Southeast Missouri State University Nursing: Programs, NCLEX & What to Expect (2026)
Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) is a public university in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, with a Department of Nursing offering CCNE-accredited pathways: a Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) on the main campus, a fully online RN-to-BSN for licensed RNs in selected states, and an MSN–Family Nurse Practitioner track. This guide maps content to semo.edu, cites 2025–2026 tuition, general fees, and nursing program fees from Student Financial Services, lists HESI-A2 and GPA rules from the BSN program page, and reports the first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for the pre-licensure BSN from the Missouri Board of Nursing 2025 Quarter 3 RN Report 4 (NCSBN program “MO – Southeast Missouri State University – BS,” data as of October 9, 2025). Confirm every requirement and cost with SEMO and the Board.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Selection to SEMO nursing is competitive. The BSN page weights the HESI-A2 composite at 60%, cumulative GPA at 25%, and critical thinking at 15%, with a minimum 2.8 GPA and at least 45 earned credits before the nursing sequence. Pair those metrics early with the 2025–2026 fee schedule (undergraduate per-credit totals plus the Nursing Undergraduate (NC/NS) $40 program fee) and verify first-time NCLEX-RN outcomes in the latest Missouri Board of Nursing RN Report 4 PDF for Southeast Missouri State University – BS.
Overview & Why Students Choose Southeast Missouri State University
Along the Mississippi River in Cape Girardeau, SEMO has trained nurses since 1958 and markets itself as home to the first MSN program in the southern half of Missouri. The Department of Nursing pairs CCNE-accredited curricula with full Missouri State Board of Nursing approval, emphasizing high-fidelity simulation (including a dozen mannequins referenced on the BSN page), broad community and hospital clinicals, and a dedicated NS499 NCLEX Prep course block in the senior year.
Pre-licensure students should expect a structured four-year BSN after general education and prerequisites, while working RNs can pursue the online RN-to-BSN with field experiences near home (subject to state residency rules). Graduate students follow a hybrid, FNP-only MSN with about 765 clinical clock hours embedded in practicum courses. Always download the current BSN Student Handbook, RN-BSN Handbook, or MSN Handbook for policies that outrank any summary here.
Pre-licensure NCLEX-RN statistics below cite the Missouri Board of Nursing 2025 Quarter 3 RN Report 4 PDF (report date October 9, 2025) for NCSBN code MO – Southeast Missouri State University – BS. RN-to-BSN and MSN graduates are already licensed RNs or APRN candidates; verify board exam expectations separately. Download newer RN Report 4 files from the Board's NCLEX Statistics index as quarters update.
Reasons students choose SEMO nursing
Published NCLEX-RN performance
The Board's Q3 2025 RN Report 4 shows a 96.92% first-time pass rate (63 of 65 testers) for the BSN program in the PDF's summarized Total column—use it as a benchmark, then confirm each new Report 4 release.
Clinical breadth in southeast Missouri & beyond
SEMO lists alumni employers such as Southeast Health, St. Francis Medical Center, SSM Health, Barnes, and Children's in St. Louis—evidence of both local roots and connections to larger systems.
Stackable online completion
Licensed RNs in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, or Arkansas can finish the online RN-to-BSN while working; verify CastleBranch background screening steps on the online nursing page.
FNP-focused MSN
The MSN advertises Family Nurse Practitioner preparation only, hybrids with mostly online delivery, and eligibility for ANCC or AANP certification exams after graduation.
Transparent exam weighting
Traditional BSN applicants see explicit HESI-A2 composite, GPA, and critical-thinking weights before investing in testing—reducing guesswork if you are comparing programs.
Nursing Programs Offered
Program names and requirements summarized here come from SEMO's Traditional BSN, Online RN-BSN, MSN–FNP, and department overview pages (March 2026 review).
Pre-licensure — Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing
BSN (Main Campus, Cape Girardeau)
The catalog-style listing on semo.edu requires 121.5 credit hours for the BSN, including NS/NC theory and clinical courses across adult, maternal-newborn, mental health, pediatric, community, gerontology, and critical-care experiences, capped by NS499 NCLEX Prep. Students must earn C or better in major and support courses. Admission is competitive after roughly two years of general education and prerequisites—see the admissions section for GPA, science progression, and HESI-A2 (Southeast version with critical thinking) requirements.
Post-licensure — Online RN to BSN
RN-BSN completion
Designed for working RNs with a valid license in their practice state, minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA, and permanent residency in MO, IL, KY, or AR. The curriculum lists 37 hours of BSN credit granted after the NS011 RN-BSN Education Assessment, plus upper-division nursing courses in leadership, community health, research, gerontology, and holistic assessment. Expect CastleBranch background verification after program staff confirm eligibility.
Graduate — MSN (Family Nurse Practitioner)
MSN–FNP (43 credits)
SEMO's MSN page states the program includes only an FNP track, delivered through blended/online-heavy formats across about five semesters including summer, with 765 clinical hours embedded in practicum courses. Applicants need a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited BSN, 3.25 GPA, Missouri or multistate RN license, statistics with B or higher, BLS, and a goals statement submitted with the department application PDF.
Nursing acceptance does not guarantee timely clinical placement or licensure. Follow each handbook for health requirements, CPR, malpractice insurance, background checks, drug screening, and essential functions. The Missouri State Board of Nursing alone determines NCLEX or APRN licensure eligibility.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
According to the Missouri Board of Nursing pass-rate data published in the 2025 Quarter 3 RN Report 4 PDF (Jurisdiction Program Summary of all First-Time Candidates Licensed in All Jurisdictions, Pearson VUE / NCSBN extract for Year = 2025, report date October 9, 2025), the education program labeled MO – Southeast Missouri State University – BS (Cape Girardeau) shows a 96.92% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in that document's summarized Total column: 63 passed of 65 first-time candidates delivered (2 failed). The same PDF also lists interval columns for January–March, April–June, and July–September 2025; subtotals differ by graduation cohort.
SEMO's program page separately notes a 96.08% first-time BSN NCLEX pass rate for calendar year 2024 compared with the then-published national benchmark for U.S.-educated first-time BSN testers. When Missouri's quarterly Board report and the school's annual marketing statistic differ, treat the Board PDF as the regulatory reporting source and the school page as supplementary.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| First-time NCLEX-RN pass rate (2025 Q3 RN Report 4, Total column) | 96.92% (63/65 first-time testers), Southeast Missouri State University BS program, per Missouri Board of Nursing PDF reviewed March 27, 2026 |
| Source | Missouri BON — 2025 Quarter 3 RN Report 4 (PDF); index at NCLEX Statistics. Confirm newer quarters with the Board and SEMO outcomes pages. |
NCLEX cohorts vary each quarter. Always confirm the latest pass rates with the Missouri Board of Nursing and Southeast Missouri State University before choosing a start term.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
SEMO publishes non-domestic tuition tiers on its Cost & Fees page ($588.80 per credit total for undergraduate domestic vs. non-domestic rows in 2025–2026). The Traditional BSN page lists TOEFL, TOEIC, or IELTS Academic minimums for non-English-speaking applicants; nursing majors whose native language is not English must meet higher TOEFL iBT thresholds (cumulative 100 with minimum 20 per section on the BSN application instructions). Use those Official sources—not this guide—for compliance.
- English-language proficiency: Match the correct policy (BSN vs RN-BSN vs graduate) on semo.edu; Nursing and International Admissions may differ.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: Confirm whether WES, CGFNS, or other evaluators are required for your pathway and for Missouri BON licensure steps.
- Missouri Board of Nursing: Review pr.mo.gov/nursing.asp for NCLEX eligibility, endorsement, and internationally educated nurse instructions.
- Clinical placements & visas: Online RN-BSN restricts applicants to MO, IL, KY, AR permanent residency; F-1 students must verify clinical feasibility with International Programs and the Department of Nursing.
This section is guidance only—not legal, immigration, or licensure advice.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
Traditional BSN admission is selective. University admission does not equal admission to the nursing major. Applicants must schedule pre-nursing advising before registering for the HESI-A2 (Southeast edition with critical thinking)—per the BSN page, call (573) 651-2007 or visit Academic Hall Room 057. Applications upload to the Pre-Nursing Canvas Dropbox; do not mail paper forms to the nursing office unless a graduate PDF instructs otherwise.
Traditional BSN (pre-licensure) highlights
| Milestone | Details |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite progress | At least 45 earned credits; 58 credits before starting nursing coursework; C or better in all prerequisite and major courses listed on semo.edu. |
| Minimum GPA | 2.8 cumulative (4.0 scale) at application. |
| Science sequencing | Three of four required science/chemistry courses complete with the fourth in progress at application; see BSN page for the exact course list. |
| Entrance exam | HESI-A2 Admission Exam (Southeast version + critical thinking)—registration instructions from pre-nursing advisors only. |
| Selection formula | 60% HESI composite, 25% cumulative GPA, 15% critical-thinking score (SEMO BSN page, March 2026). |
| Application deadlines | February 15 for Fall start; September 15 for Spring start. |
| NS271 requirement | Accepted students must attend campus during the second eight weeks of the semester before nursing coursework to complete NS271 Fundamentals of Nursing Concepts. |
RN-to-BSN & MSN snapshots
| Program | Key requirement |
|---|---|
| RN-to-BSN (online) | Permanent resident of MO, IL, KY, or AR; 2.5 GPA; active RN license in practice state; CastleBranch background check after verification. |
| MSN–FNP | 3.25 GPA; CCNE/ACEN BSN; Missouri or multistate RN license; stats B or higher; department application to nursinggradstudies@semo.edu. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (nursing) | Not publicly disclosed |
| TEAS vs HESI | Traditional BSN uses HESI-A2 (not TEAS) per semo.edu BSN page March 2026. |
| Typical GPA range | Not publicly disclosed beyond the 2.8 minimum; competitiveness rises with HESI performance. |
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Figures below are copied from SEMO Student Financial Services Cost & Fees for 2025–2026 as published on that page (plus the linked printable fee schedule PDF). They exclude housing, meal plans, books, course-specific fees, and one-time charges such as the $150 new-student enrollment fee.
| Category | 2025–2026 published rate |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate tuition (domestic, per credit) | $295.00 tuition + $44.80 general fees = $339.80 total per credit hour (before program fees) |
| Nursing undergraduate program fee (NC/NS courses) | $40.00 per credit hour (adds to courses coded NC/NS) |
| Indicative nursing-major credit subtotal | $379.80 per credit = $339.80 + $40.00 (only on billed nursing theory/clinical credits—confirm each registration) |
| Graduate tuition (domestic MSN courses, per credit) | $395.00 tuition + $44.80 fees = $439.80; Nursing Graduate program fee +$50.00 per credit on applicable courses |
| Published bachelor's COA example | Tuition & fees only (30 credits/Fall+Spring): $10,194; with suite housing + sample meal plan estimate $22,269 total (table on Cost & Fees page—your total will vary) |
| Non-domestic undergraduate per credit | $544.00 tuition + $44.80 fees = $588.80 (before nursing program fee on NC/NS) |
| Source | SEMO Cost & Fees; Program Fees 2025–26 PDF; contact sfs@semo.edu. |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
SEMO's BSN page highlights employers such as SoutheastHealth, St. Francis Medical Center, Missouri Delta Medical Center, regional hospitals, and several St. Louis systems—useful for understanding alumni pathways, not a guarantee of placement. The department landing page also advertises strong certification pass rates for FNP graduates; treat those as school-reported metrics separate from the Missouri BON NCLEX extract below.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass (MO BON 2025 Q3 RN Report 4, Total column) | 96.92% (63/65 first-time testers), Southeast Missouri State University BS |
| School-reported BSN NCLEX (calendar 2024) | 96.08% first-time pass cited on semo.edu BSN marketing block (benchmarked against then-published national BSN first-time rate). |
| Job placement rate | Not publicly disclosed as a single audited percentage on the pages reviewed; ask Career Services or the nursing department for graduate surveys. |
| Source | 2025 Q3 RN Report 4 (PDF); SEMO BSN page; index pr.mo.gov/nursing-education-nclex.asp |
Confirm current licensure exam outcomes with the Missouri Board of Nursing and Southeast Missouri State University.
Is Southeast Missouri State University the Right Fit for You?
SEMO fits students seeking a public university BSN with transparent HESI-weighted admission, strong Board-reported NCLEX-RN trends, and clinical networks that span southeast Missouri into larger metros—or licensed nurses needing a regionally restricted online RN-BSN and APRN candidates targeting an FNP-only MSN.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Want a CCNE-accredited BSN with on-campus simulation and community/hospital clinical rotations in the Cape Girardeau hub.
- Can sustain at least a 2.8 GPA, excel on the HESI-A2, and follow strict prerequisite sequencing.
- Are licensed RNs residing in MO, IL, KY, or AR who need flexible online BSN completion.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need a fully online pre-licensure RN program—SEMO's Traditional BSN is campus-based with clinical travel.
- Live outside the RN-BSN service states or cannot complete CastleBranch clearance.
- Want MSN concentrations other than Family Nurse Practitioner; SEMO's public MSN page lists FNP only.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Cape Girardeau anchors Southeast Missouri healthcare delivery: SoutheastHealth (formerly Southeast Hospital) and St. Francis Medical Center are major acute-care employers cited on SEMO's nursing recruiting materials, alongside Missouri Delta Medical Center (Sikeston), community hospitals in Perry and Ste. Genevieve counties, and Illinois partners such as Carbondale Memorial. Nursing students should expect rotations spanning inpatient med-surg, women's health, mental health, pediatrics, community/public health, and capstone practicum immersion.
| Setting | Details |
|---|---|
| Named employers (SEMO BSN page) | SoutheastHealth, St. Francis Medical Center, Missouri Delta Medical Center, Perry County Memorial, Ste. Genevieve County Memorial, plus St. Louis systems (Barnes, Children's, SSM, Missouri Baptist). |
| Regional recruiters | Rural health clinics, school districts, long-term care, home health, and public health agencies across the Bootheel and surrounding counties. |
| Demand context | Track vacancy trends with Missouri workforce reports and hospital HR portals rather than a single marketing statistic. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
The Department of Nursing offices sit in Crisp Hall 107, with pre-nursing advising in Academic Hall Room 057. SEMO promotes 12 high-fidelity mannequins, multidisciplinary clinical experiences, and eight weeks of NCLEX preparation during the senior semester. Student governance options include links from the department page to SNA and Sigma resources; check the college's student organizations list for active chapters.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & nursing offices
- Campus
- Cape Girardeau, MO
- Nursing department address
- One University Plaza, MS 8300, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, US
- Nursing office
- Crisp Hall 107 · (573) 651-2585 · nursing@semo.edu
- Pre-nursing advising
- (573) 651-2007 · Academic Hall Room 057
- Graduate nursing (MSN)
- nursinggradstudies@semo.edu
- Student Financial Services
- (573) 651-2253 · sfs@semo.edu
- Website
- semo.edu
Official links
Your "Next 7 Days" checklist
- Download the BSN Student Handbook (or RN-BSN/MSN handbooks if applicable).
- Meet with pre-nursing advising before paying for the HESI-A2; build a Degree Works plan for the 45–58 credit milestones.
- Model costs with the True Cost Calculator plus the nursing program fee row.
- Pull the newest Missouri BON RN Report 4 PDF and locate the Southeast Missouri State University – BS table.
- For RN-BSN, confirm state residency, RN license status, and CastleBranch timing with the online program director.
- For MSN, email nursinggradstudies@semo.edu with unofficial transcripts before submitting the department PDF application.
- Bookmark Missouri Board of Nursing for licensure FAQs independent of the university.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Missouri Board of Nursing NCLEX-RN pass rate for Southeast Missouri State University?
The 2025 Quarter 3 RN Report 4 (October 9, 2025) lists MO – Southeast Missouri State University – BS with a 96.92% first-time pass rate in the PDF's Total column (63/65 testers). Download updated Report 4 files from the Board's NCLEX index.
Does SEMO nursing use TEAS or HESI for Traditional BSN admission?
SEMO requires Southeast's custom HESI A-2 Admission Exam with Critical Thinking; pre-nursing advisors must clear you before you register/pay for the exam.
How much is tuition for a SEMO nursing major in 2025–2026?
Undergraduate tuition and general fees total $339.80 per credit for domestic students; NC/NS nursing courses add $40 per credit for an indicative $379.80 on those credits—confirm each term on your bill and the program-fee PDF.
What GPA do I need for Southeast Missouri State nursing?
The Traditional BSN page specifies a minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA at application plus C or better in required courses; RN-BSN requires 2.5; MSN requires 3.25.
When are SEMO BSN application deadlines?
February 15 for Fall admission and September 15 for Spring admission per the public BSN page.
Can I complete SEMO's RN-BSN from any state?
No. SEMO restricts RN-BSN applicants to permanent residents of Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, or Arkansas as stated on the online nursing page.
Does Southeast Missouri State offer nurse practitioner tracks besides FNP?
The MSN program page states it includes only a Family Nurse Practitioner track; verify any future concentrations directly with the Department of Nursing.
Is Southeast Missouri State nursing CCNE-accredited?
SEMO advertises CCNE accreditation and Missouri State Board of Nursing approval on its nursing pages—reconfirm with CCNE and the Board when you apply.
What happens after I am accepted to the SEMO Traditional BSN?
Accepted students must attend campus during the second eight-week term before nursing classes to complete NS271 Fundamentals of Nursing Concepts, per the admissions section of the BSN page.
Who do I call for Southeast Missouri State nursing questions?
Department line (573) 651-2585 (Crisp Hall 107) or pre-nursing advising (573) 651-2007 (Academic Hall 057).
References
- SEMO — Department of Nursingsemo.edu/…/nursing/
- SEMO — Traditional BSN programsemo.edu/…/nursing/nursing.html
- SEMO — Online RN-BSNsemo.edu/…/nursing-online.html
- SEMO — MSN–FNPsemo.edu/…/msn-nursing.html
- SEMO — Cost & Fees (2025–2026)semo.edu/…/cost/
- SEMO — FY26 fee schedule PDFfy26-fee-schedule-main-shared.pdf
- SEMO — Program fees PDFprogramfees2526.pdf
- Missouri BON — 2025 Q3 RN Report 4RN Report 4 PDF
- Missouri BON — NCLEX statistics indexpr.mo.gov/nursing-education-nclex.asp
- Missouri BON — main portalpr.mo.gov/nursing.asp
- NCSBNncsbn.org
- U.S. BLS — Registered Nursesbls.gov/ooh/
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, for alignment of BSN, RN-BSN, and MSN–FNP descriptions with semo.edu; HESI-A2 and deadline language on the Traditional BSN page; 2025–2026 tuition, general fees, and nursing program fees from Student Financial Services; and first-time NCLEX-RN figures for MO – Southeast Missouri State University – BS in Missouri Board of Nursing 2025 Quarter 3 RN Report 4.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and Board rules change; verify with Southeast Missouri State University and the Missouri Board of Nursing.
Published: March 27, 2026 · Last reviewed: March 27, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy