Truman Earns No. 1 Ranking for 29th Consecutive Year

Truman has again been ranked as the No. 1 public university in the Midwest region by U.S. News & World Report, extending its streak at the top to 29 years in a row.

Truman fared well in the 2026 Best Colleges Rankings. In addition to the No. 1 public ranking, the University came in tied at No. 7 overall for the Midwest region. Truman was the only public institution in the state to be listed in the top 50. 

“Year after year, Truman is recognized for the enormous impact and value of our education,” said University President Sue Thomas. “Designed to meet the demands of today’s world, a Truman education provides our students with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful now and in the future. Truman provides a great return on our students’ investment.”

Among the supplemental rankings that accompany the annual report, Truman again scored notable recognitions. The University came in at No. 13 on the list of Best Value Schools in the Midwest region. Truman was the only Missouri school to make the top 15 on this list, and the only public college or university from the Show-Me-State to be included in the top 35 spots. The Best Value rankings are determined by examining key indicators such as: academic quality; the percentage of full-time students receiving need-based scholarships or grants; and the average discount from a school’s sticker price for full-time undergraduates receiving the average need-based grant.

Faculty members’ commitment to students helped the University earn a top five spot on another list. A fixture on the Undergraduate Teaching Programs list, Truman came in tied at No. 4 this year in the Midwest region. This subcategory, compiled from peer assessment, highlights schools that emphasize providing high-quality instruction to undergraduates. Schools are ranked in descending order based on the number of nominations they received. Of the 12 institutions to make this list, Truman was the highest rated of the three public schools to be included.

Truman also came in tied for No. 4 on the list of Most Innovative Schools in the Midwest region. Only eight institutions made this exclusive list, and Truman was the sole public school to earn this distinction. U.S. News asked top college officials to identify institutions in their Best Colleges ranking category that are making the most innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities.

U.S. News & World Report also recognized Truman on its list of Top Performers on Social Mobility, and four of the University’s academic programs – business, computer science, nursing and psychology – again earned inclusion on rankings of their respective disciplines. The entire Best Colleges rankings can be found online at usnews.com/best-colleges.