Murray State University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Murray State University is a public research university in Murray, Kentucky, serving roughly 6,688 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 85.68% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $44,737 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $9,900
- 2024 Average Net Price: $9,096 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 85.68% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 6,688 91.2% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 61.32%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
- First-Generation Students: 34.0%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 2.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 17.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 81.8%
- Average SAT Score: 1133
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,160
- Applicants (IPEDS): 11,038
- Room & Board: $11,112 annual estimate
Murray State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Murray State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Murray State University?
Murray State University is located in Murray, KY (ZIP 42071-3318).
NCES locale classification: Town distant.
Is Murray State University public or private?
Murray State University is a Public institution.
How much does Murray State University cost?
Published tuition: $9,900 in-state, $19,836 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $9,096.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $6,242 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $6,347 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $8,104 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $12,811 |
| $110,001+ | $15,450 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $39,600.
How hard is it to get into Murray State University?
Admission rate: 85.68%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1133 and midpoint ACT 24.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Murray State University?
Total enrollment: 6,688 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 9,160 students.
Graduate enrollment: 2,169 students.
About 91% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Murray State University?
150%-time completion rate: 61.32%.
First-year retention: 75.6%.
What do graduates of Murray State University earn?
Median earnings: $38,473 six years after entry; $44,737 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $20,500.
33.32% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Murray State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other (194 completions)
- Business/Commerce, General (175 completions)
- General Studies (111 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (104 completions)
- Accounting (85 completions)
- Finance, General (72 completions)
- Animal Health (71 completions)
- English Language and Literature, General (68 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (65 completions)
- Research and Experimental Psychology, Other (61 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Murray State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 85.68%; completion rate 61.32%; median earnings $44,737 at 10 years; net price $9,096. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$9,900
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Murray State University was $9,900.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$9,096
2024 Value
In 2024 Murray State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $9,096.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$36,384 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$9,096 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$39,600 4-Year In-State Tuition
$79,344 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$11,112 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$940 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$21,952 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$87,808 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Murray State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
33.32% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
35.35% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Murray State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Murray State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $7,044 | $19,164 | $9,600 |
| 2014 | $7,392 | $20,112 | $9,817 |
| 2015 | $7,608 | $20,712 | $9,808 |
| 2016 | $8,400 | $22,680 | $10,322 |
| 2017 | $8,820 | $23,820 | $11,497 |
| 2018 | $9,084 | $24,540 | $12,242 |
| 2019 | $9,168 | $24,792 | $11,390 |
| 2020 | $9,168 | $18,348 | $11,736 |
| 2021 | $9,252 | $18,528 | $11,226 |
| 2022 | $9,432 | $18,888 | $11,072 |
| 2023 | $9,708 | $19,452 | $9,121 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
85.68% Acceptance Rate
11,038 Total Applicants
9,511 Students Admitted
1,659 First-Time Students Enrolled
17.44% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1133
ACT Average: 24
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Murray State University reported total enrollment of about 6,688 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 39% male and 61% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (78.4%), Black or African American (6.1%), and Non-Resident Alien (4.1%). About 33.32% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 34.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
91.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Murray State University in 2024 is 6,688 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 9,160 students. Graduate enrollment is about 2,169 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
75.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 78.4%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
48.71% 100% Completion Time
61.32% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 48.71% of students graduating from Murray State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other: 38% male / 62% female
- Business/Commerce, General: 50% male / 50% female
- General Studies: 41% male / 59% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Murray State University.
Return on Investment
$20,500 Median Student Debt
$44,737 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
45.82% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
1129.58% Return on Investment
4.6 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Murray State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 88 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other: 194 completions
2. Business/Commerce, General: 175 completions
3. General Studies: 111 completions
4. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 104 completions
5. Accounting: 85 completions
6. Finance, General: 72 completions
7. Animal Health: 71 completions
8. English Language and Literature, General: 68 completions
9. Elementary Education and Teaching: 65 completions
Most popular programs at Murray State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Murray State University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Murray State University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 81.8%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $7,855
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,232
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Murray State University is a public institution located in Murray, KY, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other, Business/Commerce, General, General Studies. Enrollment is approximately 6,688 students. Student body composition includes White (78.4%), Black or African American (6.1%), Non-Resident Alien (4.1%). The admission rate is 85.68%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1133. The 150%-time completion rate is 61.32%. Approximately 33.32% of students receive Pell Grants. About 34.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Location
Murray, KY 42071-3318
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 88 distinct degree programs, Murray State University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Murray State University located?
Murray State University is located in Murray, KY.
What is Murray State University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Murray State University is 85.7% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 11,038 applicants and 9,511 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Murray State University cost?
Reported tuition is $9,900 and average net price is $9,096 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $11,112 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Murray State University?
Murray State University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 9,160 students, White (78.4%), Black or African American (6.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Murray State University?
About 34.0% of students at Murray State University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Murray State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Murray State University reports midpoint SAT about 1133 and midpoint ACT about 24.
What do graduates of Murray State University earn?
Median earnings are $38,473 six years after entry and $44,737 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Murray State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 61.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Murray State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $20,500.
Is Murray State University public or private?
Murray State University is a public institution located in Murray, KY.
Is Murray State University an HBCU?
No. Murray State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Murray State University a tribal college?
No. Murray State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Kentucky college costs
- Kentucky colleges by ROI
- Southeast regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Kentucky
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.