For access among nonprofit four-year institutions
For mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Morehead State University #658 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Morehead State University sits in the 35.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Morehead State University #717 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflecting strong outcomes for its student population. --- Morehead State University's composite ranking reflects balanced performance across access, mobility, and affordability pillars. The institution's mobility outcomes stand out, with graduates earn about $5,365 less than similar students at comparable institutions.
Azimuth ranks Morehead State University #658 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Morehead, KY, Morehead State University enrolls roughly 4,578 undergraduates. Retention is 65.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 52.2%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional public institution. Where Morehead State University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Morehead State University #1174 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $50,224. The institution's earnings advantage reflects a student body anchored in Liberal Arts fields, where regional labor-market demand remains steady and career pathways lead to stable employment outcomes. Access and affordability round out the composite. Morehead State University sits in the 56.2 percentile for access and the 88.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 29.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 41.4% are first-generation college students, reflecting Morehead State University's role as a broad-access regional institution. Mobility sits in the 51.7 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve solid earnings, the institution's outcomes sit somewhat below the national median for peer institutions. For families weighing long-term affordability and career outcomes, Morehead State University offers a clear value proposition: accessible tuition, strong regional employer networks, and predictable pathways into stable careers.
Morehead State University's published cost of attendance is $21,961, but need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $7,150; middle-income families pay around $8,874; and higher-income families pay approximately $15,164. Azimuth ranks Morehead State University #159 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Morehead State participates in federal need-based aid programs including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, and the university offers institutional aid to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The difference between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to making attendance affordable across income levels, though the specific aid structure and merit-aid availability should be confirmed directly with the financial aid office. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $10,050; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $50,224, median federal debt of $22,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $251 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Morehead State University is a strong fit for students seeking a liberal arts-focused public university experience in KY, KY. Its program mix leans heavily toward Liberal Arts, making it particularly well-suited for students interested in humanities and social sciences. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $50,224, placing Morehead State University in the 10.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,365 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 35.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 29.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 41.4% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Morehead State University in the 6.2 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 77.2% admit rate makes the application process broadly accessible, and the program mix favors liberal arts fields over STEM-heavy ones. Students whose interests align with those areas will find a supportive academic environment and meaningful post-graduation outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Morehead State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Auburn University At Montgomery Similar quality tier in Southeast (#20825 ranked) | AL | 92% | $44,391 | #20825 | Compare |
South Carolina State University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#20819 ranked) | SC | 83% | $38,262 | #20819 | Compare |
Eastern Connecticut State University Similar quality tier (#20289 ranked) | CT | 83% | $56,469 | #20289 | Compare |
University Of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla Similar quality tier (#20288 ranked) | PR | 81% | $27,997 | #20288 | Compare |
Northern Michigan University Similar quality tier (#21358 ranked) | MI | 84% | $47,107 | #21358 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Morehead State University's published cost of attendance is $21,961, but need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $7,150; middle-income families pay around $8,874; and higher-income families pay approximately $15,164.
Azimuth ranks Morehead State University #159 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Morehead State participates in federal need-based aid programs including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, and the university offers institutional aid to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The difference between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to making attendance affordable across income levels, though the specific aid structure and merit-aid availability should be confirmed directly with the financial aid office.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $10,050; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $50,224, median federal debt of $22,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $251 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Morehead State University earn median 4-year earnings of $50,224, placing the institution in the 10.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions.
Graduates earn about $5,365 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Morehead State University in the 35.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Morehead State University #1174 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 20.6 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
These figures represent lifetime returns relative to KY's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $31,626 (the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential). The earnings pattern reflects Morehead State University's liberal arts foundation and regional labor market.
General Studies is the largest program with 131 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $43,422, performing at 0.8x the national benchmark for the field. The Kinesiology program graduates 66 students earning $45,877, and the The Nursing program graduates 62 students earning $85,740.
Teacher Education and Biology, General round out the major enrollment clusters, with median 4-year earnings of $37,275 and $65,624 respectively. The concentration in Liberal Arts fields shapes the institution's overall earnings profile, with outcomes anchored in regional demand for education, business, and health-related professionals.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
62 graduates
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
33 graduates
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
49 graduates
Biology, General
55 graduates
Physics
10 graduates
Morehead State University offers a program portfolio anchored in Liberal Arts fields, reflecting its regional public university identity. The largest programs by enrollment are General Studies with 131 graduates earning $43,422 four years after enrollment, followed by Kinesiology with 66 graduates earning $45,877, and Nursing with 62 graduates earning $85,740.
Teacher Education and Biology, General round out the top five by enrollment, each serving meaningful cohorts within the institution's 1,126-student annual graduate population. The highest-earning programs signal where Morehead State University graduates see the strongest four-year financial outcomes.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $85,740 for 62 graduates, followed by Engineering Technologies/Technicians at $76,568 for 49 graduates and Biology, General at $65,624 for 55 graduates. Sociology and Kinesiology also deliver solid early-career earnings, demonstrating that multiple program pathways at Morehead State University support competitive post-graduation outcomes.
The institution's program mix reflects a regional liberal arts emphasis, with Business representing 11% of degrees, Education at 11%, and Social Sciences at 6%. This distribution shapes the earnings profile across Morehead State University's 0 ranked programs, with outcomes reflecting both direct-to-workforce pathways and fields where graduates pursue further education or professional credentials.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with regional and national labor-market trends.
