Troy University facts for kids

This page is about the university in Alabama. For the university in New York, see Troy University (New York).

Quick facts for kids
Troy University

Former names	Troy State Normal School (1887–1929) Troy State Teachers College (1929–1957) Troy State College (1957–1967) Troy State University (1967–2005)
Motto	"Educate the Mind to Think, the Heart to Feel, and the Body to Act"
Type	Public university
Established	1887; 138 years ago (1887)
Accreditation	SACS
Endowment	$192 million (2022)
Chancellor	Jack Hawkins Jr.
Students	18,086 (all campuses and online students)
Location	Troy , Alabama , United States
Campus	College town, 820 acres (3.3 km²)
Other campuses	Dothan Montgomery Phenix City
Newspaper	The Tropolitan
Colors	Cardinal Silver Black
Nickname	Trojans
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FBS - Sun Belt
Mascot	T-Roy

Troy University is a large public university located in Troy, Alabama. It started way back in 1887 as the Troy State Normal School. A "normal school" was a special type of college that trained people to become teachers.

Over the years, Troy University grew a lot. It is now the main university in the Troy University System. It offers many different degrees, from associate (two-year) to doctoral (highest level) degrees.

In 2005, all the different Troy State University campuses joined together. This made them one big university called Troy University. Today, the university helps students learn at four campuses in Alabama. It also has over 60 teaching locations in 17 U.S. states and 11 countries. More than 100,000 people have graduated from Troy University.

History of Troy University

The first teachers at Troy Normal School in 1887.

Troy University began as a school to train teachers in 1887. It was called the Troy State Normal School. One of its first teachers was Laura Montgomery Henderson.

Over time, the school grew into a four-year college. In 1957, it became "Troy State College." It was then allowed to offer master's degrees. In the 1960s, the college opened new locations. These were in Montgomery, Phenix City, and Dothan. They helped military members and their families learn.

Troy University also became a leader in online learning. It started offering online courses in 1997. This made it easier for many students to get an education. U.S. News & World Report even called Troy University one of the "Most Innovative Schools" in 2018.

Famous People at Troy

Some well-known people have been part of Troy University. George Wallace Jr., whose father was a famous governor, worked there. Max Rafferty, a former education leader in California, was also a dean at the university. Former Governor John Malcolm Patterson taught history there in the 1980s.

How the University's Name Changed

The university's name has changed four times since it started. On April 16, 2004, the school's leaders voted to change the name. It went from Troy State University to Troy University. This change was completed in August 2005.

Troy State Normal School (1887): This was the first name. The school was in downtown Troy.
Troy State Teachers College (1929): The school moved to its current location in 1930. It started giving out bachelor's degrees in 1931.
Troy State College (1957): The school was allowed to start master's degree programs.
Troy State University (1967): The name changed again to reflect its growth.
Troy University (2005): All campuses joined under one name.

Troy University Campuses

The Troy University System helps manage the different parts of Troy University. It was created in 1982. In 2005, all the Troy campuses became one unified university.

Troy University buildings in downtown Montgomery.

Troy University has four main campuses in Alabama:

Troy University (main campus)
Troy University at Montgomery
Troy University at Dothan
Troy University at Phenix City

Besides these four campuses, there are 23 other support locations. These are in the southeastern United States and other countries.

Academics and Learning

Troy University offers many different study programs. Students can choose from 46 bachelor's degree programs. There are also 22 master's degree programs and 3 doctoral programs.

University Structure

The Confucius Institute on campus.

The university is made up of five colleges, a graduate school, and a division for general studies:

College of Arts & Sciences
College of Communications & Fine Arts
College of Education
College of Health & Human Services
The Sorrell College of Business
The Graduate School
The Division of General Studies

International Programs

Pace Hall, a living and learning center for international students.

Troy University welcomes students from all over the world. The main campus has over 800 international students from 75 countries. There are special programs for them, like the English as Second Language Center (ECL). Pace Hall is a dormitory especially for international students.

University Rankings

U.S. university rankings

Forbes	640

Troy University has received good rankings from different groups:

In 2019, Forbes magazine ranked Troy as the 640th-best school in the nation. This ranking looks at how well graduates do in their careers.
U.S. News & World Report gave Troy University high rankings in 2020 for universities in the Southern U.S.:

Category	Rank
Regional University, South	#51
Top Public Schools	#27
Best Online Graduate Business Programs (Excluding MBA)	#61 (tie)
Best Online Graduate Business Programs for Veterans (Excluding MBA)	#27
Best Online MBA Programs	#95 (tie)
Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans	#53 (tie)
Best Online Master's in Criminal Justice Programs	#17 (tie)
Best Online Master's in Criminal Justice Programs for Veterans	#11 (tie)
Best Online Graduate Education Programs	#89 (tie)
Most Innovative Schools	#14
Best Online Master's in Nursing Programs	#14 (tie)
Best Online Master's in Nursing Programs for Veterans	#6 (tie)

Campus Life and Features

Bibb Graves Hall, a historic building on campus.

Troy University's main campus is close to downtown Troy. It has rolling hills and many old oak trees. The first two buildings, John Robert Lewis Hall and Shackelford Hall, are still used today. John Robert Lewis Hall was named after John Lewis, a famous civil rights leader.

Near the chapel is a small lake called Lake Lagoona. The campus also has the Trojan Oaks Golf Practice Course. It used to be a full golf course. Now it is a practice facility.

The Barnes & Noble bookstore on campus.

One popular spot on campus is Janice Hawkins Park. It has an amphitheater, walking paths, and a lagoon. You can also see cool art there. This includes a dove sculpture and 200 replica terracotta warriors. These warriors are like the famous ones found in China.

Student Living

There are 14,881 students at Troy as of Fall 2022. Many students live on campus. Troy University has 12 different dorms, or residence halls, for students to choose from:

Clements Hall (coed by floor)
Gardner Hall (men)
Hamil Hall (women)
Honors Cottage (coed)
Newman Center (coed by floor)
Pace Hall (coed by floor)
Rushing Hall (coed by building)
Shackelford Hall (coed by floor)
Trojan Village (coed by floor)
University Apartments (coed)

Dining and Food Options

Inside the Trojan Dining Hall.

The Trojan Dining Hall is a big, two-story building. It has many different restaurant-style places to eat. You can find places like Boar's Head Deli, Moe's Southwest Grill, and Bella Trattoria. There is also an outdoor dining area with a fountain.

The food court in the Trojan Center.

The Trojan Center is where students go for activities. It has a movie theater, meeting rooms, and ballrooms. You can also find the Barnes & Noble bookstore there. There's a Starbucks and a food court with places like Chick-fil-A and Steak 'n Shake.

Recreation and Fitness

The Trojan Fitness & Wellness Center.

Troy University offers many ways to stay active. The Trojan Fitness Center has exercise machines and weights. The Trojan Games room has billiards, table tennis, and foosball. There's an Olympic-style swimming pool at the Natatorium. The Recreation Center Gym has basketball courts and a dance room.

The Trojan Arena is a newer building on campus. It is home to the basketball, volleyball, and track teams. It also hosts graduation ceremonies and other big events. The arena can hold 6,000 people. It has a large video board that goes all around the arena. This makes watching games very exciting!

A new $25 million recreation center is being built for students. It will have a multi-activity court, a basketball court, and a large outdoor swimming pool.

Student Organizations

Greek Life

A view of Fraternity Row.

Troy University has 23 traditional Greek organizations. These are like clubs called fraternities for men and sororities for women. About 10% of undergraduate men and 13% of undergraduate women are part of these groups. Many of them have special houses for their members.

Music Groups

The John M. Long School of Music has six music organizations:

The "Sound of the South" Marching Band
The Symphony Band
The Concert Band
The Jazz Ensemble
The University Choirs
The Opera Workshop

Student Media

The school newspaper is called The Tropolitan. Students write and produce it every week. It has been ranked as one of the best college newspapers in the country.

Troy University Television, also known as Troy TrojanVision, broadcasts news shows. Students produce these shows twice a day. They also create a sports show called Trojan Sports Now. TrojanVision was ranked as the #1 Best College TV Station in 2017.

The "Sound of the South" Marching Band

The Sound of the South is the official marching band of Troy University. It started in 1939. The band has over 300 members. They perform at many marching band competitions. They also play at college and professional sports events. The band often travels with the football team to away games. A smaller band plays at home basketball games.

The band's special song is called "The Fanfare." It was written in 1965 by John M. Long, who was a famous band director at Troy.

Athletics and Sports

The Troy Football Team in 2009.

Troy State Normal School started its sports program in 1909 with a football team. The teams were first called "Troy State Teachers." Later, they became the "Red Wave." In the 1970s, students voted to change the name to "Trojans." They felt "Red Wave" was too much like the University of Alabama's "Crimson Tide."

Troy University joined NCAA Division I athletics in 1993. In 2004, Troy joined the Sun Belt Conference for football. In 2005, all other sports joined the conference too.

Football Team

Troy University's football team has won three national championships. They won the NAIA championship in 1968. They also won NCAA Division II championships in 1984 and 1987.

In 2001, Troy moved to NCAA Division I-A. They beat Mississippi State, a big team, that year. In 2004, they beat #17 Missouri, which was their first win against a ranked team. Troy played in its first bowl game in 2004. They won the Sun Belt Conference title in 2006. They also won the New Orleans Bowl that year.

Veterans Memorial Stadium, where the Trojan football team plays.

Former coach Larry Blakeney led the team for 25 seasons. He is the winningest coach in Troy University history. He helped the team win many conference titles and play in several bowl games.

Basketball Team

The Troy University men's basketball team was coached by Don Maestri for 31 years. He is the winningest coach in the school's history with 500 wins. The team has won 11 conference championships.

On January 12, 1992, Troy set an NCAA record. They scored 258 points in a game against DeVry University! This is the highest score ever in NCAA basketball history. The Trojans played in the NCAA Tournament in 2003. They also played in the NIT (National Invitation Tournament) in 2004 and 2010.

The main court in Trojan Arena.

Baseball Team

The Troy University baseball team won two Division II national championships. These were in 1986 and 1987. In 1998, Troy beat the #3 ranked University of Alabama. The team has also played in the NCAA Baseball Tournament in 2006 and 2007.

Rodeo Team

Troy University also has a rodeo program. They host a three-day rodeo event every October. College rodeo teams from all over the South come to compete. In 2007, Troy's Ben Mayworth won the national title in calf roping.

Women's Soccer Team

The Troy University women's soccer team started in 2003. They play in the Sun Belt Conference. The team's stadium, Jesse H. Colley Track/Soccer Stadium, was built in 2003 and updated in 2010. The team is currently led by head coach Ged O'Connor.

Special Academic Features

John Maloy Long Hall on campus.

Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band Conductors

The Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band Conductors is located on campus. It was started in 1979 by the National Band Association. This Hall of Fame honors band directors who have done great things in music. It includes pictures and stories of these important leaders.

Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy

The Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy opened in 2010. It was created with a large gift from a Troy graduate, Dr. Manuel H. Johnson. The center teaches about free market economic ideas. It explores how economic freedom can make life better for people. The center is part of the Sorrell College of Business.

University Libraries

Troy University has libraries on its Dothan, Montgomery, and Troy campuses. Together, they have over 300,000 books. They also have hundreds of thousands of eBooks and many online databases. The Troy campus library is a special Federal Depository Library. This means it keeps government documents for the public.

Janice Hawkins Cultural Arts Park

The Janice Hawkins Cultural Arts Park is a 23-acre park on campus. It has an amphitheater, walking trails, and a lagoon. The park also has the International Arts Center. This center has two art galleries and a special exhibit called Warriors Unearthed. This exhibit features 200 replica terracotta warriors. These are like the famous ancient statues found in China.

Janice Hawkins Cultural Arts Park.

Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences

Troy University received a big grant to create the Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences. This center does research on recycling plastic materials. It helps Troy University work with local plastic recycling companies. This helps improve the economy and create jobs in the area.