Travis Miles

Truman Earns No. 1 Ranking for 21 Consecutive Years

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Truman State University has now topped the U.S. News & World Report rankings for 21 years in a row.

In the recently released 2018 Best College rankings, Truman was again listed as the No. 1 public university, No. 8 overall, in the Midwest region. Truman was the only Missouri university in the top 10, and it was the state’s only public school listed among the top 85 institutions rated in the Midwest regional rankings.

“The accolades Truman receives are a direct result of the commitment to excellence by every member of our University community,” University President Susan L. Thomas said. “Our goal is to provide an exemplary education that endows our graduates with the skills and knowledge to lead and to develop creative solutions for local, state, national and global issues. Our students are immensely well equipped for post-graduation success in meeting the demands of the 21st century and in leading meaningful and productive lives. Even after 21 years, it is gratifying to have our efforts and impact recognized.”

Truman also earned high praise as one of U.S. News & World Report’s 2018 Best Value Schools. In the Great Schools, Great Prices section, Truman was the No. 1 public university, No. 2 overall, for the Midwest region. Of the 15 schools included on the list, Truman was one of only two public institutions.

U.S. News & World Report bases its rankings on several indicators of academic excellence, including graduation and retention rates, assessment by peers and counselors, student-to-faculty ratio and alumni giving rate. Complete listings are available at usnews.com/colleges.

Founded in 1867, Truman is celebrating its sesquicentennial during the 2017-18 academic year. Truman is known for its focus on student learning and outcomes, and places an emphasis on high-impact experiences such as internships, research and study abroad opportunities. According to the Missouri Department of Higher Education, Truman has the highest overall graduation rate among the state’s public colleges and universities.

Among the Best in the Midwest

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For the 20th year in a row, U.S. News & World Report has named Truman State University as the No. 1 public university in the Midwest region.

This recognition comes from the newly released 2017 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. Truman also tied for the No. 8 spot overall in the Midwest region among both private and public institutions that provide a full range of undergraduate and master’s programs. Truman far outpaced the other Missouri public schools on the list, the closest of which was more than 50 spots lower.

“We are thrilled Truman’s dedication to an exceptional educational experience has resulted in this distinction for two decades,” University President Dr. Susan L. Thomas said. “We have proven time and again that student success is our highest priority and it is fantastic to be recognized for our culture of excellence. We are honored every time we achieve this recognition and it is something we never take for granted.”

High praise for Truman came in several supplemental categories. It was the only public school in the Midwest to earn a spot in the “A Strong Commitment to Undergraduate Teaching” section, coming in tied for No. 2. Truman was the only Missouri school to be recognized in this area.

The University’s dedication to student research led to Truman’s inclusion in the “Programs to Look For” section in the category of “Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects.” Schools on the unranked list were cited as institutions where “students do intensive and self-directed research or creative work that results in an original or scholarly paper or project that can be formally presented on or off campus.”

Another appearance for Truman came on the “A-Plus Schools for B Students” list. Schools in this unranked category were acknowledged as institutions where such students “have a decent shot at being accepted and thriving” because “spirit and hard work could make all the difference to the admissions office.”

Truman also earned a spot on the “Best Colleges for Veterans” list, coming in as the No. 1 public school in the Midwest, No. 8 overall for the region. To qualify for this list, schools must participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program and have 20 or more students who used GI Bill benefits to finance their educations.

U.S. News & World Report bases its regional rankings on peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, graduation rate performance, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving. Complete listings are available at usnews.com/colleges.
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Library Pit to Become Squirrel Sanctuary

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Truman State University announced today that the “pit” area located south of Pickler Memorial Library would be converted into a sanctuary for campus squirrels, thanks to a partnership between the school and a wildlife preservation organization.

The University was awarded a $1.4 million grant from the nonprofit Americans Promoting Recreational Fauna Outdoor Observational Living Spaces to convert the unused area. Wildlife experts awarded the grant to Truman citing the need to provide the animals a natural habitat, and noted that constant campus construction and student foot traffic can irrevocably harm the already fragile psyche of a squirrel.

“Squirrels are synonymous with Truman,” University President Troy Paino said. “Anyone who has ever visited our campus has probably had a positive encounter with one of our squirrels, and hopefully by creating this safe space, those encounters will continue for years to come.”

Alvin Scrat, the director of Americans Promoting Recreational Fauna Outdoor Observational Living Spaces, contacted representatives of the University in December after he learned of the acorn art project on campus.

“When we saw that, we felt it was obvious that Truman is a community with a deep spiritual connection to the local squirrels,” Scrat said. “Moving forward with the sanctuary in Kirksville makes logical sense.”

In addition to the creation of the sanctuary, the grant also allocates funding for research on the squirrels. While the pit made for a natural site selection, its proximity to the library offers other potential opportunities.

“Not unlike our students, our squirrels are highly intelligent,” Paino said. “The researchers tell me that squirrels can be trained, and we are exploring potential work-study options for them.”

Researchers are confident within five years the squirrels could be implemented to aid the Pickler Memorial Library staff and possibly even run the library’s Starbucks.

In light of Truman’s new affiliation, Paino said he would launch exploratory committees to gauge student and alumni interest in changing the mascot from a bulldog to a squirrel. Any announcement regarding that decision is not expected to be made before April 1, 2017, which Paino noted is April Fools’ Day.

Truman Recognized as No. 1 Public School in Midwest

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For the 19th year in a row, U.S. News & World Report has named Truman State University as the No. 1 public university in the Midwest regional category.  This recognition comes from the 2016 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.

Truman also tied for the No. 8 spot overall in the Midwest region among both private and public institutions that provide a full range of undergraduate and master’s programs. That placed the University one spot better than last year’s ranking and a full 10 spots higher than the second-best public school on the list. Truman far outpaced the other Missouri public schools on the list, the closest of which was more than 50 spots lower.

Truman received high praise in several supplemental categories:

• No. 1 school in the Midwest region in the “A Strong Commitment to Undergraduate Teaching” section.
• In terms of affordability, among regional universities, Truman was the No. 1 public school, and No. 5 overall, in the “Best Value Schools” section for the Midwest.
• Truman was also recognized on the “Most Innovative Schools” list, coming in tied at No. 3 overall in the Midwest.
• Truman also earned a spot on the “Best Colleges for Veterans” list.

Another new appearance for Truman comes on the “A-Plus Schools for B Students” list. Schools in this category were acknowledged as institutions where students “have a decent shot at being accepted and thriving” because “spirit and hard work could make all the difference to the admissions office.”

The complete U.S. News & World Report listings are available at usnews.com/colleges.

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Truman Ranked No. 2 Master’s University in the Nation

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For the second consecutive year, Truman State University has earned the No. 2 spot in the Master’s University category of the annual Washington Monthly College Rankings.

Truman was again the No. 1 public school on the Master’s University list and is the only Missouri public institution in the entire top 100.

As is the case with several other publications, Truman has become a fixture in the Washington Monthly College Rankings, which are unique in that they are based primarily on civic engagement, research and social mobility. Schools receive high marks for contributing to society, enrolling low-income students, helping them graduate and keeping costs affordable.

“As a public university, I feel we have a duty to not only prepare our graduates, but also to instill in them the belief that they have the ability and the obligation to contribute to the greater good,” University President Troy D. Paino said. “It’s great to see a publication recognizing that important aspect of education, and the fact that Truman rates high on this list just reaffirms what we have been trying to accomplish here for years.”

Truman garnered additional praise in the overall introduction to this year’s rankings. In the “Hidden Gems” section, Washington Monthly editors noted that many universities across the country “serve as the workhorse institutions of American higher education, providing affordable degrees with strong ties to regional economies,” and specifically praised Truman for its graduation rates, affordable tuition and success at enrolling students in both the Peace Corps and the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC).

Washington Monthly is a bimonthly nonprofit magazine covering politics, government, culture and the media. The college guide and rankings appear in the magazine’s September/October issue. The complete 2015 rankings and feature stories can be found at washingtonmonthly.com/college-rankings.

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Truman Ranked as the No. 1 Value in the Nation

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Truman was rated as the No. 1 value in the nation among public colleges and universities in the current issue of Consumers Digest.

The magazine examined more than 2,000 U.S. schools that offer four-year degrees. In addition to a list of the top 50 public schools, separate top 25 lists for private schools and private liberal arts schools were combined to establish the top 100 best values.

Truman, which was also the No. 1 public school the last time Consumers Digest examined higher education in 2011, was the only Missouri public school to make this year’s list.

Consumers Digest compiles a unique ranking by measuring academic excellence alongside costs of education. Established indicators of quality, such as a school’s graduation rates, student-retention rates and percentage of faculty members with a Ph.D., are combined with the standardized test scores, high school rank and grade point average of first-time freshmen. Those factors are weighed against the cost of attendance to determine which schools offered the most academic value per dollar.

“This demonstrates that quality education can still be provided at a reasonable cost, and that we are filling that need better than anyone,” said University President Troy Paino. “Parents can rest assured that a Truman education means their student will leave school well prepared and without stifling debt.”

The Consumers Digest rankings were calculated using only nonresident tuition figures. Even accounting for the higher out-of-state rate, Truman’s annual cost of $21,018, which includes tuition, fees and room and board, was well below the average annual cost of $30,655 for top public colleges and universities on the Consumers Digest list.

The complete rankings, along with a feature story on how to make higher education more affordable, can be found in the May/June issue of Consumers Digest magazine, available now.

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Truman Recognized as One of the Nation’s Best Values

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Coming in at No. 19, Truman State University has been recognized again by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine as one of the 100 Best College Values in the nation for 2015.

This article features schools that combine outstanding academics with affordable cost. Truman is the highest-rated Missouri school on Kiplinger’s list and was the only university in the state to be included in the top 50. Truman is also ranked 12th in the nation for best out-of-state value and is highlighted as one of the 25 Best College Values in the Midwest. Read more here.

“Truman State University consistently offers students access to a great education that is also affordable,” University President Troy Paino said. “Nearly half of Truman students graduate with no debt and the rest graduate with debt well below the national average, which is crucial in today’s high student-debt environment.”

Kiplinger’s assesses quality according to measurable standards, including the admission rate, the percentage of students who return for sophomore year, the student-faculty ratio and the four-year graduation rate. Cost criteria include sticker prices, financial aid and average debt at graduation.

The complete rankings are available online at kiplinger.com/links/college. The rankings will also appear in the February 2015 issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, on newsstands Jan. 6. Web visitors will find special features, including a tool that lets readers sort by admission rate, average debt at graduation and other criteria for all schools, plus by in-state and out-of-state cost for public universities and a FAQ about the ranking methodology.

Truman Ranked No. 2 Master’s University in the Nation

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Truman State University continues to work its way closer to the top of yet another prestigious college ranking.

Truman has improved to take over the No. 2 spot in the Best Master’s University category of the 2014 Washington Monthly College Rankings. Additionally, Truman was the No. 1 public school on the list and had the lowest net price in the top five.

A fixture in the top 10, this marks the third straight year Truman has climbed in the rankings. Truman is the only Missouri school on the entire top 100 Master’s Universities list.

The Washington Monthly rankings are unique in the fact they are based primarily on civic engagement, research and social mobility. Schools receive high marks for contributing to society, enrolling low-income students, helping them graduate and keeping costs affordable.

“In addition to providing an excellent education, we pride ourselves on contributing to the greater good and producing graduates who will go on to make a difference in their communities,” University President Troy D. Paino said. “Truman rates highly on a number of lists, but we have never sacrificed our mission as an institution to chase rankings. Continually improving on this list proves we are doing things right.”

Washington Monthly is a bimonthly nonprofit magazine covering politics, government, culture and the media. The college guide and rankings appear in the magazine’s September/October issue. The complete 2014 rankings and feature stories can be found at washingtonmonthly.com/college-rankings.

Truman Recognized Again as a Best Value

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For the third time this year, Truman has received national attention as one of the nation’s best college values.

The editors of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine ranked Truman at No. 3 on their list of “25 Best College Values Under $30,000 a Year” for 2014. Truman was also ranked No. 3 on their “30 Best College Values in the Midwest” for 2014. Truman was the only Missouri school on the list, which was recently published online at kiplinger.com. In the eight states that border Missouri, only five schools made the list.

Truman comes in well below the $30,000 threshold established for the list. The average annual tuition at Truman is $7,096 for in-state students and $12,968 for out-of-state students.

This is the second time this year representatives from Kiplinger’s have put a national spotlight on Truman. In January, Truman was recognized as one of the nation’s best values in public education, coming in at No. 12 on the magazine’s list of 100 “Best Values in Public Colleges.” Truman was the highest-rated Missouri school on that list, and the only university in the state to be included in the top 65.