Truman School Sees Growth in Student Enrollment for Fall 2025
The Truman School of Government and Public Affairs is experiencing notable growth in student enrollment for Fall 2025 across multiple programs, underscoring the school’s expanding impact and appeal. Enrollment increases include a 57% increase over the past year in the Master of Public Affairs (MPA), an 80% increase in the Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies (DSS), and a 19% increase in Political Science and a 38% increase in Public Administration and Policy undergraduate programs reflect both rising demand for public service education and the strength of the Truman School’s academic offerings.
The MPA program, long recognized for preparing leaders in government, nonprofit, and private sectors, has seen steady growth as more students seek rigorous training grounded in policy, leadership, and management. Similarly, the MA in Defense and Strategic Studies has attracted strong interest from students eager to engage with pressing issues of national security, strategy, and defense policy in an increasingly complex global environment. Undergraduate enrollments also continue to climb, a signal that students are increasingly drawn to public affairs as a foundation for careers in policy, law, and civic leadership.
This enrollment momentum is part of the wider attractiveness to the University of Missouri by students in Missouri and globally. Mizzou’s reputation for combining academic excellence with real-world relevance is personified in the Truman School. Dr. Lael Keiser, Director of the Truman School of Government and Public Affairs shared. “Students benefit from faculty expertise, engaged learning opportunities, and partnerships that connect the classroom to communities in Missouri and beyond.”
As the Truman School continues to grow, so does its capacity to prepare the next generation of public service professionals. Fall 2025 marks an important milestone in this trajectory, demonstrating that the mission of advancing knowledge, fostering leadership, and serving the public good resonates with students across levels and disciplines.