Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Murray State University #544 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,495 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Murray State University in the 24.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Murray State University #377 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Murray State University #544 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Murray, KY, Murray State University enrolls roughly 6,688 undergraduates. Retention is 75.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 61.3%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Where Murray State University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Murray State University #1225 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $50,487, and they earn about $8,495 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Murray State University in the 24.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's strength in Business and related fields drives this solid financial payoff for graduates. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Murray State University sits in the 63.1 percentile for access and the 90.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mobility outcomes rank in the 74.6 percentile. For many students, Murray State University offers a public institution path to solid long-term earnings without the premium pricing of selective peers — a practical choice for families prioritizing financial outcomes and manageable debt.
Murray State University's published cost of attendance is $23,485. Net price varies meaningfully by family income: low-income families pay approximately $6,242, middle-income families pay around $8,104, and higher-income families pay approximately $15,450. Azimuth ranks Murray State University #144 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. Murray State's affordability profile reflects its public-university tuition structure and need-based aid reach. The gap between sticker price and net price demonstrates how financial aid reshapes the headline cost for most students. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and Murray State participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,465; 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 $50,487, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Murray State University is a strong fit for students interested in Business and applied fields who want a public university experience in KY. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $50,487, placing Murray State University in the 10.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $8,495 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 24.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 33.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 34.0% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Murray State University in the 26.6 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 85.7% admit rate makes the application process moderately selective, and the program mix favors applied-professional fields over research-oriented ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory and aid package among the strongest in KY.
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 Murray State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Murray State University's published cost of attendance is $23,485. Net price varies meaningfully by family income: low-income families pay approximately $6,242, middle-income families pay around $8,104, and higher-income families pay approximately $15,450.
Azimuth ranks Murray State University #144 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.
Murray State's affordability profile reflects its public-university tuition structure and need-based aid reach. The gap between sticker price and net price demonstrates how [financial aid reshapes the headline cost](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) for most students.
Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and Murray State participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,465; 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 $50,487, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 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 Murray State University earn median 4-year earnings of $50,487, placing Murray State University in the 10.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,495 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Murray State University in the 24.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Murray State University #1225 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 with only a high school credential).
Business represents the institution's primary academic focus and a key driver of graduate outcomes. Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other is the largest program with 102 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $57,686, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field.
The Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians program graduates 99 students earning $40,839 four years after enrollment, while General Studies and Teacher Education round out the largest programs with median earnings of $41,797 and $38,132 respectively. This program mix reflects Murray State University's alignment with regional labor-market demand and provides graduates with stable career pathways across multiple fields.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fort Valley State University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#15788 ranked) | GA | 66% | $36,666 | #15788 | Compare |
Pennsylvania Western University Similar quality tier (#15785 ranked) | PA | 94% | $47,295 | #15785 | Compare |
Indiana University-Southeast Similar quality tier (#15807 ranked) | IN | 84% | $47,596 | #15807 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Similar quality tier (#15781 ranked) | WI | 87% | $55,548 | #15781 | Compare |
Winona State University Similar quality tier (#15773 ranked) | MN | 75% | $58,532 | #15773 | Compare |
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians
29 graduates
Engineering Physics
26 graduates
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
54 graduates
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
7 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
91 graduates
Murray State University's program mix is anchored in business, education, and health-related fields—a portfolio aligned with the institution's regional mission as a comprehensive public university. Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other is the largest program with 102 graduates annually, followed by Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians, General Studies, Teacher Education, and Nursing.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 1,485 students annually, several deliver solid four-year earnings outcomes that align with regional labor-market demand. The earnings pattern reflects strength in applied professional fields.
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians leads with median earnings of $84,705 four years after enrollment across 54 graduates, followed by Nursing at $72,462 with 91 graduates and Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at $58,265. Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other, the institution's largest program, earns $57,686 four years after enrollment, demonstrating that scale and earnings strength align in this field.
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians graduates earn $40,839, and General Studies earns $41,797, positioning these programs as reliable pathways to stable employment. Most of Murray State University's dominant programs are high-mobility, direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect actual labor-market outcomes.
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians, Nursing, and Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other all fall into this category, where graduates enter careers immediately and build earnings through experience. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with regional and national wage trends, particularly in sectors with sustained hiring demand.
