Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Southeast Missouri State University #639 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,354 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 47.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Southeast Missouri State University #632 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflecting strong outcomes for its student population.
Azimuth ranks Southeast Missouri State University #639 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Southeast Missouri State University enrolls roughly 6,373 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 75.8% freshman retention rate and a 57.9% six-year graduation rate, reflecting solid student persistence through degree completion. Southeast Missouri State University delivers meaningful value through a combination of accessible pricing and solid career outcomes. 30.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 36.9% are first-generation college students, positioning the institution as a broad-access public university. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $51,502, and Southeast Missouri State University earn about $2,354 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 47.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Southeast Missouri State University #1075 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio centers on Education, a field that aligns with regional workforce demand and stable career pathways. As a master's-level public university, Southeast Missouri State University balances affordability with practical degree options that lead directly into employment. Mobility sits in the 57.4 percentile and access in the 66.4 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the institution's role as a regional engine for credential completion and economic mobility among students from modest backgrounds.
Southeast Missouri State University's published cost of attendance is $25,177. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $12,704, middle-income families pay around $15,338, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,267. Azimuth ranks Southeast Missouri State University #375 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Southeast Missouri State participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA. The combination of public tuition and need-based aid support keeps net prices manageable across income levels, particularly for low-income students who receive the largest aid packages relative to cost. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $51,502, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Southeast Missouri State University is a strong fit for students interested in education and related fields who want a regional public university experience in Cape Girardeau, MO. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $51,502, placing Southeast Missouri State University in the 11.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $2,354 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Southeast Missouri State University in the 47.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 30.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 36.9% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Southeast Missouri State University in the 14.6 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 73.5% admit rate makes the application process moderately selective, and the program mix favors education and related fields over STEM or business. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a strong regional university with meaningful post-graduation value.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Southeast Missouri State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Southeast Missouri State University's published cost of attendance is $25,177. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $12,704, middle-income families pay around $15,338, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,267.
Azimuth ranks Southeast Missouri State University #375 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Southeast Missouri State participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA.
The combination of public tuition and need-based aid support keeps net prices manageable across income levels, particularly for low-income students who receive the largest aid packages relative to cost. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $51,502, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn median 4-year earnings of $51,502, placing Southeast Missouri State University in the 11.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,354 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Southeast Missouri State University in the 47.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Southeast Missouri State University #1075 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These figures represent lifetime returns relative to MO's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $31,959 (the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential).
Southeast Missouri State University's program portfolio centers on Education, which shapes the institution's overall earnings profile. General Studies is the largest program with 118 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $45,383, representing 0.9x the national benchmark for the field.
The Biology, General program graduates 104 students earning $45,207, and the The Teacher Education program graduates 95 students earning $37,245. Together, these programs anchor the institution's earnings outcomes and reflect the strong regional demand for educators and health professionals in the Midwest labor market.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Arkansas-Fort Smith Similar quality tier (#19145 ranked) | AR | 80% | $41,102 | #19145 | Compare |
The University Of Tennessee-Martin Similar quality tier (#19141 ranked) | TN | 88% | $44,213 | #19141 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-River Falls Similar quality tier in Midwest (#19153 ranked) | WI | 82% | $54,458 | #19153 | Compare |
Angelo State University Similar quality tier (#19154 ranked) | TX | 83% | $50,116 | #19154 | Compare |
University Of South Carolina Aiken Similar quality tier (#19157 ranked) | SC | 79% | $45,603 | #19157 | Compare |
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
29 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
41 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
80 graduates
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
27 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
19 graduates
Southeast Missouri State University's program mix is anchored in education, business, and health-related fields—a portfolio shaped by the institution's regional mission and workforce-development focus. General Studies is the largest program with 118 graduates annually, followed by Biology, General, Teacher Education, Psychology, General, and Business Administration.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 1,608 students, the institution offers breadth in applied professional fields aligned with regional labor-market demand. The earnings pattern reflects the institution's education and business concentration.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $85,155 four years after enrollment, followed by Agricultural Business and Management at $63,078, Business Administration at $59,834, Criminal Justice at $47,934, and Communication and Media Studies at $47,813. General Studies, the institution's largest program, graduates 118 students annually and delivers median earnings of $45,383—a solid outcome for a high-volume education pathway.
Biology, General and Teacher Education similarly support stable career entry with earnings in the mid-range for their respective fields. Several of these programs are grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory—particularly Education, where many graduates continue to advanced degrees or certification programs.
Business and health-related programs, by contrast, are direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter regional and national labor markets immediately. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Southeast Missouri State University's dominant program families align with regional workforce needs and national labor-market trends.
