Thank you for considering Southeast!
The fall semester Early Admission Consideration and Scholarship Guarantee Deadline is December 15. You are encouraged to submit your application by this date for full admission and scholarship consideration. If you are planning to live on campus, you will want to submit your admission application and transcripts by November 1, as December 15 is also the first Priority Housing Deadline.
Final application deadlines for each semester are:
- Fall - June 1
- Spring - November 1
- Summer - May 1
Beginning Freshman Admission Guidelines for Fall 2012
A traditional beginning freshman applicant is evaluated on a combination of ACT/SAT score, high school cumulative grade point average (GPA), class rank and high school core curriculum courses. Students who may not be ready for Southeast’s academic challenge are given several options to consider, including possible transfer to Southeast in the future.
Admission Options
| ACT Composite | SAT (CR+M) | Cumulative HS GPA on a 4.0 Scale | ||
| 21 | or | 980 | and | 2.00 |
| 20 | or | 940 | and | 2.50 |
| 19 | or | 900 | and | 2.50 |
| 18 | or | 860 | and | 2.75 |
Converting a High School GPA to a 4.0 Scale
If your school does not grade on a 4.0 scale, convert your GPA to a 4.0 equivalent by multiplying your GPA by four and dividing that number by the scale your school uses. For example, if you have a 9.5 GPA on an 11.0 scale, your converted GPA equivalent is 3.45, because (9.5 × 4) ÷ 11 = 3.45.
Required 17 Units of High School Core Curriculum Requirements
| English | 4 units (two emphasizing composition or writing skills; one may be speech or debate) |
| Mathematics | 3 units (Algebra I, Algebra II/Intermediate Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry and Calculus) |
| Social Studies | 3 units (one unit of American history and one semester of government required) |
| Science | 3 units (not including general science; selected from biology, chemistry, physics, botany, zoology or anatomy & physiology; one must be a laboratory course) |
| Visual/Performing Arts | 1 unit (art, dance, music, or theatre) |
| Additional | 3 units (foreign language and/or combinations of two or more from the above areas) |
Information for students who have earned dual credit
Students who have earned dual credit/early college credit in high school should apply as beginning freshman. If dual credit/early college credit was earned at Southeast, you have already paid the application fee, but you do need to apply for beginning freshman admission and meet the published deadlines to be considered for admission and scholarships.
Information for Home-Schooled Students
Home schooled students should submit the home-schooling transcript with each course listed by academic year and graded. The home-schooled educator should sign the official transcript. When course titles do not clearly reflect subject content, please include a description. Include an estimated completion/graduation date. If your home-school is using a transcript service, have the service send an official transcript.
Non-traditional Student Admission
Applicants who are non-traditional for the purpose of admission are 21 years of age or older, married, supporting a dependent child or a veteran with qualified armed force active duty. Documentation is required. High school transcripts with proof of graduation or completion of GED must be submitted.
Beginning Freshman Steps to Enrollment
Step 1 - Apply for Admission
- Take the ACT or SAT. In addition to their use in admission decisions, subscores are used for course placement in English and math.
- Submit the Application for Admission and include the non-refundable $30 fee.
- Request that your high school counselor or principal submit a transcript showing your class rank, cumulative GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Submit a final transcript showing high school graduation and successful completion of all coursework. You can download our High School Transcript Request Form (Adobe PDF) to submit to your high school counselor or principal.
Send documents to:
Southeast Missouri State University
Office of Admissions
MS 3550
One University Plaza
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701-4799
Note: Please allow 7-10 days for application processing and transcript evaluation. Admission to the University does not indicate admission to programs that have additional admission criteria and/or specific prerequisites.
Step 2: Housing
- Upon admission to Southeast, you may complete the Contract for University Housing online via the MySoutheast admitted student portal. A $150 housing deposit is required at the time of submission.
- All full-time Southeast students live on campus for the first two years unless exemption criteria are met.
- Return your contract quickly for priority consideration.
- December 15 – Priority Housing Deadline
- The University will use your preference information to make room and roommate assignments in July.
Step 3: First STEP (Orientation)
- First STEP (orientation) is a one-day program required for all beginning freshmen. During First STEP, you will register for classes, learn about class offerings, learn about financial aid, housing and student life at Southeast.
- First STEP information will be included in your admission packet. You may reserve your date by registering online.
Step 4: Financial Aid
- You and a parent (if you are a dependent student) should apply for a PIN. The PIN serves as your identifier to let you electronically submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Obtain a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the Web Worksheet from your high school guidance office and complete it online.
- March 1 is Southeast’s Priority Financial Aid Deadline. Applying by March 1 will improve your chances of receiving federal and institutional grant funds, low-interest loans, Federal Work-Study, and financial aid from the state of Missouri.
- Financial aid awards are emailed to your Southeast email account in April.