Truman State University

Truman State University is located in Kirksville, MO, a small town in northern Missouri. This public 4-year university sits on 210 acres on the south side of town, removed from the congestion and high-density population of Missouri’s cities. The campus features a blend of traditional and contemporary architecture and boasts a lightly wooded main quad at its center. The University was founded in 1867 as the North Missouri Normal School and Commercial College; it was renamed Northeast Missouri State University in 1972 and ultimately became Truman in 1996 (in honor of Harry S Truman, the only US President born in Missouri). Truman State University has produced many local and state politicians over its history.

Academic Programs

Truman State University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission and offers Bachelor’s Degrees, post-baccalaureate certificates and Master’s Degrees in 48 majors. Currently, the university does not have any online degree programs. Truman State University contains six schools: School of Arts & Letters, School of Business, School of Health Sciences & Education, School of Science and Mathematics and School of Social & Cultural Studies. Noted for Speech Pathology, Nursing, Teacher Ed and Music; the largest programs are Health & Fitness related, Business and Psychology. The mission of Truman State University is “to offer an exemplary undergraduate education to well-prepared students, grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, in the context of a public institution of higher education. To that end, the University offers affordable undergraduate studies in the traditional arts and sciences as well as selected pre-professional, professional, and master’s level programs that grow naturally out of the philosophy, values, content, and desired outcomes of a liberal arts education.”

Student Life

There are approximately 6000 students enrolled in Truman State University; on-campus housing includes 7 traditional residence halls, 2 apartments and Greek housing. For agricultural students, Farm Hall is located on the working farm associated with the campus as well. Truman offers over 250 clubs and organizations to meet the interests of the student body. This includes club sports and intramurals as well. For the varsity athlete, the purple and white Bulldogs field teams in 11 sports, participating in NCAA Division II competition. These teams are cheered on by Spike and Simone, the Bulldog mascots. Truman State University implements its vision of demonstrating “its public liberal arts and sciences mission by developing educated citizens needed to protect our democracy and offer creative solutions to local, state, national and global problems. It will do so through transformative experiences that foster critical thought, daring imagination and empathetic understanding of human experiences at home and around the world. Truman graduates will be citizen-leaders committed to service; globally competitive; able to thrive in the complexities of an advanced, technical and multicultural world; and inspired to live healthy and meaningful lives.” This is enabled via the school’s core values of Community, Diversity, Life Skills, Scholarship, Service and Wellness.