by our College Data Analytics TeamWe’ve pulled together the essential facts you should know about the program at SMU. You can study it at the Bachelor’s level, with graduate study also available. Its best result is a rank of #4 out of 60 schools (Bachelor’s level) by College Factual. Jump to any of the following sections:
College Factual rates SMU among the top schools in the country for visual & performing arts, ranked #97 out of 1,146 schools nationally.
| Ranking | Rank |
|---|---|
| Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools | 97 of 1,146 |
| Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Texas | 3 of 62 |
| Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southwest Region | 3 of 102 |
The table below lists every degree level available for visual & performing arts at SMU, along with how many graduates complete each level annually.
| Degree Level | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | 144 |
| Master’s | 37 |
| Graduate Certificate | 10 |
The visual & performing arts area of study at SMU includes the following specific majors. Select a major to see its rankings, popularity, salary, and diversity details:
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Music | 60 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 38 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 31 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 26 |
| Dance | 13 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 12 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 11 |
During the most recent reporting year, Southern Methodist University handed out 144 bachelor’s degrees in visual & performing arts.
SMU is in the top 10% of the country for visual & performing arts at the bachelor’s level. In particular it placed #4 out of 60 schools by College Factual.
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 |
You can also pursue this field at the graduate level at SMU. Here are the graduate award levels offered.
| Graduate Level | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degrees in Visual & Performing Arts | 37 |
| Graduate Certificate Degrees in Visual & Performing Arts | 10 |
