Cape News

White students were the most represented ethnicity among students at Cape Girardeau County universities in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Of the 8,858 students attending institutions in the county at the time, 78.3% were white. This is a decrease of 3.8% in enrollment numbers, compared to the previous year.

Black or African American students comprised the second largest ethnic group in the county, followed by U.S. nonresident students.

Countywide, the number of undergraduates attending the four universities in the county during the 2022-23 school year fell by 2.5%. Southeast Missouri State University reported the largest student body, with 8,454 students.

Graduation rates reveal a significant achievement gap among different ethnicities. While white students graduate at a rate of 62.1%, Black and Hispanic students graduate at a rate of around 40%.

Ethnic Group	% of Total Student Body
White	78.3%
Black or African American	8.1%
U.S. nonresident	4.8%
Multiracial	2.9%
Hispanic	2.9%
Unknown	1.9%
Asian	1%