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Southern Methodist University sits about 12,373 students on a tree-lined campus in University Park, a leafy enclave inside Dallas about 15 minutes north of downtown. The campus feels like its own small town, all red brick and Georgian columns, anchored by the Dallas Hall lawn where students sprawl between classes. Next door, Snider Plaza gives the area a walkable village feel, and Mockingbird Station puts a transit hub within reach. SMU runs on its Residential Commons system, eleven living-learning houses that shape first-year life, and Mustang football and the Boulevard tailgate turn fall Saturdays into a production. Dallas opens up fast: the DART light rail runs from Mockingbird Station into downtown, so students who want a bigger night out don't need a car.
SMU requires first-year students to live on campus, where they are assigned to one of eleven Residential Commons, the school's living-learning model with a faculty member in residence in each house. The first-year experience is built around these houses. The requirement shapes social life across the entire freshman class.
Starting with the Fall 2025 entering class, SMU dropped the second-year live-on requirement, so sophomores can now choose to stay on campus as space allows or move off. That shift has pushed more students into the surrounding University Park rentals earlier than before. University Park is affluent, so landlords run thorough credit and income checks, and students without their own income usually need a parent or guarantor to co-sign.
Read leases closely for term length and what is bundled, since newer luxury buildings near campus often run 12-month terms and charge separately for parking and amenities. Occupancy limits can also apply, so confirm how many people a unit legally allows before you pack in roommates. Clarifying these terms up front avoids surprises after you sign.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Southern Methodist University before signing a lease.
The SMU market moves earlier and faster than most because the area is small, desirable, and surrounded by an affluent neighborhood with limited student inventory. Preleasing for the buildings closest to campus kicks off in the fall for the following year, so serious searching should start by winter. The best walkable spots in University Park and near Snider Plaza get claimed well before spring. Starting early is essential here.
With the sophomore live-on requirement gone as of Fall 2025, expect even more competition from rising sophomores hunting early. Demand stays heavy through fall and winter as students compete for limited near-campus inventory. Classes start in late August, and by summer the close-in options have largely cleared out. Touring before spring is the safest way to land a walkable spot.
If you land late, sublets are your friend, especially from students heading out for summer internships. Spring also brings openings as leases turn over, but the prime near-campus places rarely sit empty long. Late searchers often look farther toward Mockingbird Station or down the DART line. Leaning on transit lets you trade a little distance for availability.
The leafy, upscale enclave wrapping around campus, the most convenient and walkable choice, and priced to match.
A small commercial pocket right by campus with apartments above the shops, walkable and central.
Built around the DART light rail stop, good for students who want transit and a quick line downtown.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
SMU sits in an affluent area, so rents run high. A room in a shared apartment near campus typically lands around $900-$1,400/month per person, and a one-bedroom in University Park often runs $1,200-$1,800/month. Budget another $60-$150/month for utilities, and check whether parking and amenity fees are bundled or charged separately.
Other universities in Dallas share a similar off-campus housing market.
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