Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It enrolls 6,373 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes50
Value53
Affordability57
Selectivity29
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 73.5%, Southeast Missouri State University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
73.5%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
15 – 20
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Southeast Missouri State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
7.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Southeast Missouri State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $15,882 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,882
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
30%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
33%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$9,903
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,198
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,198
Books & Supplies
$696
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,816
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,816
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,177
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,704
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,342
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,338
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,395
Over $110,000
$21,267
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,03010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$21,500Medianpercentile
$25,75275%percentile
$35,98490%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,500
↓ $6,000
No Pell $13,534
↓ $7,966
Dependent students $14,802
↓ $6,698
Independent students $14,125
↓ $7,375
Female students $15,000
↓ $6,500
Male students $14,000
↓ $7,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($21,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
43% of full-time students who enrolled at Southeast Missouri State University graduate within six years, and 76% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
43%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
76%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $44,030 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,030
Earning > $25K
74%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$36,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$48,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$45,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,600, about 26% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 84% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Southeast Missouri State University is home to 6,373 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 37% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
6,373
Part-Time
11%
First-Generation
37%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 69.8%4,448
Black 8.4%537
International 8.1%514
Other 3.5%224
Hispanic 3.3%207
Asian 0.8%50
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Southeast Missouri State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityCape Girardeau, Missouri
Housing
Partly residential2,330 beds available
Adult Learners
10%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Southeast Missouri State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
90 distinct programs across
24 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southeast Missouri State University is 20:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
20:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,451
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$105M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$75,378
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
333 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
108
32%
$99,255
Associate Professors
53
16%
$73,885
Assistant Professors
70
21%
$68,487
Instructors
102
31%
$56,272
Pros & Cons of Southeast Missouri State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Southeast Missouri State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Frequently Asked Questions about Southeast Missouri State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Southeast Missouri State University.
Is Southeast Missouri State University hard to get into?
Admissions at Southeast Missouri State University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 73.5%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Southeast Missouri State University?
Southeast Missouri State University has an acceptance rate of 73.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for Southeast Missouri State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Southeast Missouri State University scored between 15 and 20 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Southeast Missouri State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Southeast Missouri State University is $15,882 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Southeast Missouri State University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,030 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,882 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Southeast Missouri State University known for?
Southeast Missouri State University is best known for its programs in Information Systems, Liberal Arts, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Southeast Missouri State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Southeast Missouri State University are $44,030, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Southeast Missouri State University accredited?
Yes. Southeast Missouri State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Southeast Missouri State University?
Southeast Missouri State University enrolls 6,373 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Southeast Missouri State University?
Southeast Missouri State University graduates 43% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Southeast Missouri State University a public or private college?
Southeast Missouri State University is a Public institution.
Where is Southeast Missouri State University located?
Southeast Missouri State University is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
What programs does Southeast Missouri State University offer?
Southeast Missouri State University offers 90 distinct programs. The most popular include Information Systems, Liberal Arts, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Southeast Missouri State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southeast Missouri State University is 20:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Missouri
Other colleges in Missouri share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Business Administration
Teacher Education (K-12)
Nursing
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