Arizona State University vs Southern Methodist University

This page compares Arizona State University and Southern Methodist University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.

Both schools are closely ranked in U.S. News: #43 and #45, separated by just 2 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

Arizona State University is located in Tempe, Arizona, while Southern Methodist University is in Dallas, Texas. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Southern Methodist University places 27.9% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 11.0% for the other school. This 17 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Arizona State University has lower tuition at $28,390 per year compared to $60,844. Combined with employment rates of 93.5% (ASU) and 97.6% (SMU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Arizona State University offered a median scholarship of $96,000 compared to $82,500, a difference of $13,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.