Mission & Vision

Truman State University is here to open opportunity, promote access and social mobility, foster excellence, recognize merit, and do all things that urge our students to make themselves productive, free and equal.

Our destination is unmoving – to offer an exemplary and affordable public residential education to well-prepared students that is grounded in the liberal arts and sciences.

Unique Mission

The Missouri Legislature gave Truman a statewide liberal arts and sciences mission in 1985. Truman provides an outstanding liberal arts education to academically talented students from across the state of Missouri, our nation, and the world at an affordable price.

Assessment and Accountability

Truman is nationally known for its assessment program, which is designed to measure student learning and outcomes. Truman’s retention and graduation rates are consistently among the highest in the state.

Affordability and Quality

Truman is consistently recognized in national publications such as U.S. News & World ReportConsumers Digest, Washington Monthly, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, and Forbes for being a university that offers a high-quality education at a price that is accessible and affordable.

Deanna Schmidt 6

I initially chose to come to Truman because I was impressed with the numbers that compared well with other universities: average test scores, retention rates, job placements, rankings, degree programs, etc. I knew these statistics would provide me with a solid foundation of a well-rounded college education, and I was confident in my college choice. After arriving at Truman my freshman year, though, I realized that Truman has so much more to offer beyond our impressive statistics. We have a student body filled with individuals who inspire and motivate their peers, and a campus community that fosters life-long learning.

Deanna S., History Pre-MAE