Southern Illinois University vs. Southeast Missouri State University

Deciding between Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Southeast Missouri 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.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southeast Missouri State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL
  • Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MO
  • Setting
  • Southern Illinois University Rural Fringe
  • Southeast Missouri State University Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Southern Illinois University 11,790
  • Southeast Missouri State University 9,501
  • Type
  • Southern Illinois University Public 4 Year
  • Southeast Missouri State University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Southern Illinois University #537
  • Southeast Missouri State University #978
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Southern Illinois University -
  • Southeast Missouri State University -
  • Status
  • Southern Illinois University Non-profit
  • Southeast Missouri State University Non-profit
  • Website
  • Southern Illinois University siu.edu
  • Southeast Missouri State University semo.edu
  • Team Colors
  • Southern Illinois University
  • Southeast Missouri State University
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Southern Illinois University $13,334
  • Southeast Missouri State University $9,903
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Southern Illinois University $13,334
  • Southeast Missouri State University $9,903
  • Room & Board
  • Southern Illinois University $12,341
  • Southeast Missouri State University $12,198
  • Average Net Price
  • Southern Illinois University $13,473
  • Southeast Missouri State University $16,185
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Southern Illinois University $13,610
  • Southeast Missouri State University $8,512
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Southern Illinois University 95%
  • Southeast Missouri State University 94%
  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Southern Illinois University Calculate
  • Southeast Missouri State University Calculate
  • Applied
  • Southern Illinois University 10,858
  • Southeast Missouri State University 10,461
  • Admitted
  • Southern Illinois University 9,433
  • Southeast Missouri State University 7,691
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Southern Illinois University 86.9%
  • Southeast Missouri State University 73.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Southern Illinois University 18.6%
  • Southeast Missouri State University 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Southern Illinois University 1030
  • Southeast Missouri State University 940
  • Typical ACT score
  • Southern Illinois University 21
  • Southeast Missouri State University 18
  • Average High School GPA
  • Southern Illinois University 3.24
  • Southeast Missouri State University 3.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Southern Illinois University B+
  • Southeast Missouri State University A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Southern Illinois University Easy
  • Southeast Missouri State University Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Southern Illinois University
  • Southeast Missouri State University Low
  • ACT Range
  • Southern Illinois University 18/25
  • Southeast Missouri State University 16/21
  • SAT Range
  • Southern Illinois University 900/1160
  • Southeast Missouri State University 850/1030
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Southern Illinois University Test optional
  • Southeast Missouri State University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Southern Illinois University
  • Southeast Missouri State University Jul 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Southern Illinois University 11:1
  • Southeast Missouri State University 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Southern Illinois University
    • Education (20%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Southeast Missouri State University
    • Education (15%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Southern Illinois University 44%
  • Southeast Missouri State University 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Southern Illinois University $47,800
  • Southeast Missouri State University $40,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Southern Illinois University 51%
  • Southeast Missouri State University 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Southern Illinois University $22,500
  • Southeast Missouri State University $22,527
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Southern Illinois University $232
  • Southeast Missouri State University $232
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Southern Illinois University 47%
  • Southeast Missouri State University 41%
  • % Women
  • Southern Illinois University 53%
  • Southeast Missouri State University 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Southern Illinois University Medium
  • Southeast Missouri State University Low
  • HBCU
  • Southern Illinois University No
  • Southeast Missouri State University No
  • % White
  • Southern Illinois University 64%
  • Southeast Missouri State University 77%
  • % Asian
  • Southern Illinois University 2%
  • Southeast Missouri State University 1%
  • % Black
  • Southern Illinois University 19%
  • Southeast Missouri State University 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Southern Illinois University 8%
  • Southeast Missouri State University 2%
  • % Native American
  • Southern Illinois University 0%
  • Southeast Missouri State University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Southern Illinois University 0%
  • Southeast Missouri State University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Southern Illinois University 3%
  • Southeast Missouri State University 0%
  • % International
  • Southern Illinois University 4%
  • Southeast Missouri State University 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Southern Illinois University 0%
  • Southeast Missouri State University 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Southern Illinois University 85%
  • Southeast Missouri State University 66%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Southern Illinois University 14%
  • Southeast Missouri State University 15%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Southern Illinois University Yes
  • Southeast Missouri State University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Southern Illinois University No
  • Southeast Missouri State University No
  • Meal Plan
  • Southern Illinois University Yes
  • Southeast Missouri State University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Southern Illinois University Yes
  • Southeast Missouri State University No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Southern Illinois University Yes
  • Southeast Missouri State University Yes
  • Learn More
  • Southern Illinois University Details
  • Southeast Missouri State University Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Carbondale, IL with Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is larger than Southeast Missouri State University based on total student enrollment (11,790 students vs. 9,501 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Southeast Missouri State University is in Cape Girardeau, MO (Remote Town setting).
  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Southeast Missouri State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Southern Illinois University Carbondale 11:1; Southeast Missouri State University 20:1.

Southern Illinois University vs. Southeast Missouri State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southern Illinois University or Southeast Missouri State University? 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 Southern Illinois University Carbondale than Southeast Missouri State University ($13,473 vs. $16,185).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southeast Missouri State University are 1.2% lower than at Southern Illinois University Carbondale ($12,198 vs. $12,341).
  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale is 34.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southeast Missouri State University (about $3,431 more per year; $13,334.00 vs. $9,903.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 34.6% higher at Southern Illinois University than at Southeast Missouri State University (about $3,431 more per year; $13,334.00 vs. $9,903.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southern Illinois University Carbondale than at Southeast Missouri State University (95% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Illinois University Carbondale students is 59.9% larger than aid received by Southeast Missouri State University students ($13,610 vs. $8,512).

Southern Illinois University vs. Southeast Missouri State University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southern Illinois University or Southeast Missouri State University? 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 Southeast Missouri State University and Southern Illinois University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (1030) is 90 points higher than at Southeast Missouri State University (940).
  • Incoming Southern Illinois University students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 18 at Southeast Missouri State University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southern Illinois University Carbondale 900/1160; Southeast Missouri State University 850/1030.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southern Illinois University Carbondale 18/25; Southeast Missouri State University 16/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Southern Illinois University - Test optional; Southeast Missouri State University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Southeast Missouri State University Jul 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Southeast Missouri State University students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Southern Illinois University (3.24).
  • Southern Illinois University has a higher acceptance rate (86.9%) than Southeast Missouri State University (73.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.6% at Southern Illinois University vs. 17.9% at Southeast Missouri State University.

Southern Illinois University vs. Southeast Missouri State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southern Illinois University and Southeast Missouri State University? 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 Southern Illinois University Carbondale's (44%).
  • Graduates from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of about $7,300 more per year than Southeast Missouri State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $40,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates have a $27 lower median loan debt than Southeast Missouri State University graduates ($22,500 vs. $22,527).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Southeast Missouri State University and Southern Illinois University graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($232 vs. $232).
  • More Southeast Missouri State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 51%)

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.