Truman Recognized as a “Hidden Gem”

Quality and accessibility have earned Truman a unique distinction according to one college-planning website.

College Raptor included Truman among schools it identified as one of the “Hidden Gems in the U.S.” The goal of this particular list is to put “a spotlight on amazing schools” that might not be as well known outside of their local area or state. To qualify for consideration as a hidden gem, a school needed to receive less than 5,000 applications per year, enroll fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students and offer five or more unique majors.

One school from each state was selected as a hidden gem, with Truman earning the distinction for Missouri. On a subset list of “Hidden Gem Colleges in the Plains Region” Truman was the only public school among the three Missouri institutions recognized.

Truman also earned a spot on the list of 25 schools to be named “Most Affordable Hidden Gem Colleges for the Middle Class.” Coming in at No. 24, Truman was the only Missouri school to make this list, which honored schools for their affordability, particularly for middle-income families. College Raptor defined its “typical” middle-class family as: a family of four; an income of less than $80,000 per year; and family assets (excluding primary residence) of $50,000. The net price estimates for in-state students were also taken into consideration.

College Raptor is a college-planning website that offers side-by-side comparisons of estimated financial aid packages along with simplified campus match scores and admission chances. Factors taken into consideration for its Hidden Gems lists include retention rates, graduation rates, student-to-faculty ratio, endowment per student, selectivity and other metrics. More information is available at collegeraptor.com.