Trulaske College of Business: A Comprehensive Overview

The Trulaske College of Business at the University of Missouri-Columbia stands as a beacon of business education, preparing students to excel in today's competitive market. With a rich history, diverse academic programs, and a strong emphasis on career readiness, Trulaske provides a transformative learning experience. The college's vision is to inspire minds, shape futures, and transform lives.

A Legacy of Excellence

The Trulaske College of Business, named after distinguished alumnus Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. in 2007, boasts a 100+ year legacy of excellence. The college was established as a senior professional school on January 19, 1914, as the School of Commerce. The first faculty was appointed on February 18, 1914, with professor Herbert J. Davenport as the first dean. In that time, the college has built a century of leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship. The name of the school was changed to the School of Commerce and Public Administration on May 31, 1916.

The College's business programs were among the first in the nation to be accredited. The American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) was established in 1916, and in 1926 the MU College of Business became the first public business school in Missouri to earn accreditation from AACSB. Only 14 institutions nationwide had been granted membership in AACSB prior to MU.

A Home Through the Years

The College of Business has made its home in several buildings throughout its history. The original Commerce Building was the north part of Swallow Hall on Francis Quadrangle. On January 29, 1927, the school moved to the former quarters of the law school, which was renamed the Business and Public Administration Building. This location is now part of the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute. Middlebush Hall was constructed in 1959 as the new home for the college, and it was named for Frederick A. By 1990, enrollment at the college had significantly outgrown the more than 30-year-old Middlebush Hall, and classes had to be held in several other buildings. MU began to draft plans for the a new business building in 1994, and on September 18, 1999, the university broke ground on a new home for the College of Business, and it would be twice the size of Middlebush when completed. The 150,000-square-foot (14,000 m2) Cornell Hall was completed in 2002 at a cost of nearly $30 million. The state-of-the-art facility is named for Harry M. Cornell Jr., who is chairman emeritus of Leggett & Platt.

Leadership Through Time

On October 19, 2007, the University of Missouri announced that its College of Business is now officially named the Robert J. Trulaske Sr. College of Business. The change comes following a series of large gifts from Geraldine Trulaske, in honor of her late husband, Robert J. Trulaske Sr., founder of True Manufacturing. The College of Business is one of only two named academic divisions at the University of Missouri. In 2010, Joan Gabel, former Florida State University Department of Risk Management/Insurance chairwoman, became the new dean for the College of Business. On Jan. 1, 2017, Ajay Vinzé became the new dean for the College of Business. On Dec. 20, 2021, Christopher Robert became the interim dean for the College of Business. On July 5, 2023, Balaji Rajagopalan became the dean for the College of Business.

Academic Programs

The Trulaske College of Business offers a wide range of degree and certificate opportunities that encourage students to pursue a future they are passionate about. Undergraduate business programs include Accountancy, Finance, Management, and Marketing.

Master's Programs

Trulaske College of Business Master's Programmes include:

Accountancy Master: This program is available full-time, part-time, online, or on-campus. The tuition is $25924 USD per year for full-time and part-time students, $11038 USD per year for online students, and the tuition is unknown for on-campus students. The program lasts 12 months.
Business M.Sc.: This program is available part-time and online. The tuition is $25924 USD per year for full-time and part-time students, $11038 USD per year for online students, and the tuition is unknown for on-campus students. The program lasts 12 months.
Business Administration (Crosby MBA) M.B.A.: This program is available part-time and online. The tuition is $25924 USD per year for full-time and part-time students, $11038 USD per year for online students, and the tuition is unknown for on-campus students. The program lasts 12 months.
Finance M.Sc.: This program is available part-time and online. The tuition is $25924 USD per year for full-time and part-time students, $11038 USD per year for online students, and the tuition is unknown for on-campus students. The program lasts 12 months.

The Trulaske College of Business runs two MBA programs, the standard full-time online (Crosby MBA) program and a new executive MBA program, execMBA, that was launched in August 2012. The Trulaske College of Business is home to the Gordon E. Crosby Jr. MBA Program. In recent years, the Crosby MBA program has climbed steadily in rankings. The MBA program is known for its hands on application of theory through the use of cross-functional teams, case studies, real-world projects, class interaction, and collaboration with business leaders and organizations. The size of the program is limited to approximately 100 new students each year, and entrance into the program has become more competitive as the qualifications of each entering class continue to improve each year. Launched in August 2012, this 21-month program is designed for working professionals. The program constitutes 75% online and 25% in-class coursework in Columbia. The Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business’s Crosby OMBA at the University of Missouri has flexible enrollment options for working professionals that wish to pursue their graduate degree part-time and for students that wish to enroll full-time.

Doctoral Studies

The Trulaske College of Business offers Ph.D. programs in various disciplines.

School of Accountancy

In December 1974, the Board of Curators approved the establishment of a School of Accountancy at the University of Missouri. The School of Accountancy began operations in July 1975. The School of Accountancy is one of only five colleges in the state of Missouri to offer AACSB accredited programs in accounting. The Trulaske College of Business is unique in that it does not offer a stand-alone bachelor's degree in accounting. Students complete a 150-hour program that simultaneously confers both a bachelor's and master's degree in accountancy. The college also offers a PhD in Accountancy. Both programs consistently rank in the top 15 among all accountancy programs nationwide. The School of Accountancy is also ranked 9th in the nation in research productivity, as reported in the Chronicle of Higher Education. The School of Accountancy is also well known for its high Certified Public Accountant exam pass rates. A report from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy ranked the University of Missouri first in the nation on the May 2003 CPA exam.

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Preparing Career-Ready Graduates

The Trulaske College of Business Undergraduate Excellence Fee supports online and in-person professional development programming that provides extraordinary career preparation for business students through a highly integrated set of classroom and experiential opportunities. It is our goal to prepare career-ready graduates with the help of Business Career Services and Trulaske Edge.

Think of your degree as the foundation for the rest of your career. Today’s employers expect more from entry-level to executive positions, and a professional education will help you exceed those demands. At Mizzou’s Trulaske College of Business, you’ll learn everything you need to know to get a head start in today’s competitive business market.

A distinctive feature is Trulaske’s Professional EDGE program, designed to prepare students for business careers through a structured, multi-year approach to professional development. The program includes a freshman seminar course, a pre-internship course, and a series of workshops offering contemporary insights into the evolving business landscape.

In the past three years, Trulaske has introduced several strategic initiatives to enhance student learning, industry engagement, and career outcomes. One of the most impactful changes has been the development of Career Pathway Programs, designed in collaboration with companies and alumni. These programs provide students with in-depth knowledge of specific industries through a structured approach that includes alumni mentorship, job shadowing, company visits, and co-curriculum development.

“The Trulaske College of Business does an amazing job providing various opportunities for any degree path. “I can’t be grateful enough for my time at Trulaske. The professors truly care about you both professionally and personally. They are experts in their field. There are a few of them that have positively impacted my life forever.

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Experiential Learning and Career Outcomes

Trulaske students gain extensive real-world experience throughout their undergraduate education. In career data, 98% of both the Class of 2023 and the Class of 2024 graduates completed at least one business-specific internship before graduation, highlighting the school’s emphasis on professional preparedness. The average salary for 2024 graduates was $62,083, with 17.1% reporting an average signing bonus of $6,146. The B-school offers personal career coaching and a career course where students focus on their future and meet face-to-face with company leaders.

Campus Life and Resources

Camp Trulaske consists of small group activities meant to showcase Mizzou and the Columbia community. Paired with all the campus welcome events, students will maximize their introduction to Mizzou! Come join us for Camp Trulaske - a fun, interactive experience during Welcome Week where you will meet fellow incoming business students, current students, faculty, and staff while participating in a variety of fun and engaging activities.

Student Organizations

The College of Business is home to nearly 20 professional organizations, honor societies, and fraternities. The college's history of influential student organizations can be traced back to 1919 when Alpha Kappa Psi began to organize a chapter that would officially charter the following year. Delta Sigma Pi established itself as the second all male fraternity at the school when it established a chapter in 1923. A women's business fraternity, Phi Chi Theta, followed in 1926. The college's Upsilon chapter is currently the largest chapter in all of Alpha Kappa Psi, and likewise the college's Alpha Beta chapter is the largest chapter in all of Delta Sigma Pi. The prestigious Beta Gamma Sigma honor society established its chapter at the school in 1931.

ICT Services

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Scholarships

Below you will find scholarships related to Trulaske College of Business. Distinction can be made between scholarships provided by the University and those provided by independent providers. The college has 432 Scholarships.

Accreditation

The Trulaske College of Business is AACSB accredited in business and accountancy.

Notable Alumni

Alan C. Greenberg (BS BA '49), Vice Chairman Emeritus, J.P. E. Stanley Kroenke (BS BA '71, MBA '73), Chairman, THF Realty, owner, NBA's Denver Nuggets, NHL's Colorado Avalanche; co-owner NFL's St. Rodger O. Matthew K.

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