KU vs. Truman State

Should I go to University of Kansas or Truman State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if KU or Truman State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University of Kansas vs. Truman State University comparison
University of Kansas Truman State University College 3 College 4
University of Kansas Truman State University
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Overview

 KU Truman State
Location Lawrence, KS Kirksville, MO
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 28,406 3,636
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #291 #288
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ku.edu truman.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 KU Truman State
Tuition (In State) $10,596 $9,132
Tuition (Out of State) $28,308 $17,532
Room & Board $10,818 $10,701
Avg Net Price $18,322 $12,798
Avg Grant Aid $10,644 $10,904
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 100%

Admission

 KU Truman State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,226 3,263
Admitted 16,958 2,609
Acceptance Rate 88.2% 80%
Enrolled % 31% 24.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.66 3.81
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 23/29
SAT Range 1050/1290 1126/1318
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 KU Truman State
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)

Outcomes

 KU Truman State
Graduation Rate 61% 69%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,600 $49,800
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $22,656
Median Loan Payment $211 $234

Diversity

 KU Truman State
% Men 11% 3%
% Women 16% 6%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 80%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 7% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 6% 7%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 KU Truman State
% In-State 55% 80%
% Out-of-State 43% 14%

Campus

 KU Truman State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Kansas is larger than than Truman State based on total student enrollment (28,406 students vs. 3,636 students)

KU vs. Truman State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KU or Truman State?

  • University of Kansas is 16% more expensive to attend than Truman State for in-state tuition ($10,596.00 vs. $9,132.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 61.5% higher at KU than Truman State University ($28,308.00 vs. $17,532.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Truman State University than KU ($12,798 vs. $18,322)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Truman State University are 1.1% lower than costs at University of Kansas ($10,701 vs. $10,818)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Truman State University than University of Kansas (100% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Truman State University students is 2.4% larger than aid received University of Kansas ($10,904 vs. $10,644)

KU vs. Truman State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, KU or Truman State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Truman State or KU .

  • The average SAT score at Truman State University (1246) is 101 points higher than at KU (1145)
  • Incoming Truman State students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at KU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Truman State students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at KU (3.66)
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than Truman State (80%)

KU vs. Truman State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, KU or Truman State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Truman State and KU.

  • The graduation rate at Truman State is higher than University of Kansas (69% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn on average $4,800 more per year than Truman State graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $49,800)
  • University of Kansas students graduate with a $2,156 lower median federal student loan debt than Truman State graduates. ($20,500 vs. $22,656)
  • KU graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Truman State graduates. ($211 vs. $234)
  • More Truman State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KU students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/