Truman State vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between Truman State University and University of Wisconsin Madison? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Truman State University
University of Wisconsin Madison

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Truman State Kirksville, MO
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • Truman State Remote Town
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Truman State 3,664
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • Truman State Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Truman State #256
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Truman State -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • Truman State Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Truman State
  • Wisconsin
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Truman State $9,838
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Truman State $18,566
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • Truman State $11,128
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • Truman State $13,602
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Truman State $12,186
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Truman State 100%
  • Wisconsin 35%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Truman State 2,883
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • Truman State 2,415
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Truman State 83.8%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Truman State 25.9%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Truman State 1270
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Truman State 28
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Truman State 3.81
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Truman State A-
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Truman State Difficult
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Truman State
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • Truman State 25/31
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Truman State 1170/1370
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Truman State Test optional
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Truman State
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Truman State 12:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Truman State
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Truman State 69%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Truman State $49,800
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Truman State 76%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Truman State $22,656
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Truman State $234
  • Wisconsin $230
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Truman State 39%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • Truman State 61%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Truman State Low
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • Truman State No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • Truman State 80%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • Truman State 2%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • Truman State 4%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Truman State 3%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • Truman State 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Truman State 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Truman State 3%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • Truman State 7%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Truman State 2%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Truman State 79%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Truman State 15%
  • Wisconsin 46%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Truman State Yes
  • Wisconsin Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Truman State No
  • Wisconsin No
  • Meal Plan
  • Truman State Yes
  • Wisconsin Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Truman State No
  • Wisconsin No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Truman State No
  • Wisconsin Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Truman State University in Kirksville, MO with University of Wisconsin Madison in Madison, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin Madison is larger than Truman State based on total student enrollment (51,044 students vs. 3,664 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Truman State University is located in Kirksville, MO (Remote Town setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • Truman State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Madison is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Truman State University 12:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

Truman State vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Truman State or Wisconsin? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Truman State University than Wisconsin ($13,602 vs. $14,235).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Truman State University are 21.2% lower than at University of Wisconsin Madison ($11,128 vs. $14,124).
  • University of Wisconsin Madison is 17.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Truman State (about $1,765 more per year; $11,603.00 vs. $9,838.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 126.8% higher at Wisconsin than at Truman State University (about $23,537 more per year; $42,103.00 vs. $18,566.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Truman State University than at University of Wisconsin Madison (100% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 45.6% larger than aid received by Truman State University students ($17,741 vs. $12,186).

Truman State vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Truman State or Wisconsin? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Wisconsin and Truman State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 180 points higher than at Truman State (1270).
  • Incoming Wisconsin students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at Truman State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Truman State University 1170/1370; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Truman State University 25/31; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Truman State - Test optional; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Truman State (3.81).
  • Truman State has a higher acceptance rate (83.8%) than Wisconsin (45.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.9% at Truman State vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

Truman State vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Truman State and Wisconsin? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Wisconsin Madison's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Truman State University's (69%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $15,000 more per year than Truman State graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Madison graduates have a $406 lower median loan debt than Truman State graduates ($22,250 vs. $22,656).
  • Among borrowers, Wisconsin graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Truman State graduates ($230 vs. $234).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Truman State students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 76%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.