Office of College Planning

College is Possible

At Southeast Missouri State University, we believe every student who dreams of a college education should have access to it. We don't want you to be discouraged because of the cost or miss out on the opportunity because you're not familiar with the college process. That's why we created the Office of College Planning. Through group presentations and personalized planning sessions, this resource aims to help families, students, teachers, and counselors navigate the college planning process. We want to reduce barriers to college access while giving students and families the confidence they need to go after their goals and celebrate when they achieve them.

counselor helping a student in a classroom

What does the Office of College Planning do?

We help in any way we can, including offering group presentations via school visits and community programs, meeting one-on-one with parents and students, and by training counselors and teachers who support students through the college planning process.

Our goal is to give you and your family support to successfully navigate the college planning process. That includes the tools to find the college that is the best fit and helping you and your parents or guardians understand the financial aid process. We'll also help you find and apply for private scholarships, so you'll graduate college with less debt.

Why do we help students through the college planning process?

We believe that every student who dreams of going to college deserves a chance and should not be deterred because they don't know the steps to take to make it happen.

Young man and young woman listening intently.

Is college worth it?

Yes! In today's work world, it is more costly not to advance your education.

College graduates make $1.4 million more over their lifetime than non-grads.
Non-degree jobs are four times as likely to be automated in comparison with jobs requiring a degree.
As the population ages, 83% of businesses are struggling to find workers with the right skills.
By 2029 employers in nearly every state will face significant shortages of qualified workers.
The estimated shortage of workers with a bachelor's degree or higher in 2029 will range from 200-400k in Missouri and 400-600k in Illinois.

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Resources

The College Board's Big Future
Complete the FAFSA and the FAFSA4Caster (Predict your EFC)
FAFSA Questions: (800) 433-3243
FinAid
IRS Questions: (800) 829-1040
Journey to College
Scholarship Central
Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis
Student Financial Services at Southeast
Tuition Funding Sources (TFS) Scholarships

Contact Information

Tameka Herrion, Director

Office of College Planning
St. Louis, Missouri
(573) 388-6206
therrion@semo.edu
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Tameka Herrion was a first generation, low-income student. She earned a Bachelor of Science in health management in 2002 and a Master of Arts in higher education administration in 2005, both from Southeast. Herrion served as director and academic coordinator for the TRIO Student Support Services program at Ranken Technical College from 2005-2015. She served as the scholarship manager for the St. Louis Community Foundation until 2019 when she took over as the director of the Office of College Planning at Southeast.

Herrion considers her job at Southeast her dream job as she hopes to develop and deliver impactful educational programming to promote college and career planning in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Herrion has presented at multiple conferences about scholarships and grants for higher education, financial planning and decision-making, and connecting students to financial resources.

Complete the form above to talk more about college planning or professional development.

Office of Admissions
Academic Hall
One University Plaza, MS 3550
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
(573) 651-2590
admissions@semo.edu
Apply for Admission