Head-to-head comparison
Southern Methodist University vs Dallas Baptist University: which has better ROI?
Option A Dallas, TX
Southern Methodist University
- Net price / year
- $40,892
- Earnings, 10 years
- $78,354
- Payback
- 5.5 yrs
Option B Dallas, TX
Dallas Baptist University
- Net price / year
- $28,516
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,807
- Payback
- 13.5 yrs
Southern Methodist University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $163,568 in 5.5 years versus 13.5 years at Dallas Baptist University, on median earnings of $78,354 vs $56,807 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern Methodist University | Dallas Baptist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $40,892 | $28,516 |
| Total net cost | $163,568 | $114,064 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $78,354 | $56,807 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $21,591 |
| Payback | 5.5 yrs | 13.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $436,312 | $54,876 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Southern Methodist University or Dallas Baptist University?
Dallas Baptist University, at $28,516 a year after aid versus $40,892 — a gap of $12,376 a year, or $49,504 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Southern Methodist University or Dallas Baptist University graduates earn more?
Southern Methodist University graduates report a median $78,354 ten years after entry, $21,547 more than the $56,807 at Dallas Baptist University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Southern Methodist University or Dallas Baptist University?
Southern Methodist University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $21,591 at Dallas Baptist University, a difference of $2,091. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
84% of students finish at Southern Methodist University, against 57% at Dallas Baptist University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.