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Morehead State University
Most applicants get into Morehead State University — 77.2% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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Morehead State University anchors the college town of Morehead, KY, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $85,740 four years out. Faculty pay averages $93,456 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 4,578 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 65% of first-years come back for a second year.
The numbers above and the majors table below tell the measurable half of that story.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Morehead State University received 8,818 applications and admitted 7,241 (82.1%), with 1,227 enrolling.
How Morehead State University compares
| Morehead State University | Kentucky median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 77.2% | 79.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,024 | $26,625 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $43,197 | $45,036 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, Morehead State University's median earnings are $43,197 — below the Kentucky benchmark of $45,036. Weigh that against the $10,024 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, Morehead State University prices by residency: $10,024 in-state versus $14,980 out-of-state — a $4,956 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
Morehead State University enrolls 4,578 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Morehead State University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
52.2% graduate within six years. Roughly 48% don't — ask a Morehead State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Morehead State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $85,740 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $85,181 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $76,850 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General | $76,568 |
| Biology, General | $65,624 |
| Physics | $62,865 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $59,145 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $55,282 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $51,805 |
| Sociology | $50,331 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $50,191 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $50,125 |
| Mathematics | $47,916 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $47,242 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $46,667 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $45,877 |
| Psychology, General | $45,874 |
| Agriculture, General | $45,255 |
| Social Work | $45,201 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $44,149 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $43,422 |
| Marketing | $41,206 |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | $40,990 |
| Music | $40,768 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $39,777 |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $38,347 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $37,275 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $35,895 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $32,257 |
Median earnings for these 29 Morehead State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $43,197 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 20 additional Morehead State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What is Morehead State University's acceptance rate?
82.1% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 7,241 admitted from 8,818 applicants.
How much does Morehead State University cost?
In-state tuition is $10,024; out-of-state students pay $14,980. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Morehead State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $43,197 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Kentucky
- Northern Kentucky University — 67.7% admitted
- University of Louisville — 79.4% admitted
- Kentucky Christian University — 60.9% admitted
- Kentucky Wesleyan College — 71.6% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.