At $12,030/yr net price, Truman State University graduates earn $56,280/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $22,280/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $12,030 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $48,120 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,280/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$22,280/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.2 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 68.4% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $21,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,322/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,585/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,125/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $14,616/yr |
| $110,001+ | $15,816/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $73,530 | $26,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Master | $56,505 | $14,185 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $56,028 | $25,094 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | Master | $47,260 | $39,851 |
| Economics. | Bachelor | $46,478 | |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $43,426 | $23,250 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $42,235 | $22,813 |
| Mathematics. | Bachelor | $38,289 | |
| Chemistry. | Bachelor | $37,208 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor | $36,668 | $21,500 |
The Risk Factor
68.4% of students at Truman State University graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 32% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Truman State gives you a solid financial return for a public school, with median earnings near $56,000 a decade out against a net price of roughly $12,000 a year. Debt stays manageable at $21,000 median, and the 68% grad rate plus 84% retention mean most people who start actually finish and pay it off.
Your major decides everything here. Computer and Information Sciences graduates clear $73,500, the clear winner and worth the $26,000 debt that comes with it. Nursing follows at $56,000, roughly matching the school-wide median. The business cluster is where returns thin out: accounting at $43,400 and business administration at $42,200 both leave you carrying over $22,000 in debt for pay that barely beats a bachelor's degree average. Economics sits at $46,500 but shows no debt figure, so treat that cautiously.
The main risk is picking a business or economics track and landing in rural northeast Missouri, where Kirksville's job market won't push those starting salaries up fast. Computer science and nursing travel and pay regardless of location. the business degrees are the weak spot if you plan to stay local.
If your family earns under $48,000, you pay around $7,500 a year, and that price makes almost any major here pay off. Above $110,000, you pay closer to $15,800, and at that level the business degrees stop looking like a bargain unless you commit to computer science or nursing. The jump between the $48-75k tier ($11,125) and the $75-110k tier ($14,616) is the steepest, so middle-income families feel the cost most.
Come here for computer science or nursing and you win at almost any income. If you want a business degree and your family pays the top-tier price, run the numbers hard before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Truman State University worth the cost?
Truman State offers decent value with a low net price of $12,030 and manageable debt of $21,000. However, the 68% graduation rate and $56,280 median earnings show mixed results that depend heavily on your chosen program.
What are the highest paying majors at Truman State University?
Computer science graduates earn $73,530 annually, making it the clear winner for ROI. Accounting ($56,505) and nursing ($56,028) also provide solid returns, while other programs like communication disorders lag significantly behind.
How much debt do Truman State University graduates typically have?
The median debt is $21,000, which is reasonable compared to national averages. With the school's low net price, most students can graduate without crushing debt loads.
Does Truman State University have good job placement after graduation?
The 68% graduation rate suggests about one-third of students don't finish, which raises concerns about academic support. Those who do graduate earn decent salaries, but success varies widely by major.