Southeast Missouri State University

Public · Moderately Selective · MO

Photo: Agathman (CC BY-SA 3.0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationMO · Midwest

SettingUrban

Undergrads6,373

Student:faculty20:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate40.8%

6-yr grad rate57.9%

Drop-out rate24.2%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$10k

Out-of-state tuition$10k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity30.2%

Gender diversity58.9%

International8.1%

Identity—

Overview

Southeast Missouri State University, often called Southeast or SEMO, is a public university in Cape Girardeau, a river town in the state's southeastern boot heel region. It functions as the main regional university for a largely rural stretch of Missouri, drawing students from southeast Missouri and parts of southern Illinois, western Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Academics

Teacher education is a long-standing strength, alongside business and agriculture programs that serve the surrounding farm economy. The university also has a recognized mass communication program with its own student-run broadcast and print outlets. Coursework leans hands-on and career-applicable, consistent with its role as a regional access institution rather than a research-first university.

Campus & student life

The campus sits blocks from the Mississippi River and downtown Cape Girardeau, giving students walkable access to a small-city main street alongside a traditional residential quad. Athletics — the Redhawks — compete in the Ohio Valley Conference, and campus life leans toward a close-knit mix of residential and commuter students typical of a regional public university.

Getting in

Admission is largely credential-based rather than heavily holistic, with GPA and coursework doing most of the work in the decision, consistent with SEMO's role as an accessible option for the surrounding region.

semo.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate73.5%

Enrolled mid-50%ACT 15–20

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying