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Truman State University · Missouri

Truman State scholarships and merit aid

Truman gives every admitted freshman automatic, stackable TruMerit scholarships ($2,000-$10,000) off a GPA × test grid that differs for Missouri vs out-of-state students — but big competitive awards (Pershing, Kirk, Harry S. Truman) supersede everything else, and Truman money covers tuition + on-campus room/meals only, never fees.

Verified Jul 20262 months ago

The short answer

Is Truman State worth a closer look?

Truman State is worth checking if your student has strong grades or scores. We found 8 published awards, and 2 are based on those numbers.

Merit tiers82 based on grades or scores
Research checkedJul 2026By our research team

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Published scholarships

These amounts and requirements come from the school’s own published pages. Open an award to see who qualifies and how to keep it.

$2,000-$10,000 per year

TruMerit Scholarship

Based on grades or scoresCan continue
GPA
Cumulative HS GPA 3.00-4.0+ (grid)
SAT
SAT ERW+M ~1130-1600 (grid)
ACT
ACT 23-36 (grid)
See who qualifies and how to keep it
Who qualifies

Automatically awarded based on cumulative GPA and ACT/SAT at time of application; verified test score required

How to keep it

Renewable per Scholarship Renewal Guidelines (SAP-based). Truman continues updating the TruMerit award through the June test date of senior year as GPA / ACT-SAT improve.

Notes

Truman publishes SEPARATE Missouri-resident and Out-of-State TruMerit charts (GPA × test). The live chart is an image (truman.edu/?da_image=186579) that could not be OCR'd; the live table states the overall range as $2,000-$10,000. An older 2020-21 PDF showed Missouri tiers of $2,000/$3,000/$4,000 and Out-of-State tiers of $3,500/$5,000/$7,000/$8,000 — STALE, not used as current. Out-of-State TruMerit assists with the out-of-state tuition portion and cannot be combined with other out-of-state-portion awards.

Source

Full tuition…Full tuition + average room and board, plus a one-time $4,000 study abroad stipend

General John J. Pershing Scholarship (competitive)

Apply separatelyCan continue
SAT
Top 3% nationally
ACT
Top 3% nationally
See who qualifies and how to keep it
Who qualifies

Typically top 3% of HS class; complete application with test score, essay AND activities resume prior to Dec. 1

How to keep it

Renewable per Scholarship Renewal Guidelines.

Notes

Approximately twelve awards annually. SUPERSEDES ALL OTHER TRUMAN-FUNDED AWARDS (and Bulldog Legacy cannot be combined with Pershing).

Source

$23,000…$23,000 (out-of-state) / $17,000 (in-state)

President John R. Kirk Scholarship (competitive)

Apply separatelyCan continue
SAT
Top 3% nationally
ACT
Top 3% nationally
See who qualifies and how to keep it
Who qualifies

Typically top 3% of HS class; complete application with test score, essay AND activities resume prior to Dec. 1

How to keep it

Renewable per Scholarship Renewal Guidelines.

Notes

Should cover all full-time tuition plus a significant portion of room and board. Except for the Bulldog Legacy Award, the Kirk Scholarship SUPERSEDES ALL OTHER TRUMAN-FUNDED AWARDS.

Source

$15,000 per year

Harry S. Truman Leadership Scholarship (competitive, in-state)

Apply separatelyCan continue
See who qualifies
Who qualifies

Missouri residents who demonstrate impactful classroom, school and/or community leadership; essay + activities resume by Dec. 1. (Per the page, only in-state students were eligible for the 2025 awards.)

How to keep it

Renewable per Scholarship Renewal Guidelines; includes a 4-year leadership development program.

Notes

Should cover all full-time tuition plus a significant portion of room and board. Except for the Bulldog Legacy Award, the HST Scholarship SUPERSEDES ALL OTHER TRUMAN-FUNDED AWARDS.

Source

$1,000/year…$1,000/year (Missouri residents) / $2,000/year (Out-of-State residents)

Bulldog Legacy Scholarship

Based on grades or scoresCan continue
See who qualifies
Who qualifies

Children, step-children, or grandchildren of Truman alumni, or whose sibling currently attends or graduated from Truman

How to keep it

Renewable per Scholarship Renewal Guidelines.

Notes

Notably, Bulldog Legacy can be combined with all scholarships EXCEPT the Pershing award — it is the one award that survives the Kirk/HSTL supersede rule.

Source

Waiver of the out-of-state tuition…Waiver of the out-of-state tuition portion (~$9,639 for 2026-2027)

Non-Resident Tuition Waiver

Apply separatelyCan continue
See who qualifies
Who qualifies

Spouses, dependent children, or current/recent members of a branch of military; OR admitted students whose non-custodial parent is a Missouri resident

How to keep it

Updated throughout the year; package adjusted to in-state consideration if the student becomes a Missouri resident.

Notes

Out-of-state-portion award. Cannot be combined with Out-of-State TruMerit, Non-Resident Tuition Grant, or MSEP — students get the single greatest-value out-of-state award.

Source

Estimated $4,310…Estimated $4,310 (2026-2027) — reduces out-of-state tuition to 150% of in-state rate

Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP)

Apply separatelyCan continue
See who qualifies
Who qualifies

Admitted students from IN, KS, MN, NE, ND, OH and WI who do NOT qualify for an Out-of-State TruMerit Scholarship

How to keep it

Award value determined annually.

Notes

Out-of-state-portion award; cannot be combined with Out-of-State TruMerit / Non-Resident Tuition Waiver / Non-Resident Tuition Grant (greatest value only).

Source

$2,000/year…$2,000/year (living on campus) / $1,000/year (living off campus)

Northeast Missouri (NEMO) Scholarship

Apply separatelyCan continue
See who qualifies
Who qualifies

Must have graduated from a high school in Adair, Putnam, Schuyler, Scotland, Knox, Macon, Linn, or Sullivan county

How to keep it

Renewed based on SAP criteria at the original award amount.

Notes

Does NOT stack with Top Scholar or TruPlus. Residential vs commuter amount split.

Source

See what could change an award

Rules that could change the answer

These are the rules we would flag for your family. Each comes from Truman State's published information.

  • Aid capHard $28,006 cost-of-attendance ceiling

    Institutional aid at Truman State cannot push the package past $28,006. Big outside wins can mathematically reduce institutional grant once the ceiling is reached.

Straight from the aid office

What Truman State's aid office says

Per the Financial Aid Office, Truman State University, August 2026. How we verify

GPA required to keep merit scholarship

What GPA does my son need to maintain to keep a merit scholarship?

He must maintain a 3.25 Truman GPA for the scholarship to apply in full, and this also applies to several other Truman scholarships.

“will need to maintain a 3.25 GPA in Truman coursework for the scholarship to apply in full.”
Pro-rated scholarship scale

Is there a reduced scholarship amount if his GPA dips a bit?

There is a pro-rated scale for scholarships if the Truman GPA is between 3.0 and 3.24, so students don't lose funding outright.

“There is a pro-rated scale for scholarships if the Truman GPA is between a 3.0 and 3.24 so that students do not lose their funding out-right.”
Losing eligibility below 3.0 GPA

What happens if his GPA falls below 3.0?

If a student's Truman GPA falls below 3.0, they become ineligible until they regain at least a 3.0 Truman GPA.

“If a student falls below the 3.0 Truman GPA, they will be ineligible until they are able to regain the minimum of 3.0 in Truman GPA.”
Regaining scholarship eligibility

How can he get the scholarship back after a weak semester?

Once the minimum GPA is regained, the student (only the student, not a parent) can request an eligibility review from Financial Aid by phone, email, or in person with their Student ID#.

“Once a student has regained the minimum, they can request an eligibility review from Financial Aid by calling in, emailing, or walking in with their Student ID#. Only the student requesting the review can do so, no one on their behalf can.”
Scholarship renewal criteria

What are the overall requirements to renew a Truman scholarship?

Renewal requires full-time enrollment, not having used 8 semesters of scholarship, having passed at least 24 Truman credit hours in the last academic year, and having a total Truman GPA of at least 3.00; transfer hours and GPA don't count.

“1. You must be enrolled full-time for the current semester. 2. You must not have used eight (8) semesters of scholarship (or the prorated number of semesters if you are a transfer student). 3. You must have passed at least twenty-four (24) Truman credit hours during the last academic year; transfer hours and GPA are not considered in scholarship renewal. 4. You must have a total institution GPA (Truman GPA) of at least a 3.00; transfer hours and GPA are not considered in scholarship renewal.”
Renewal percentage scale

What percentage of the scholarship is renewed at different GPA levels?

Renewal percentage is 100% at 3.25+, 90% at 3.20-3.24, 80% at 3.10-3.19, 70% at 3.00-3.09, and 0% at 2.99 or below.

“3.25+ Truman GPA 100% 3.20 - 3.24 Truman GPA 90% 3.10 - 3.19 Truman GPA 80% 3.00 - 3.09 Truman GPA 70% 2.99 or below Truman GPA 0%”
Order of reduction for outside scholarships

If he wins an outside scholarship, does it reduce loans or the school's award first?

Loans and work study are reduced first, then SEOG grant (if no need), then need-based Truman grants; Pell Grants are affected only if cost of attendance is reached, and Truman Scholarships are never reduced based on other funding received.

“* The loans and work study will be reduced first. * Then the SEOG Grant if the student has no "Need" according to their Student Aid Index (SAI) on the FAFSA. * Truman Grants that are "Need" dependent will be reduced. * Pell Grants are affected if the Student's Cost of Attendance is reached with Institutional, Private, and State funding. * Truman Scholarships are not reduced based on how much other funding is received, whether Federal, State, or Private.”
SAT score and TruMerit scholarship tier

Would a higher SAT score move the student into a better TruMerit scholarship tier?

TruMerit scholarships are based on GPA only, so a higher SAT score would not move him into a higher TruMerit tier.

“Our TruMerit scholarships are based on GPA only, so a higher SAT score would not move him to a higher tier for our TruMerit scholarships.”
SAT score and top scholarships

Does the SAT score matter for the top scholarships?

Test scores play a significant role in the review process for top scholarships, and a strong SAT score can be a significant asset in competing for one.

“However, test scores play a significant role in our top scholarships review process. To compete for a top scholarship, a strong SAT score can be a significant asset.”
Deadline for top scholarship consideration

By when must test scores and materials be submitted to be considered for a top scholarship?

All scores and other required materials must be submitted by December 1st to qualify for consideration for top scholarships.

“All scores would need to be submitted, along with other required materials, by December 1st to qualify for consideration.”

What families often miss

  1. Truman-funded scholarships apply only to tuition and on-campus room and meal plans — they do not apply to fees.

  2. Pershing, Kirk, and Harry S. Truman Leadership all 'supersede all other Truman-funded awards' (only Bulldog Legacy survives, and not with Pershing) — you don't keep both.

  3. Out-of-State TruMerit, the Non-Resident Tuition Waiver, the Non-Resident Tuition Grant, and MSEP all target the out-of-state tuition portion and cannot be combined — you get only the single greatest-value award.

  4. The NEMO Scholarship does NOT stack with Top Scholar or TruPlus, and its amount drops from $2,000 to $1,000 if you live off campus.

  5. Competitive scholarship review begins December 1; only students who submit all application materials (including essay and activities list) by Dec 1 are considered for Pershing/Kirk/Harry S. Truman.

See costs and school data

Who this school may work for

Strong, stat-driven applicants (Truman publishes an explicit GPA × ACT/SAT grid) — especially Missouri residents and students from NEMO counties; top 3% students should target the December 1 competitive deadline for full-tuition Pershing/Kirk awards.

Published yearly cost: Approximately $28,006 for 2025-2026. Source

Cost and graduation facts

Federal reporting on who actually enrolls at Truman State, what they paid after aid, and what happened next — independent of anything the school markets.

Average annual net price by family income at Truman State, academic year 2021-22 — in-state, Title-IV aid recipients only
Family incomeAverage net price paid
$0–$30,000$6,046
$30,001–$48,000$7,926
$48,001–$75,000$12,426
$75,001–$110,000$15,425
$110,001+$17,220
All income levels (average)$12,780

Sticker price vs. what students actually pay

Published tuition & fees (in-state), AY 2022-23
$9,838
Published tuition & fees (out-of-state), AY 2022-23
$18,566
Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
$12,780

That works out to roughly a 49% discount below the federal AY 2021-22 average cost of attendance of $25,115 (College Scorecard — a separate, federally reported figure, not the published cost of attendance shown above).

Truman State is a public school; Scorecard's net price figure covers in-state, Title-IV-aid-recipient payers only — there is no comparable federal figure for out-of-state students.

Outcomes for students who enrolled here

Graduation rate (150% of normal time), 2016 cohort
69%
First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
85%
Median debt at completion, 2020–2021 completers
$21,000 (~$223/mo on a 10-yr plan)
Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
$56,280
Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
24%
Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
38%
See other scholarships and cost examples

If your student brings another scholarship

Automatic awards are generally stackable and renewable, and a student may receive multiple automatic and/or competitive awards. BUT: (1) Truman-funded scholarships apply only to tuition and on-campus room and meal plans — never to fees; (2) competitive awards (Pershing, Kirk, Harry S. Truman) supersede all other Truman-funded awards, except the Bulldog Legacy Award (which can combine with everything except Pershing); (3) out-of-state-portion awards (Out-of-State TruMerit, Non-Resident Tuition Waiver, Non-Resident Tuition Grant, MSEP) cannot be combined — only the greatest-value one is given; (4) NEMO does not stack with Top Scholar or TruPlus; (5) some larger awards replace/supersede smaller ones.

Truman money is restricted to tuition + on-campus room/meals (not fees). Superseding competitive awards and the single-greatest-value rule for out-of-state-portion awards govern combinations.

Source

Other Truman State scholarships worth checking

These awards can be harder to find. Each one has its own rules.

Amount$500 per yearEligibilityMissouri A+ program completion verified on final HS transcript.

Truman-funded, automatic.

Source

Amount$2,000 per yearEligibilityIB Diploma Candidate status noted on HS transcript; completion verified on final transcript.

Automatic.

Source

Amount$1,000 per yearEligibilityAttended Girls State or Boys State.

Automatic (a separate competitive Missouri Boys/Girls State award also exists).

Source

Amount$1,000 per yearEligibilityAttended Joseph Baldwin Academy (JBA).

Automatic.

Source

Amount$1,000 per yearEligibilityDeclared Music majors.

Automatic.

Source

AmountVarying amountsEligibilityLimited number of awards given to students.

Automatic per the freshman scholarship table.

Source

Truman State merit aid FAQ

  • What is the scholarship deadline?

    December 1 is the Scholarship Priority Deadline and the start of competitive review (essay + activities list must be in by then). The FAFSA opens October 1 and the Missouri priority deadline is February 1. There is no separate scholarship application — admission materials are used.

  • How is the TruMerit award determined?

    Automatically from your cumulative HS GPA and ACT/SAT score against a published grid (separate Missouri and Out-of-State charts). The range is $2,000-$10,000, and Truman keeps updating it as your GPA/scores improve through the June test date of senior year.

  • Can I combine my scholarships?

    Many automatic and competitive awards stack, but Truman money covers only tuition + on-campus room/meals (not fees); the Pershing/Kirk/Harry S. Truman awards supersede other Truman-funded awards; out-of-state-portion awards can't be combined; and NEMO doesn't stack with Top Scholar or TruPlus.

See sources and other schools

How Truman State compares

  • 235 of 749 verified schools in our dataset use cost-of-attendance cap displacement.

    Truman State is in a recognizable cluster (235 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.

  • 665 of 749 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.

    Truman State is one of them. The cohort minority (84 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.

Sources used on this page

Every claim is checked against Truman State’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.

Compare with similar schools

Keep exploring Truman State merit aid