The decisions you make about graduate study have a significant impact on your life. When you decide to pursue a graduate degree, you are choosing intellectual mentors, friendships, an area of expertise, and to some degree, the potential trajectory of your life.

It’s a decision that opens many doors. It’s also a decision that involves your whole person; in order to thrive in graduate school, you will need to like the people you’re spending time with, the place you live in, and the opportunities you have for relaxation, learning, and fun.

The Dallas motto is simple: “Big things happen here.” Could your graduate career be one of those big things?

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1. 
Find opportunities and internships at one of Dallas' Fortune 500 companies.

Exxon-Mobil. AT&T. American Airlines. These are just a few of the over 24 Fortune 500 companies that have chosen Dallas for their corporate headquarters. Drawn by the area’s excellent labor pool (read highly educated young people!), friendly tax and regulatory systems, and Dallas’ central location within the United States, these top-ranked companies become major employers in the region.

Dallas’ concentration of Fortune 500 companies across many industries means that there are highly competitive work opportunities right in your backyard. No need to even leave the area!

2. 
Enjoy the fastest growing economy in the United States.

Dallas already boasts the 4th largest GDP of all metropolitan areas in the United States, and the economy continues to boom. Forbes recently ranked Dallas the second city in the country for the Best Places for Business and Careers.

Business is literally booming. Why does this matter to you as a graduate student if you’re not interested in a career in business? Because a rapidly growing economy and a continued influx of new workers means that the opportunities in every field increase. Whether you’re interested in teaching, research, data analysis, or the social sciences, the Dallas area will need your skills and interests as it continues to grow.

3. 
Save your budget with inexpensive living.

Despite the rapid growth taking place in and around Dallas, the area is still manageable for a graduate student budget. You shouldn’t have to be scraping by to afford your basic necessities simply because you are in graduate school. Choosing to go to graduate school in an area of the country with all the advantages of a major metropolis, but without the major price tag, will make your years of study much more pleasant.

Consider just this: the cost of living, including food, housing, and transportation, is estimated to be 55% more expensive in New York City and 40% more expensive in Washington, D.C. than in Dallas. That’s a significant chunk of change that you won’t be spending on daily necessities.

4. 
Enrich your life through Dallas' emphasis on culture and arts.

Are you a fan of art, music, beautiful spaces, and other types of artistic or cultural life? Dallas is home to beautiful museums, concert venues, and park spaces. In fact, Dallas as a city places a huge emphasis on making the urban experience as culturally rich as possible by bringing in renowned architects like Renzo Piano and Thom Mayne to construct key cultural buildings in the heart of the city.

The Dallas Arboretum has been named “One of the World’s 15 Most Breathtaking Gardens,” and the Dallas Arts District “is said to be the largest contiguous urban arts district in the nation,” according to Forbes.

5. 
Take advantage of world-class research centers.

Hosted on the campus of Southern Methodist University, the city of Dallas can boast about the presence of two world-class research facilities: the supercomputer complex known as ManeFrame and the George W. Bush Presidential Center. For graduate students who are interested in American history and historical research or in data analysis, statistical science, computational chemistry, and drug design and discovery, these resources offer a unique opportunity to be at the heart of cutting-edge research developments.

Finding a Place to Live

The vast majority of our graduate students (97% of them) find living arrangements around the city. SMU is located in an area of Dallas known as Highland Park. While the area immediately surrounding campus is one of the more expensive areas in Dallas, many graduate students find attractive, affordable housing in nearby neighborhoods like The Village, Oak Lawn, Knox/Henderson, Uptown, and more.

We offer a full off-campus housing guide for admitted graduate students to help them navigate the best neighborhoods near campus. Our current students are also an excellent resource and can share their perspective on where to live in Dallas for the best convenience and affordability to incoming students. We also have information for local agents who can assist students with their housing search.

Getting Around Dallas

SMU Offices That Support Our Graduate Students

There are several offices at SMU that are designed to support graduate students, and meet their academic, professional, and personal needs while they pursue their degrees. Check out these helpful resources, and don’t hesitate to contact these offices if you have any questions before or during your graduate education.