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Southeast Missouri State University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Public · Cape Girardeau, MO · 6,373 students

The verdict

Southeast Missouri State University charges a net price of $15,882/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $63,528. Median earnings ten years after entry are $44,030, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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On institution-wide earnings, Southeast Missouri State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #33 of 71 Missouri colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.

$15,882
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$44,030
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
Payback
Our math, 2026
74%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Southeast Missouri State University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$15,882/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$63,528our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$44,030Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline-$4,330/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$21,500Scorecard, 2026
Paybackdoes not clearour math
20-year net return-$150,128our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Southeast Missouri State University's own numbers. Net price $15,882 × 4 years = $63,528 total. Median earnings $44,030 fall $4,330 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $63,528 bill in about 6.4 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.

How much debt do Southeast Missouri State University students graduate with?

A median $21,500 in federal loans among completers, or 49% of the $44,030 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Southeast Missouri State University students graduate?

58% finish their degree — 42% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $63,528 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $109,531 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Southeast Missouri State University expensive compared with other Missouri colleges?

Its $15,882 net price runs $2,204 below the $18,086 median across the 71 Missouri colleges we profile, and $8,816 less across the full degree.

Southeast Missouri State University: frequently asked questions

Is Southeast Missouri State University worth the cost?
On institution-wide earnings, the degree does not clear its cost: graduates earn a median $44,030, at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. The field you study matters far more here than the school average — a high-paying major can flip the math.
How long does a Southeast Missouri State University degree take to pay off?
On institution-wide earnings it does not pay back, because median earnings sit at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. A specific high-ROI program can still pay off.
How much does Southeast Missouri State University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $15,882/yr — about $63,528 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Southeast Missouri State University compare to other Missouri colleges?
It ranks #33 of 71 Missouri colleges we track by payback. Its $44,030 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $15,882 net price is below the national median of $16,902.