C+
Above Average
Score: 58/100
Overall (traditional)
D
Outcome Rating
38/100 · earnings-weighted

Southeast Missouri State University

4-Year Public
📍 Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701
Outcomes
B
71/100
Affordability
C+
59/100
Resources
C
49/100
Experience
B+
75/100
Prestige
D
39/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

9,686
Total Enrollment
56%
Graduation Rate
76%
Retention Rate
20.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
79%
Acceptance Rate
$14,843
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Southeast Missouri State University ▼

9% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$244,038
Avg Monthly Rent
$927
1-Year Change
+4.8%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Southeast Missouri State University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$44,030
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$38,150
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$21,500
Median debt at graduation
57.9%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
950
Average SAT
30.4%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 49% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 20th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (MO wage index 0.87). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Southeast Missouri State University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management$62,891$106,797+26%#10 of 99#5$24,290
Computer and Information Sciences$58,964$93,795+2%#159 of 459#122$22,500
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$68,302$85,155-4%#527 of 966#361$20,296
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians$56,951$80,820+-0%#28 of 51#24$24,395
Finance and Financial Management Services$46,736$78,407-6%#216 of 452#169$21,497
Accounting and Related Services$53,737$69,868-8%#488 of 796#397$18,402
Political Science and Government—$66,799+6%#165 of 565#90$17,750
Agricultural Business and Management$44,418$63,078-5%#47 of 77#41$13,000
Engineering Technologies/Technicians$41,437$62,781-22%#33 of 34#33$20,854
Marketing$42,482$61,400-11%#371 of 516#301$18,985
Business Administration, Management and Operations$41,604$59,834-12%#802 of 1176#674$21,487
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$40,127$58,082-9%#124 of 178#102$24,908
Health and Medical Administrative Services$38,382$57,260-2%#154 of 275#126$26,750
Plant Sciences$48,546$56,265-1%#23 of 44#19$17,355
Hospitality Administration/Management$34,395$53,527-6%#85 of 137#67$18,750
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$34,638$51,828-5%#347 of 610#271$22,000
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services—$51,817-12%#185 of 215#170$17,500
Criminal Justice and Corrections$36,537$47,934-13%#547 of 660#491$25,000
Communication and Media Studies$35,282$47,813-15%#513 of 660#429$24,000
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$35,464$45,383-14%#376 of 476#351$22,000
Biology$31,420$45,207-21%#786 of 841#756$19,407
Psychology$30,477$44,580-12%#818 of 1027#688$21,970
Social Work$32,224$43,260-16%#397 of 420#388$24,310
Social Sciences$37,193$42,761-20%#77 of 87#72$23,323
Animal Sciences—$41,706-16%#70 of 78#60—
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences$31,250$41,619-14%#36 of 49#38$23,000
International/Globalization Studies$25,984$41,481-31%#82 of 87#79$25,000
Special Education and Teaching$37,450$41,163-18%#166 of 177#163$23,876
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies—$40,266-21%#59 of 63#54—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$33,760$37,245-21%#667 of 680#663$22,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$34,206$37,112-28%#342 of 345#341$21,500
Fine and Studio Arts$28,421$36,531-12%#325 of 423#277$19,000
English Language and Literature—$36,356-25%#549 of 576#526$28,625
Visual and Performing Arts$26,668$33,293-20%#63 of 68#58$23,320

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Southeast Missouri State University Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $244,038
  • Avg rent near campus: $927/mo
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 62957 (9.4% cap, Thebes)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

✓ Sent — check your inbox

Free — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.

🏆 Where Southeast Missouri State University Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#5
Corrections
of 35 schools
#7
Organizational Communication, General
of 11 schools
#7
Child Care and Support Services Management
of 42 schools
#13
Visual and Performing Arts, General
of 37 schools
#18
Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations
of 40 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $8,151 $8,151
Total Cost (On-Campus) $27,282 $27,282

Financial Aid

96%
Receive Any Aid
36%
Receive Pell Grants
41%
Take Out Loans
$14,843
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$11,453
$30,001 - $48,000$11,371
$48,001 - $75,000$13,576
$75,001 - $110,000$18,253
$110,001+$19,562

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Computer and Information Sciences, General 379 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 192 grads/yr General Studies 117 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 107 grads/yr Psychology, General 98 grads/yr Corrections 82 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 74 grads/yr Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance 68 grads/yr Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia 68 grads/yr Visual and Performing Arts, General 60 grads/yr Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations 51 grads/yr Engineering/Industrial Management 44 grads/yr Educational Leadership and Administration, General 44 grads/yr Organizational Communication, General 40 grads/yr Communication Sciences and Disorders, General 40 grads/yr Social Work 39 grads/yr Child Care and Support Services Management 38 grads/yr Health/Health Care Administration/Management 38 grads/yr Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services 38 grads/yr Elementary Education and Teaching 38 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Southeast Missouri State University's top programs commonly pursue.

Computer and information systems managers
$171k/yr 667,100 jobs
Computer and information research scientists
$141k/yr 40,300 jobs
Database architects
$136k/yr 66,900 jobs
Computer network architects
$130k/yr 179,200 jobs
Computer occupations, all other
$109k/yr 472,000 jobs
Database administrators
$105k/yr 78,000 jobs
Computer systems analysts
$104k/yr 521,100 jobs
Software quality assurance analysts and testers
$103k/yr 201,700 jobs

Student Demographics

9,686
Total Students
59%
Women
73%
Traditional Age (18-24)
9%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 71%
Hispanic 3%
Black 7%
Asian 1%
Two or More 3%
Non-Resident 12%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 71%
Off-Campus (Renters) 9%
With Family 21%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~862 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 35%
Hybrid (Some Online) 47%
Fully Online 18%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 73%
25-64 (Adult) 10%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Southeast Missouri State University?
Southeast Missouri State University has an acceptance rate of 79%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University?
Tuition at Southeast Missouri State University is $8,151 for in-state students and $8,151 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $14,843.
What is the graduation rate at Southeast Missouri State University?
The graduation rate at Southeast Missouri State University is 56%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.
Is Southeast Missouri State University a good school?
Southeast Missouri State University has a Repit College Score of 58/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (B): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Southeast Missouri State University?
Southeast Missouri State University has a total enrollment of 9,686 students. Most students (73%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Is there rental demand near Southeast Missouri State University?
Yes! Approximately 9% of students at Southeast Missouri State University live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 862 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Southeast Missouri State University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Southeast Missouri State University

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
Missouri State University-Springfield
Springfield, MO · 23,418 students
C+
Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, MO · 9,664 students
C+
Ozarks Technical Community College
Springfield, MO · 11,036 students
C+
Missouri Western State University
Saint Joseph, MO · 3,817 students
C+
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, MO · 12,788 students
C+
Saint Louis Community College
Bridgeton, MO · 14,627 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology