Cost advantage
Affordable public option
In-state tuition in the lower range for public universities.
This school$9.9k
Public 4-yr avg$11k
Source: IPEDS 2024
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Murray State University
Murray, KY
Murray State University at a glance
Murray State University is a public university in Murray, Kentucky with 10,020 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 86% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published in-state tuition is $9,900 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $9,096 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 61% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 35% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $20,500 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Nursing (RN), doctoral ($189,508) and Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians, master's ($107,129) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).
Tuition
$9,900
2024-25
Acceptance
86%
Fall 2024 applicants
Students
10,020
Fall 2024
Type
University
Setting
Rural
Cost & Financial Aid
In-State Tuition
$9,900
Out-of-State Tuition
$19,836
Avg On-Campus Living
$11,112
Avg Off-Campus Living
$11,566
Financial Aid & Outcomes
College Scorecard
What will it actually cost?
Sticker price: $21,012
Net price (after aid): $9,096
Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.
Net price by family income
$0 – $30k: $6,242
$30k – $48k: $6,347
$48k – $75k: $8,104
$75k – $110k: $12,811
$110k+: $15,450
Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)
At every income level reported here, the average net price is within the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow from the federal government for loans made from 1 July 2026.
The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.
After graduation
Median earnings (10yr): $44,737
Median debt at graduation: $20,500
Est. monthly loan payment: $217
Earnings-to-debt ratio
Moderate · 2.2×Graduates earn about 2.2× their median debt every year.
Financial access
Students on Pell Grants: 33%
Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.
Students with federal loans: 35%
Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.
Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.
How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.
FAFSA earnings check
: Not flaggedMurray State University does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $53,243, above the $33,352 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in Kentucky.
This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.
Student Outcomes
Graduation Rate
61%
Freshman Retention
76%
Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)
Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.
Scholarships available
Decision support · Cost & value
Quick Decision Highlights
The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.
Lower net price
$9.1k below avg
Out-of-state value
$19.8k below avg
Strong aid for lower incomes
Reported net price for the $0–30k band runs below average.
Affordability snapshot
In-state tuition
$9.9k
below avg
Out-of-state
$19.8k
below avg
Net price
$9.1k
below avg
Pell
33%
Median debt
$20.5k
below avg
Earnings (10y)
$44.7k
“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.
Admissions
Acceptance rate
86%
SAT range
940 - 1170
ACT range
19 - 26
Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)
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Location
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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school
Institution does not report this
Murray, KY 42071
Academics
Studying online: a substantial share study entirely online
In Fall 2023, 2,032 of Murray State University's 9,841 students (21%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 2,968 (30%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.
Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023
Fields of study
Murray State University reported conferring credentials in 67 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.
Campus & Student Life
Area Safety Rating
Decision support
Similar schools
Worth a closer look if Murray State University caught your interest.
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Tuition $13,502 93% acceptSame state. Similar acceptance. Same school type.
Graduate earnings by program
What Murray State University graduates earn, by program
Murray State University's bachelor's graduates in Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other earned a median $57,686 four years after graduating, 12% below the $65,543 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $45,096; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $17,000 in federal loans at this college (about $180 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $18,500 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level).
50 programs at Murray State University have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other, Bachelor's | $57,686 | $65,543, −12% | $17,000 | $180/mo |
| Business, Master's | $96,691 | $125,988, −23% | $28,786 | $327/mo |
| Teacher Education (by grade level), Bachelor's | $38,132 | $47,382, −20% | $20,801 | $221/mo |
| Liberal Arts and General Studies, Bachelor's | $41,797 | $53,072, −21% | $23,500 | $249/mo |
| Nursing (RN), Bachelor's | $72,462 | $88,910, −18% | $18,203 | $193/mo |
| Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other, Master's | $58,618 | $58,313, about the same | $24,104 | $274/mo |
| Business, Bachelor's | $51,818 | $68,407, −24% | $17,500 | $186/mo |
| Accounting, Bachelor's | $64,269 | $76,194, −16% | $18,318 | $194/mo |
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Bachelor's | $44,800 | $55,695, −20% | $20,500 | $217/mo |
| Teacher Education (by subject), Master's | $50,821 | $63,707, −20% | $22,500 | $256/mo |
| Social Work, Bachelor's | $41,165 | $51,790, −21% | $23,500 | $249/mo |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians, Bachelor's | $84,705 | $86,525, about the same | $24,561 | $260/mo |
What the job pays locally
- Nursing (RN) graduates train as registered nurses: median $81,040 in Kentucky.
- Accounting graduates train as accountants and auditors: median $75,270 in Kentucky.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: everyone working in the job, every experience level, not only recent graduates.
Show 38 more programs
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations and Advertising, Bachelor's | $58,265 | $63,560, −8% | $21,235 | $225/mo |
| Finance, Bachelor's | $56,263 | $83,343, −32% | $20,500 | $217/mo |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians, Bachelor's | $40,839 | $44,115, −7% | $23,752 | $252/mo |
| Educational Administration, Master's | $60,155 | $71,685, −16% | $18,800 | $214/mo |
| Biology, Bachelor's | $48,370 | $57,214, −15% | $24,033 | $255/mo |
| Teacher Education (by grade level), Master's | $44,101 | $59,916, −26% | $20,093 | $229/mo |
| Public Administration, Master's | — | $81,408 | — | — |
| Engineering Physics, Bachelor's | $86,713 | $89,154, −3% | $19,521 | $207/mo |
| Special Education, Bachelor's | $36,657 | $50,499, −27% | $18,687 | $198/mo |
| Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Bachelor's | $87,573 | $76,549, +14% | $22,250 | $236/mo |
| Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences, Bachelor's | $50,387 | $58,928, −14% | $19,369 | $205/mo |
| English, Bachelor's | $41,383 | $48,590, −15% | $25,000 | $265/mo |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management, Bachelor's | $43,844 | $45,338, −3% | $21,417 | $227/mo |
| Criminal Justice, Bachelor's | $48,437 | $55,378, −13% | $21,411 | $227/mo |
| Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences, Master's | $57,136 | $67,030, −15% | $42,000 | $478/mo |
| Music, Bachelor's | $36,697 | $42,892, −14% | $26,731 | $283/mo |
| Educational Administration, Doctoral | $73,149 | $100,573, −27% | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts, Bachelor's | $38,192 | $41,367, −8% | $22,500 | $239/mo |
| Business Administration, Bachelor's | $63,679 | $68,257, −7% | $21,061 | $223/mo |
| Public Health, Bachelor's | $51,848 | $58,808, −12% | $20,699 | $219/mo |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Bachelor's | $57,764 | $54,562, +6% | $22,925 | $243/mo |
| Computer Science, Bachelor's | $67,173 | $107,009, −37% | $23,475 | $249/mo |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians, Master's | $107,129 | $103,349, +4% | — | — |
| Chemistry, Bachelor's | — | $65,120 | $24,593 | $261/mo |
| History, Bachelor's | $46,739 | $50,680, −8% | $21,750 | $231/mo |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Bachelor's | $58,862 | $71,753, −18% | $22,500 | $239/mo |
| Marketing, Bachelor's | $56,780 | $69,303, −18% | $21,997 | $233/mo |
| Mathematics, Bachelor's | $51,771 | $69,562, −26% | — | — |
| Community Organization and Advocacy, Master's | $51,766 | $67,597, −23% | $39,986 | $455/mo |
| Public Relations and Advertising, Master's | $51,638 | $80,125, −36% | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapy, Master's | — | $71,416 | — | — |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication, Bachelor's | $45,127 | $50,497, −11% | — | — |
| Special Education, Master's | $43,802 | $64,397, −32% | — | — |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians, Bachelor's | — | $84,304 | — | — |
| Sociology, Bachelor's | — | $52,657 | $21,816 | $231/mo |
| English, Master's | — | $55,512 | — | — |
| Information Science, Bachelor's | $66,204 | $85,294, −22% | $19,037 | $202/mo |
| Nursing (RN), Doctoral | $189,508 | $138,131, +37% | $92,445 | $1,052/mo |
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Over the Cap: graduate programs where typical debt exceeds the federal loan limits in force since July 2026. Nursing graduates vs RN pay by state: the early-career benchmark.
Frequently asked questions
About Murray State University
Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.
- Where is Murray State University located?
- Murray State University is located in Murray, KY, in the United States.
- What type of institution is Murray State University?
- Murray State University is a public university based in KY. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
- What is the acceptance rate at Murray State University?
- The most recently reported acceptance rate at Murray State University is approximately 86% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.
- What is the tuition at Murray State University?
- Murray State University's published in-state tuition is approximately $9,900 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
- How many students attend Murray State University?
- Murray State University reports total enrollment of approximately 10,020 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
- How much does Murray State University actually cost after financial aid?
- The average net price at Murray State University is approximately $9,096 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $6,242 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $15,450. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
- What is the graduation rate at Murray State University?
- Murray State University reports a graduation rate of approximately 61% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
- How much student debt do graduates of Murray State University have?
- Students who borrowed at Murray State University left with a median of approximately $20,500 in federal loans, and about 35% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
- How much do graduates of Murray State University earn?
- Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $44,737 for students who received federal financial aid at Murray State University. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
- How should I verify final details about Murray State University?
- CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with Murray State University.
- How much do Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other graduates from Murray State University earn?
- Murray State University's bachelor's graduates in Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other earned a median $57,686 four years after graduating, 12% below the $65,543 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $45,096; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $17,000 in federal loans at this college (about $180 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $18,500 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level).
- How much do Business graduates from Murray State University earn?
- Murray State University's master's graduates in Business earned a median $96,691 four years after graduating, 23% below the $125,988 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $65,188; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $28,786 in federal loans at this college (about $327 a month on a 10-year plan).
- Which programs at Murray State University have the highest graduate earnings?
- Among the 24 programs at Murray State University with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Nursing (RN), doctoral ($189,508); Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians, master's ($107,129); and Business, master's ($96,691) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
- Does Murray State University get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
- No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, Murray State University's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $53,243, above the $33,352 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in Kentucky, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.
Fields this college awarded credentials in
The 14 largest of 67 fields Murray State University reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.
| Field | Awarded | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other | 232 | Graduate (94 graduate · 136 bachelor's · 2 associate) |
| Business/Commerce, General | 181 | Graduate (111 graduate · 68 bachelor's · 2 associate) |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 135 | Graduate (36 graduate · 99 bachelor's) |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 126 | Graduate (25 graduate · 101 bachelor's) |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 122 | Bachelor's (101 bachelor's · 21 associate) |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 99 | Graduate (80 graduate · 18 bachelor's · 1 associate) |
| Animal Sciences | 97 | Bachelor's |
| Accounting and Related Services | 94 | Graduate (2 graduate · 92 bachelor's) |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | 69 | Graduate (29 graduate · 40 bachelor's) |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 67 | Graduate (2 graduate · 65 bachelor's) |
| English Language and Literature, General | 61 | Graduate (37 graduate · 24 bachelor's) |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 60 | Graduate |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 55 | Graduate (1 graduate · 54 bachelor's) |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 52 | Graduate (47 graduate · 5 bachelor's) |
Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Explore more
Compare colleges side by side. All colleges in Kentucky. Kentucky college costs by family income. Student debt at Kentucky colleges. Computer science major guide. Business in Kentucky. Nursing in Kentucky. Psychology in Kentucky. Engineering major guide.
Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with Murray State University before applying.
Data sources & methodology
Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.
Facts on this profile of Murray State University are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2024). Murray State University, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/murray-state-university
About this information
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