Can first-year students live off campus at Southern Methodist University?
DIRECT ANSWER
SMU requires first-year undergraduates to live on campus, but beginning with the Fall 2025 entering class it no longer requires the second year on campus.
- First-year residency remains required.
- The second-year requirement ended for the Fall 2025 entering class and later.
- Sophomores choosing off campus do not need the old sophomore exemption.
At SMU, first-year undergraduates must live on campus unless released from the requirement. Beginning with the Fall 2025 entering class, sophomores are no longer required to live on campus and may choose off-campus housing without a sophomore exemption. New transfer students are also not subject to the former two-year requirement.
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