Law Enforcement Academy

Criminal Justice students attend a lecture.

Prepare professionals to protect and serve their communities: that’s what we do.

The Law Enforcement Academy at Southeast Missouri State University is dedicated to meeting the training needs of all law enforcement officers and agencies in the University service area. The Academy, a Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) approved provider, has provided basic and specialized training for more than 2,800 law enforcement officers since the Academy was established in 1987.

Our graduates have gone on to work for agencies at all levels of law enforcement including local, county, state and Federal, including the FBI, DEA, ATF and the U.S. Marshal's Service.

As one of the premier training academies in the State of Missouri, you have two options for training. New this year, you can earn 18 credit hours from the University and earn a certificate in Law Enforcement. The second option, you can earn 18 credit hours toward your bachelor's degree by attending the Academy as part of a four-year degree program.

Outcomes and Careers

100%

POST exam pass rate

Southeast Missouri State University Law Enforcement Academy graduates have a 100% Missouri Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) exam pass rate for the past three years.
97%

Employment rate

Southeast Missouri State University Law Enforcement Academy graduates have a 96.6% job placement rate after graduation for the past three years.
$56k

Patrol Officer

The median annual salary for a patrol officer in the state of Missouri is $55,661.
$68k

Detective

The median annual salary in the state of Missouri for a detective is $67,878.

What will I learn and how much will it cost?

The Law Enforcement Academy is dedicated to offering the best training available at a price you can afford. In addition to meeting the Missouri P.O.S.T. requirements, we offer courses to help officers meet their CLEE training requirements.

Learn More Here

"I’m here to serve you. I’m a servant to my community. If you can’t depend on anybody else, you’re supposed to be able to depend on me. That is why I feel like law enforcement is important. They’re the protectors. You can make me mad tomorrow, and I am still going to come back with a smile on my face and say, I’m here for you."

Nason Lane – SEMO Law Enforcement Academy Student

See Nason’s story

Criminal Justice student Nason Lane in an interview.

Financial Aid

We know education is a big financial commitment and the process can be confusing to navigate, but we are here to help. With grants, loans, and a full-service financial aid office, we can help you can get the training you need at a price you can afford.

Learn More Here