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Cape Girardeau , MO
Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) is a public university located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Established in 1873, SEMO offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various fields of study. With a student enrollment of approximately 11,000, SEMO provides a vibrant and inclusive learning environment that promotes personal growth and academic excellence.
SEMO is known for its strong emphasis on experiential learning, providing students with numerous opportunities to engage in hands-on learning experiences through internships, cooperative education, research, and community service. The university also boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including modern classrooms, labs, and studios, to enhance the learning experience and foster innovation. SEMO is made up of several academic colleges, including the College of Business, College of Education, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Harrison College of Fine Arts, College of Health and Human Services, and the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Apart from its academic offerings, SEMO provides a vibrant campus life with numerous extracurricular activities and organizations. These include over 200 student organizations covering a wide range of interests, club sports, intramural sports, and various cultural and recreational programs. The university also hosts events and activities throughout the year, including art exhibits, theatrical performances, music concerts, and community outreach initiatives. With its commitment to academics, experiential learning, and student engagement, SEMO offers a comprehensive educational experience that prepares students for success in their chosen careers.
Located in Cape Girardeau, MO, Southeast Missouri State University is a public comprehensive higher education institution. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 68%. The freshman retention rate at Southeast Missouri State University is 76% and the six-year graduation rate is 58%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is July 1. To find out more about what Southeast Missouri State University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
7,926
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
5:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
58%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. What are the admission requirements for Southeast Missouri State University?
According to the newest data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 7,767 in 2025. Southeast Missouri State University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the applicant. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 10% and ACT scores 69%. 3% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 23% between 1,200 and 1,399, 45% between 1,000 and 1,199, 25% between 800 and 999, and 3% between 600 and 799. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 5, 23 between 24-29, 48 in the range between 18-23, 23 between 12-17, and 0.2 between 6-11.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.5. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Southeast Missouri State University.
Deadlines
The deadline for submitting applications to Southeast Missouri State University is July 1.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Southeast Missouri State University was 76%, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the educational experience at this institution.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 58%.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the best fit for you is not an easy task. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Southeast Missouri State University in 2025 was 9,500.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 20.7. There was a total of 7,926 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 514 international students. The school reported to have a total of 432 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 2,827 male and 3,882 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution. This school had 430 full-time graduate male and 391 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Southeast Missouri State University.
This school had 50 Asian students and 537 Afro-American students in 2025. 207 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 203 as multirace. The school also had 4 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 17 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 392 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Southeast Missouri State University.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Southeast Missouri State University? Here is what you need to know.
For local residents, public county and municipal institutions reported that tuition costs were $8,850. Tuition fees were $8,850 for students coming from a different state. Tuition costs at Southeast Missouri State University for international students were $16,320. Full-time students in 2025 had to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,344.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $8,850 | $1,344 | $10,194 |
| In-State | $8,850 | $1,344 | $10,194 |
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to take into consideration is the estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $365.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
At Southeast Missouri State University, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $11,710. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school stood at $8,150, according to the data from 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 8,850 |
| Room and Board | $ 11,710 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 365 |
| Total Expense | $ 20,925 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial support can be a great deal for many students. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid at Southeast Missouri State University.
The most recent records show that 825 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $10,810 in financial help.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet some eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
3,283 students were given some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Southeast Missouri State University is available to international students. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Southeast Missouri State University isn't available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 3,585. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $14,268,827, and state $4,532,007. The students of Southeast Missouri State University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $8,978,676, and external in the amount of $1,053,966.
$4,794
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 262 students overall (including freshmen) at Southeast Missouri State University in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 76 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $14,268,827 while the state aid is $471,289. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $7,738,801. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $703,235 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
5:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Southeast Missouri State University was 5:1: that means 5 students per one teacher, which is considered an excellent ratio. This school has recently reported to have 461 faculty members. This number included 212 male and 249 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Southeast Missouri State University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Southeast Missouri State University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about students' life at Southeast Missouri State University.
Its campus spans 400 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
There are 262 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. This number includes sororities and fraternities. At this school, 66% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 14 for female students. The most popular student organization is SEMO eSports, followed by Campus Outreach and Greek Life. Other popular organizations among the students at Southeast Missouri State University are Student Activities Council and Student Government Association.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Southeast Missouri State University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? Southeast Missouri State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Southeast Missouri State University offers a number of services crucial for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. Dormitory entrances at the school are electronically operated. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Southeast Missouri State University.
All in all, campus life at Southeast Missouri State University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Southeast Missouri State University.
Career Counselling
There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students.
FAQ
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Southeast Missouri State University is located in Cape Girardeau, MO.
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Southeast Missouri State University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Southeast Missouri State University is 68%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Southeast Missouri State University is 76%.
Contact Information
Southeast Missouri State University
One University Plaza
Cape Girardeau , MO
63701
573 651-2000
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.