University of Missouri
Visit University of Missouri | Contact Administration

The University of Missouri-Columbia was founded in 1839 as the first public university west of the Mississippi River and the first state university in Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase territory. MU provides all the benefits of two universities in one — it's a major land-grant institution and Missouri's largest public research university.

Considered one of the nation's top-tier institutions, Mizzou has a reputation of excellence in teaching and research, and is the flagship campus of the four-campus University of Missouri System. It is one of only 34 public universities, and the only public institution in Missouri, to be selected for membership in the Association of American Universities. MU offers more than 265 degree programs — including 30 online degree options — and is designated as comprehensive doctoral with medical/veterinary by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Mizzou is recognized nationally and receives top rankings for its programs in many areas, including journalism, dispute resolution, family and community medicine, campus writing program and Freshman Interest Groups. As one of only six public universities in the country with medicine, veterinary medicine and law all on one campus, MU provides Missouri with an educated work force of doctors, veterinarians and lawyers.

Mizzou has a diverse enrollment with 28,000 students from every county in Missouri, every state in the nation and 100 countries.The favorite classroom for the best and brightest, Mizzou attracts more valedictorians, Curators Scholars and twice as many of the state’s Bright Flight Scholars than any other college or university in Missouri. Nearly one-third of freshmen come from the top 10 percent of their high school classes.

Designated as a botanic garden, MU’s 1,358-acre main campus features more than 5,000 trees and 650 varieties of plants. A number of University buildings also are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Money magazine, Men's Journal, MSN.com and others have all called Columbia, Mo., one of America’s best places to live because of its excellent quality of life. Mizzou is by far the largest employer in the area with more than 12,000 full-time employees.

Citizens across the state connect with Mizzou by participating in Extension programs in every county, visiting MU Health Care specialists, competing in state competitions in MU facilities and by cheering on the Missouri Tigers at athletic events. A member of the Big 12 Conference, Mizzou features the state’s only division I-A athletic program, where student-athletes in 20 sports compete at the highest level nationally.

Soon after Missouri's first football team was formed in 1890, the athletic committee adopted the nickname “Tiger” in official recognition of a group of local Civil War militia called “The Missouri Tigers.” Their fighting spirit is now embodied in MU's official mascot, “Truman the Tiger.”

Originally, MU had two tiger mascots, a male and a female, but neither had a specific identity. A contest to name the mascot was held in 1984. The winner, a student, submitted the name Truman (after Missouri-born President Harry S Truman).

Early historical references make mention of MU using crimson and gold as its school colors. But all Tiger fans know that the official colors for Mizzou are black and gold, in keeping with the colors of the Bengal Tiger.

Truman is a popular part of Mizzou tradition and makes over 35 appearances a month including all MU football and basketball games, civic functions, and visits to hospitals and schools.

Truman the Tiger, our beloved mascot, was born in 1986. He is named after Harry S Truman, 33rd president of the United States who was from Independence, Mo.