Murray State University
Murray, Kentucky · Public · 85.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 48/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Murray State University scores 48 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale, a score primarily dragged down by an 18.1-year payback period despite a very low $9,096 net price. The school enrolls 6,688 students in Murray, Kentucky. Agricultural/Animal/Plant sciences (125 graduates, B grade) is the largest strong-performing program. English Language earns an F grade with a ratio of 1.018; Fine and Studio Arts earns an F with 1.134.
How Murray State University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- Payback period18.1 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Murray State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,900/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,836/yr |
| Average net price | $9,096/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $36,384 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $44,737 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $217 |
| Estimated payback period | 18.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 61.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,688 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $9,900/year ($19,836/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $9,096/year, or roughly $36,384 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $6,242/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $15,450/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,500, which works out to about $217 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($33,100) and comes to 0.62, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $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 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $6,242 per year at Murray State - roughly $24,968 over four years if completed. The payback period at this cost level against $33,100 average 6-year earnings is approximately 7-8 years for the median graduate - much better than the school's overall 18.1-year figure (which reflects the average net price, not the lowest bracket). Low-income students in technical and nursing programs have a particularly strong case.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $8,104 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $12,811. At these levels the payback math is workable for technical and healthcare programs. For humanities and social science programs with weak earnings, even low net prices produce long payback periods given $33,100 average earnings.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $15,450 per year - roughly $61,800 over four years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Murray State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other | $57,686 | B |
| Teacher Education | $38,132 | C |
| Accounting | $64,269 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $72,462 | B |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $41,797 | D |
| Business Administration and Management | $51,818 | C+ |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $44,800 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $56,263 | C+ |
| Social Work | $41,165 | D |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $84,705 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Engineering Physics
Engineering Physics (38 graduates) earns a B+ grade: $58,025 year-one and $86,713 year-four with $19,521 median debt and a ratio of 0.336. This is Murray State's strongest overall program by ROI grade. Year-one earnings of $58k against a $9,096 net price produce exceptional value; the four-year trajectory to $87k is consistent with physics and engineering careers in manufacturing, defense, and energy sectors accessible from the Kentucky region.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (85 graduates) earns a B grade: $68,608 year-one and $72,462 year-four with $25,082 median debt and a ratio of 0.366. Against a $9,096 net price, nursing at Murray State represents strong value for Kentucky residents.
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
Quality Control and Safety Technologies (48 graduates) earns a B grade: $66,418 year-one and $84,705 year-four with $25,000 median debt and a ratio of 0.376. This is an unusual but high-performing program - safety and quality assurance professionals are in demand in manufacturing and industrial sectors, which are significant employers in the Kentucky-Tennessee region. The four-year growth to $85k confirms strong career earnings in this technical specialty.
Accounting
Accounting (90 graduates) earns a B grade: $42,322 year-one and $64,269 year-four with $18,750 median debt and a ratio of 0.443. Accounting is a reliable career track at regional public universities.
English Language and Literature
English Language and Literature (31 graduates) earns an F grade: $25,543 year-one and $41,383 year-four with $26,000 median debt and a ratio of 1.018. At year one, annual debt payments are close to annual earnings. The four-year figure of $41k reflects modest career progression for humanities graduates in a regional labor market. Students choosing English should have clear post-graduation plans and understand the near-term financial constraint.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 67.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 72.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 63.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 70.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Murray State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 85.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 460-570 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 480-600 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-26 |
| Enrollment | 6,688 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 33.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,855 |
At 85.7% admission, Murray State accepts the large majority of applicants. The ACT range is 19-26. Students seeking strong outcomes should specifically target Murray State's technical, nursing, and agriculture programs, which show B and B+ grades - considerably better than the institutional average.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murray State University (this school) | 48 | $9,096 | $44,737 |
| University of Northern Colorado | 50 | $17,760 | $52,231 |
| Angelo State University | 49 | $15,091 | $50,116 |
| Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi | 48 | $15,225 | $51,865 |
| Eastern Kentucky University | 39 | $11,040 | $45,795 |
| Kentucky State University | 9 | $8,040 | $36,382 |
Who Thrives Here
Murray State University admits 85.7% of applicants and enrolls 6,688 students. SAT mid-ranges are 460-570 Math and 480-600 Reading; ACT composite 19-26. Pell grant rate of 33.3% reflects a significant low-to-middle income enrollment. Murray State is a regional comprehensive university serving western Kentucky and surrounding states, with particular strengths in agriculture, nursing, and engineering technology. Its location in rural western Kentucky limits post-graduation local employment options in high-wage fields, which contributes to the modest median earnings.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Murray State University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $9,096 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $44,737 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 18.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: a long payback period.
Median debt of $20,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $33,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Murray State University: Common Questions
Is Murray State University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Murray State University scores 48/100 on our ROI scale. At $9,096 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $44,737 ten years after entry, so it takes about 18.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Murray State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $9,096 a year, or roughly $36,384 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Murray State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $44,737 ten years after enrolling, roughly $2,937 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Murray State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 18.1 years for Murray State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Murray State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,500, against average earnings of $33,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Murray State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 61.3%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.