Scholarships at Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist University provides a National Merit and National Achievement supplemental scholarship for students who designate SMU as their first-choice college with the National Merit Corporation by the early-June deadline. The award pays up to $5,000 annually for eight terms or until graduation, while President's and Hunt Scholar recipients receive up to $2,000 annually instead, not to exceed cost of attendance. Recipients must maintain a cumulative SMU GPA of at least 3.000 with full-time enrollment each term. Combined SMU merit and need-based awards, including this supplement, cannot exceed tuition and fees.

The Minister's Family Tuition Award at Southern Methodist University supports dependent undergraduate children or spouses of ordained United Methodist Church ministers engaged in active pastoral work, as well as dependent children of retired or deceased UMC ministers. SMU may provide up to $3,500 per term for eight terms or four years, applied toward tuition only and not general student fees or other charges. Recipients must maintain a cumulative SMU GPA of at least 2.000 with full-time enrollment of 12 or more credit hours. Students document ministerial eligibility through SMU's Minister's Family Tuition Award process linked from the scholarships page.

The Phi Theta Kappa Supplemental Scholarship provides additional merit funding to active Phi Theta Kappa members transferring to Southern Methodist University. SMU awards $2,000 based on leadership, community service, essays, recommendation letters, and information submitted through the transfer admission process. Recipients must maintain a cumulative SMU GPA of at least 3.000 with full-time enrollment to retain eligibility for renewal terms covered by the transfer scholarship package. The award supplements other SMU transfer merit programs rather than replacing them, and total institutional aid remains subject to tuition and fee caps.

The Nancy Ann and Ray L. Hunt Leadership Scholars Program recognizes incoming SMU first-year students who combine strong academics with extraordinary high school leadership. Selected Hunt Scholars receive about 75 percent of tuition and fees for up to eight semesters plus a funded May-term study abroad experience during sophomore year. Applicants submit the Hunt essay and YouTube statement in addition to the SMU admission application, participate in leadership coursework, and join a cohort with mentoring and service expectations. Recipients must maintain a cumulative SMU GPA of at least 3.000 with full-time enrollment each term.

The North Texas Community College Scholarship helps strong leaders transferring to Southern Methodist University from Collin College, Dallas College, Grayson College, Navarro College, North Central Texas College, Tarrant County College, and Trinity Valley Community College. Recipients may receive full tuition and the general student fee for up to five terms when they complete the transfer admission application by April 1 for fall entry. Selection evaluates leadership, community service, essays, recommendation letters, and application materials submitted through the Office of Transfer Admission. Students must maintain a cumulative SMU GPA of at least 3.000 with full-time enrollment to renew the award.