Safety Score
4.22 /1K students
incidents per 1,000 enrolled
Dallas, TX · Clery Act 2023 · Private Nonprofit
Southern Methodist University
According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 11,842-student campus.
- 4.22
- Incidents / 1k students
- #2,492
- Rank of 3,050
- #153
- TX rank
- 11,842
- Enrolled students
Data updated June 2026
The verdict
Southern Methodist University reports 4.22 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #2,492 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - with more reported incidents than 83% of ranked campuses its size.
- 4.22
- incidents / 1,000 students
- #2,492
- of 3,050 ranked nationally
- 83%
- report fewer incidents than this campus
- 33
- on-campus incidents, 2023
Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).
Reporting-period change
What changed in 2023
Southern Methodist University decreased from 39 to 33 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.
This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.
See national reporting-year changesSouthern Methodist University is a Private Nonprofit institution located in Dallas, TX, enrolling approximately 11,842 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 104 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within TX, it ranks #153 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →
With 11,842 enrolled students, this campus sits in the mid-sized institution bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.
The most frequently reported category at Southern Methodist University is "Motor Vehicle Theft" with 58 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in TX averaging 1.38 incidents per 1,000 students, Southern Methodist University reports 205% more incidents per student.
Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 6 total fires. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 18 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. No Department of Education Clery Act enforcement actions are recorded against this institution.
National Rank
#2492
See peer comparison
State Rank (TX)
#153
within state peers
Incidents (2023)
33
across 11 crime categories
Where Southern Methodist University sits among ranked U.S. campuses
On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students
4 safer than 17% of 1,807 ranked campuses
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023
Safety percentile vs. peers
Southern Methodist University percentile rank 18.3%
National median
Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #2492 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.
Reporting density vs peer median
Southern Methodist University reports 205% more incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.
Academic & Financial Profile
Tuition & Costs
- In-State Tuition
- $67,040
- Out-of-State Tuition
- $67,040
- Avg Net Price
- $40,892
- Median Debt
- $19,500
- Pell Grant Recipients
- 13%
Admissions
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- SAT Average
- 1428
- SAT Math Range
- 670–750
- ACT Average
- 33
- ACT Range
- 30–34
Outcomes
- 4-Year Graduation Rate
- 84%
- Retention Rate
- 91%
- Median Earnings (6yr)
- $65,556
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $78,354
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 81%
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.
Crime Statistics by Year
11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus onlySouthern Methodist University: on-campus incidents by year
Rising 3% (32 → 33 incidents)
| Crime Type | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggravated Assault | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Arson | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Burglary | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Fondling | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Incest | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 22 | 21 | 15 |
| Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rape | 3 | 13 | 9 |
| Robbery | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Statutory Rape | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents
Fire Safety
| Year | Fires | Inj. | Deaths | Cat I | Cat II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Arrests & Disciplinary Actions
18 category-year records| Category | Year | Arrests | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 9 | 34 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 5 | 181 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 1 | 2 |
| Drugs | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2022 | 8 | 19 |
| Liquor | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2022 | 2 | 254 |
| Weapons | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2022 | 1 | 4 |
| Drugs | 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2021 | 1 | 17 |
| Liquor | 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2021 | 1 | 153 |
| Weapons | 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2021 | 1 | 0 |
Southern Methodist University vs peer institutions
Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment
Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).
TX
Southern Methodist University
4.22 incidents / 1,000 students
CA
Merced College
0.08 incidents / 1,000 students
ID
University of Idaho
2.36 incidents / 1,000 students
Similar Institutions
Merced College
Merced, CA · 11,835 enrolled
Safety Score 0.08
University of Idaho
Moscow, ID · 11,849 enrolled
Safety Score 2.36
Daytona State College
Daytona Beach, FL · 11,807 enrolled
Safety Score 1.44
Bergen Community College
Paramus, NJ · 11,801 enrolled
Safety Score 0.08
Georgia Gwinnett College
Lawrenceville, GA · 11,907 enrolled
Safety Score 2.94
Closest by National Rank
Institutions ranked nearest Southern Methodist University nationally (rank #2492), regardless of size or state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Southern Methodist University safe?
Southern Methodist University has a safety score of 4.22 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #2,492 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at Southern Methodist University?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does Southern Methodist University compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in TX.
Does Southern Methodist University have fire safety data?
Yes. Southern Methodist University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. 6 fires were reported in the most recent year.
Understanding Southern Methodist University's Safety Profile
Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX enrolls 11,842 students and has a safety score of 4.22 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #2492 nationally.
Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents decreased from 39 in 2022 to 33 in 2023.
Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. 6 fires were reported in the most recent year.
What this means for you
Southern Methodist University's 4.22 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.
- Weigh Southern Methodist University against similar-size campuses, scale changes what the raw count means. Compare campuses
- A higher count can mean stronger reporting, not more danger. How the data works
- Clery covers campus grounds only. Campus vs. city crime
Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.
Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.