Southeast Missouri State University vs. VSU

Deciding between Southeast Missouri State University and Virginia State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Southeast Missouri State University
Virginia State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MO
  • VSU Petersburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Southeast Missouri State University Remote Town
  • VSU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Southeast Missouri State University 9,501
  • VSU 5,605
  • Type
  • Southeast Missouri State University Public 4 Year
  • VSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Southeast Missouri State University #978
  • VSU #950
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Southeast Missouri State University -
  • VSU -
  • Status
  • Southeast Missouri State University Non-profit
  • VSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Southeast Missouri State University
  • VSU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Southeast Missouri State University $9,903
  • VSU $10,043
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Southeast Missouri State University $9,903
  • VSU $22,650
  • Room & Board
  • Southeast Missouri State University $12,198
  • VSU $13,355
  • Average Net Price
  • Southeast Missouri State University $16,185
  • VSU $17,840
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Southeast Missouri State University $8,512
  • VSU $12,447
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Southeast Missouri State University 94%
  • VSU 92%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Southeast Missouri State University 10,461
  • VSU 11,775
  • Admitted
  • Southeast Missouri State University 7,691
  • VSU 10,436
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Southeast Missouri State University 73.5%
  • VSU 88.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Southeast Missouri State University 17.9%
  • VSU 14.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Southeast Missouri State University 940
  • VSU 960
  • Typical ACT score
  • Southeast Missouri State University 18
  • VSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • Southeast Missouri State University 3.53
  • VSU 2.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Southeast Missouri State University A-
  • VSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • Southeast Missouri State University Extremely Easy
  • VSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Southeast Missouri State University Low
  • VSU
  • ACT Range
  • Southeast Missouri State University 16/21
  • VSU 14/20
  • SAT Range
  • Southeast Missouri State University 850/1030
  • VSU 840/1070
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Southeast Missouri State University Test optional
  • VSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Southeast Missouri State University Jul 1, 2027
  • VSU May 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Southeast Missouri State University 20:1
  • VSU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Southeast Missouri State University
    • Education (15%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • VSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Southeast Missouri State University 46%
  • VSU 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Southeast Missouri State University $40,500
  • VSU $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Southeast Missouri State University 63%
  • VSU 28%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Southeast Missouri State University $22,527
  • VSU $29,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Southeast Missouri State University $232
  • VSU $305
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Southeast Missouri State University 41%
  • VSU 40%
  • % Women
  • Southeast Missouri State University 59%
  • VSU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Southeast Missouri State University Low
  • VSU Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • Southeast Missouri State University No
  • VSU Yes
  • % White
  • Southeast Missouri State University 77%
  • VSU 3%
  • % Asian
  • Southeast Missouri State University 1%
  • VSU 1%
  • % Black
  • Southeast Missouri State University 10%
  • VSU 87%
  • % Hispanic
  • Southeast Missouri State University 2%
  • VSU 2%
  • % Native American
  • Southeast Missouri State University 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Southeast Missouri State University 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Southeast Missouri State University 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % International
  • Southeast Missouri State University 7%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Southeast Missouri State University 1%
  • VSU 7%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Southeast Missouri State University 66%
  • VSU 68%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Southeast Missouri State University 15%
  • VSU 31%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Southeast Missouri State University Yes
  • VSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Southeast Missouri State University No
  • VSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Southeast Missouri State University Yes
  • VSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Southeast Missouri State University No
  • VSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Southeast Missouri State University Yes
  • VSU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO with Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southeast Missouri State University is larger than VSU based on total student enrollment (9,501 students vs. 5,605 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Southeast Missouri State University is located in Cape Girardeau, MO (Remote Town setting); Virginia State University is in Petersburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Southeast Missouri State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Southeast Missouri State University 20:1; Virginia State University 13:1.

Southeast Missouri State University vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southeast Missouri State University or VSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southeast Missouri State University than VSU ($16,185 vs. $17,840).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southeast Missouri State University are 8.7% lower than at Virginia State University ($12,198 vs. $13,355).
  • Virginia State University is 1.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southeast Missouri State University (about $140 more per year; $10,043.00 vs. $9,903.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 128.7% higher at VSU than at Southeast Missouri State University (about $12,747 more per year; $22,650.00 vs. $9,903.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southeast Missouri State University than at Virginia State University (94% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia State University students is 46.2% larger than aid received by Southeast Missouri State University students ($12,447 vs. $8,512).

Southeast Missouri State University vs. VSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southeast Missouri State University or VSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between VSU and Southeast Missouri State University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia State University (960) is 20 points higher than at Southeast Missouri State University (940).
  • Incoming Southeast Missouri State University students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (18 vs. 17 at VSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southeast Missouri State University 850/1030; Virginia State University 840/1070.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southeast Missouri State University 16/21; Virginia State University 14/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Southeast Missouri State University - Test optional; VSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Southeast Missouri State University Jul 1, 2027; VSU May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Southeast Missouri State University students have a 0.68 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at VSU (2.85).
  • VSU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than Southeast Missouri State University (73.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at Southeast Missouri State University vs. 14.3% at VSU.

Southeast Missouri State University vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southeast Missouri State University and VSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Southeast Missouri State University's six-year graduation rate (46%) is higher than Virginia State University's (40%).
  • Graduates from Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than VSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southeast Missouri State University graduates have a $6,973 lower median loan debt than VSU graduates ($22,527 vs. $29,500).
  • Among borrowers, Southeast Missouri State University graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VSU graduates ($232 vs. $305).
  • More Southeast Missouri State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 28%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.