FAQs

Financial Support 

It’s important that any graduate student in the arts incur as little debt as possible.  To that end, all students at SMU receive a full tuition waiver of $44,500 per year, tax free.  In addition, students will receive a living stipend of $12,500 per year. The three-year financial aid package totals $169,500.

Teaching Assistantships 

MFA actors serve as teaching assistants during their three years at SMU.  Starting in the first year, graduate students will teach The Art of Acting, a course that introduces non-majors to the fundamentals of acting technique. Annual workshops in pedagogy and faculty mentorship provide full support for graduate teaching assistants.  

Housing

While SMU does not provide graduate housing, there are numerous affordable options in close proximity to the campus. Current graduate students are a great resource for securing safe, affordable housing and are happy to speak to prospective students about living and learning in Dallas, Texas.

Culture and Climate

Prospective students often voice understandable hesitations about moving to Texas. Dallas, is a thriving, liberal, metropolitan city in the middle of a very conservative state. Our department and our university are dedicated to recognizing, addressing and eradicating all forms of racism and bias-based oppression. We are committed to change and recognize that this requires courage, respect and compassion and that true change is seldom comfortable.