Head-to-head comparison
Southeast Missouri State University vs College of the Ozarks: which has better ROI?
Option A Cape Girardeau, MO
Southeast Missouri State University
- Net price / year
- $15,882
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,030
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Point Lookout, MO
College of the Ozarks
- Net price / year
- $6,100
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,592
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Southeast Missouri State University comes closer — median earnings $44,030 against a $63,528 total, vs $41,592 at College of the Ozarks. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southeast Missouri State University | College of the Ozarks |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,882 | $6,100 |
| Total net cost | $63,528 | $24,400 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,030 | $41,592 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,128 | -$159,760 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Southeast Missouri State University or College of the Ozarks?
College of the Ozarks, at $6,100 a year after aid versus $15,882 — a gap of $9,782 a year, or $39,128 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Southeast Missouri State University or College of the Ozarks graduates earn more?
Southeast Missouri State University graduates report a median $44,030 ten years after entry, $2,438 more than the $41,592 at College of the Ozarks. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
64% of students finish at College of the Ozarks, against 58% at Southeast Missouri State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.