women.
The largest share of visual & performing arts master’s degree graduates at SMU were White. About 35% of graduates fell into this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Southern Methodist University with a master’s in visual & performing arts.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 2 |
| Black or African American | 4 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5 |
| White | 13 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 9 |
| Other Races | 4 |
Review the following statistics on the composition of the visual & performing arts majors at Southern Methodist University.
The visual & performing arts program at SMU offers the following related majors:
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Music | 60 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 38 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 31 |
| Fine & Studio Arts | 26 |
| Dance | 13 |
| Design & Applied Arts | 12 |
| Arts & Media Management | 11 |