Southeast Missouri State University Acceptance Rate
Cape Girardeau, Missouri · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 7,462
- Admitted
- 5,858
- Yield
- 22%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Southeast Missouri State University's acceptance rate has fallen from 84.8% in 2014–15 to 78.5% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 4,750 to 7,462 (+57%) over that period.
Its 78.5% rate makes Southeast Missouri State University more selective than about 45% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 32 tracked Missouri schools, it is more selective than about 31%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (85.6% for women vs 74.9% for men, a 10.7-point gap). Southeast Missouri State University has been test-optional since 2022–23. Of admitted students, 22% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 4,750 | 4,027 | 84.8% | 1,849 |
| 2015–16 | 4,622 | 3,896 | 84.3% | 1,703 |
| 2016–17 | 5,184 | 4,293 | 82.8% | 1,858 |
| 2017–18 | 4,977 | 4,208 | 84.5% | 1,803 |
| 2018–19 | 4,682 | 3,883 | 82.9% | 1,573 |
| 2019–20 | 4,785 | 4,124 | 86.2% | 1,508 |
| 2020–21 | 4,871 | 4,546 | 93.3% | 1,490 |
| 2021–22 | 7,213 | 5,720 | 79.3% | 1,487 |
| 2022–23 | 7,092 | 6,121 | 86.3% | 1,447 |
| 2023–24 | 7,462 | 5,858 | 78.5% | 1,287 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 4,299 | 3,678 | 85.6% |
| Men | 2,852 | 2,135 | 74.9% |
| Another gender | 311 | 45 | 14.5% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 470–550 | 1% |
| SAT Math | 380–480 | |
| ACT Composite | 16–21 | 6% |
How Southeast Missouri State compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Southeast Missouri State University's acceptance rate?
Southeast Missouri State University's acceptance rate is 78.5% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (5,858 admitted of 7,462 applicants).
Is Southeast Missouri State University test optional?
Southeast Missouri State University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Southeast Missouri State University?
Southeast Missouri State University received 7,462 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 5,858.
What SAT score do you need for Southeast Missouri State University?
Admitted students at Southeast Missouri State University typically scored 470–550 on SAT Reading/Writing and 380–480 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Southeast Missouri State University getting harder to get into?
Southeast Missouri State University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 84.8% in 2014–15 to 78.5% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.semo.edu/.