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Southeast Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University says yes to 73.5% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $44,030 median earnings.
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Southeast Missouri State University sits in Cape Girardeau proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. International students are a visible presence here — 8.1% of undergraduates come from outside the U.S.
Its highest-earning path is Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management, where graduates median $106,797 four years out. 30.4% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 6,373 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 75.8% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 850 and 1030 — below the MO middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Southeast Missouri State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Southeast Missouri State University received 7,462 applications and admitted 5,858 (78.5%), with 1,287 enrolling.
You can apply to Southeast Missouri State University without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 850 and 1030; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 470 | 510 | 550 |
| SAT Math | 380 | 480 | 480 |
| ACT Composite | 16 | 19 | 21 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Southeast Missouri State University compares
| Southeast Missouri State University | Missouri median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 73.5% | 72.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $9,903 | $20,293 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $44,030 | $47,885 | $53,781 |
At $44,030, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($47,885). Look at Southeast Missouri State University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $9,903 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $9,903. For non-residents, Southeast Missouri State University's $9,903 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 6,373 undergrads, Southeast Missouri State University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
57.9% graduate within six years. Roughly 42% don't — ask a Southeast Missouri State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Southeast Missouri State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $106,797 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $93,795 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $85,155 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $80,820 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $78,407 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $69,868 |
| Political Science and Government | $66,799 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $63,078 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General | $62,781 |
| Marketing | $61,400 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $59,834 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $58,082 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $57,260 |
| Plant Sciences | $56,265 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $53,527 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $51,828 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $51,817 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $47,934 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $47,813 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $45,383 |
| Biology, General | $45,207 |
| Psychology, General | $44,580 |
| Social Work | $43,260 |
| Social Sciences, General | $42,761 |
| Animal Sciences | $41,706 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $41,619 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $41,481 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $41,163 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | $40,266 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $37,245 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $37,112 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $36,531 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $36,356 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $33,293 |
Median earnings for these 34 Southeast Missouri State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $44,030 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 26 additional Southeast Missouri State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Southeast Missouri State University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 850–1030 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 73.5% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Southeast Missouri State University's acceptance rate?
78.5% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 5,858 admitted from 7,462 applicants.
How much does Southeast Missouri State University cost?
In-state tuition is $9,903; out-of-state students pay $9,903. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Southeast Missouri State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $44,030 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Missouri
- Stephens College — 77.2% admitted
- Southwest Baptist University — 68.4% admitted
- Westminster College — 79.2% admitted
- Saint Louis University — 75% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.