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Summary
Truman State University is a public institution that was founded in 1867. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,780, its setting is rural, and the campus size is 140 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Truman State University's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities (Midwest), 8. Its in-state tuition and fees are $7,216 (2012-13); out-of-state tuition and fees are $12,952 (2012-13).
Located in the rural town of Kirksville, Mo., Truman State University is about a three hour drive southeast of Des Moines and four hours northwest of St. Louis. Undergraduate Truman students can choose from around 30 areas of study, and graduate students can choose from six, including accounting through its business school. Truman helps students secure their post-college plans through the career center, which helps with résumés and interviews, and the Truman in Washington Program, which connects students with internships and alumni in D.C. Each fall, students kick off the academic year by enjoying music and games at Truman’s Dawg Fest celebration, and then they explore extracurricular opportunities at the Activity Fair. Truman students can get involved with Greek life, around 250 student organizations, or intramural sports. Truman also offers about 20 varsity sports teams, called the Bulldogs, which compete in the NCAA Division II Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. One of Truman’s most notable alumni is Ken Norton, who was one of the few boxers to beat Muhammad Ali.
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Truman has forged a national reputation for offering an exceptionally high-quality undergraduate education at a competitive price. A commitment to student achievement and learning is at the core of everything Truman does. This commitment is evidenced by faculty and staff members who recognize the importance of providing students with the opportunity to interact with their professors both in and out of the classroom. With class sizes averaging only 24 students and 98 percent of faculty teaching undergraduate, students find ample opportunity to ask questions of professors as well as interact with their multi-talented peers. Truman's academic environment is enhanced by a student body that achieves at remarkable levels. The 2011 freshman class had an ACT midrange of 25 to 30 and an average GPA of 3.77 on a 4.00 scale. In addition, numerous opportunities exist for students to engage in experiential learning through study abroad, internships, service learning, and undergraduate research. To encourage active learning and engagement, Truman offers Student-Initiated Courses and Learning Opportunities that allow students to customize their learning experience by creating, coordinating and leading courses and co-curricular projects under the mentorship of our professors. Each year, approximately 1,000 students work side by side with professors on University research projects, gaining greater confidence, knowledge, and skill in their chosen disciplines. With more than 250 University organizations available to students, encompassing service, Greek, honorary, professional, religious, social, political, and recreational influences, Truman students have tremendous opportunities to become involved while enrolled at the University. Truman's Student Activities Board provides popular culture entertainment such as special events like comic acts such as Jay Pharoah of Saturday Night Live, Aasif Mandvi of The Daily Show, and musical artists like Sara Bareilles and Iron and Wine. In addition, admission to all varsity athletic events, Truman theater productions, and Lyceum Series events is free to Truman students. Recent theater productions have included Spring Awakening, Into the Woods, and Godspell. Truman is Missouri's premier liberal arts and sciences university and the only highly selective public institution in the state. The Liberal Studies Program is the heart of Truman's curriculum and is intended to serve as a foundation for all major programs of study offered by the University. Truman's mission is to offer an exemplary undergraduate education, grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, in the context of a public institution of higher learning. Therefore, Truman is providing the kind of education in the liberal arts and sciences that has historically been offered only at private colleges. The program is a blend of two intellectual traditions in higher education, one that emphasizes the traditional thought and learning of the culture as reflected in the classical works produced by it, and the other that emphasizes personal investigation and freedom of discovery. The philosophy behind the Liberal Studies Program is based upon a commitment that Truman has made to provide students with essential skills needed for lifelong learning, breadth across the traditional liberal arts and sciences through exposure to various discipline-based modes of inquiry, and interconnecting perspectives that stress interdisciplinary thinking and integration, as well as linkage to other cultures and experiences. Truman also offers a challenging Honors Scholar Program, which is open to everyone at the University. This program provides students with the opportunity to select rigorous honors courses to satisfy the liberal arts component of their respective programs. Students who successfully complete this program benefit from a richer academic experience and receive special recognition at graduation. |
General Information
| School type | public, coed college |
| Year founded | 1867 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | rural |
| 2011 Endowment | $26,452,208 |
Applying
When applying to Truman State University, it's important to note the application deadline is rolling. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 75.0 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | more selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 75.0% |
| Application deadline | rolling |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | N/A |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Truman State University is 17:1, and the school has 30.1 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Truman State University include: Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Business Administration and Management, General; English Language and Literature, General; Psychology, General; and Kinesiology and Exercise Science. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 85.5 percent.
Student Life
Truman State University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,780, with a gender distribution of 41.0 percent male students and 59.0 percent female students. At this school, 49.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 51.0 percent of students live off campus. Truman State University is part of the NCAA II athletic conference.
| Total enrollment | 6,101 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA II |
Campus Info & Services
Truman State University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Truman State University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is not permitted for students of legal age at Truman State University.
| Students who have cars on campus | N/A |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Truman State University, 52.5 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $6,498.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| In-state tuition and fees | $7,216 (2012-13) |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $12,952 (2012-13) |
| Room and board | $7,504 (2012-13) |
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* Overview details based on 2011 data
