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Murray State University
Admission at Murray State University is close to open (85.7%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $44,737 median earnings below before the application.
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Murray State University anchors the college town of Murray, KY, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint.
Its highest-earning path is Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians, where graduates median $87,573 four years out. 33.3% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 6,688 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 75.6% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 950 and 1190 — near the KY middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Murray State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Murray State University received 11,038 applications and admitted 9,511 (86.2%), with 1,659 enrolling.
Murray State University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 950–1190 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Murray State University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 480 | 540 | 600 |
| SAT Math | 470 | 530 | 590 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 22 | 26 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Murray State University compares
| Murray State University | Kentucky median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 85.7% | 79.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $9,900 | $26,625 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $44,737 | $45,036 | $53,781 |
At $44,737, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($45,036). Look at Murray State University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $9,900 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $19,836. For non-residents, Murray State University's $19,836 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 6,688 undergrads, Murray State University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
61.3% graduate within six years. Roughly 39% don't — ask a Murray State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Murray State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $87,573 |
| Engineering Physics | $86,713 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $84,705 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $72,462 |
| Computer Science | $67,173 |
| Information Science/Studies | $66,204 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $64,269 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $63,679 |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $58,862 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $58,265 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $57,764 |
| Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other | $57,686 |
| Marketing | $56,780 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $56,263 |
| Public Health | $51,848 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $51,818 |
| Mathematics | $51,771 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $50,387 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $48,437 |
| Biology, General | $48,370 |
| History | $46,739 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $45,127 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $44,800 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $43,844 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $41,797 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $41,383 |
| Social Work | $41,165 |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $40,839 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $38,192 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $38,132 |
| Music | $36,697 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $36,657 |
Median earnings for these 32 Murray State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $44,737 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 31 additional Murray State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Murray State University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 950–1190 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 85.7% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Murray State University's acceptance rate?
86.2% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 9,511 admitted from 11,038 applicants.
How much does Murray State University cost?
In-state tuition is $9,900; out-of-state students pay $19,836. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Murray State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $44,737 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Kentucky
- Midway University — 95.1% admitted
- University of Kentucky — 92.9% admitted
- Kentucky State University — 96.1% admitted
- Spalding University — 99.5% 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.