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Murray , KY
Murray State University is a public university located in Murray, Kentucky. Founded in 1922, it offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs across various disciplines. With a strong emphasis on liberal arts education, the university provides students with a well-rounded educational experience that combines academic learning with practical skills development.
Murray State University prides itself on its student-centered approach to education. The university promotes a supportive and inclusive community, encouraging students to engage in various extracurricular activities and experiential learning opportunities. Students at Murray State benefit from the small class sizes, which enable better interaction with professors and foster a collaborative learning environment. The university also offers resources such as academic advising, career services, and research opportunities to help students achieve their academic and professional goals.
The campus of Murray State University is spread over 260 acres and features modern facilities and state-of-the-art technology. The university has several academic colleges, including the College of Business and the College of Education and Human Services, among others, offering a wide range of programs to suit different interests and career paths. Murray State's athletic teams, known as the Racers, compete in the NCAA Division I Ohio Valley Conference.
Overall, Murray State University provides a dynamic and inclusive learning environment that prepares students for success in their chosen fields. With its emphasis on academic excellence, engaged learning, and personal growth, Murray State University offers a well-rounded education that equips students with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in their careers and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Located in Murray, KY, Murray State University is a public university. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 85%. The freshman retention rate at Murray State University is 75.23% and the six-year graduation rate is 65%.
Here are some recent data on important things to consider about Murray State University.
Quick Facts
8,281
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
65%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. What are the admission requirements for Murray State University?
According to the newest information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 8,984 in 2025. Murray State University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the candidate.
Test Scores
18% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 82% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 8.69, 33.91 between 24-29, 43.93 in the range between 18-23, 13.31 between 12-17, and 0.16 between 6-11.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.58. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance,.
Retention Rate
The percentage of freshmen at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Murray State University was 75.23%, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 65%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Murray State University in 2025 was 10,035.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 35% for that year. There was a total of 8,281 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 644 international students. The school reported to have a total of 523 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 2,518 male and 4,121 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution. 149 full-time graduate men and 350 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 55, and the number of Black American students was 411. 230 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 240 identified with more than one race. The school also had 1 student who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 7 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 226 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Murray State University that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Murray State University is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $10,320. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $15,672. Tuition costs at Murray State University for international students equalled $15,672. Full-time students in 2025 needed to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,000.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $15,672 | $1,000 | $16,672 |
| In-State | $10,320 | $1,000 | $11,320 |
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to take into consideration is the estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to spend about $950 for books and supplies during their time at Murray State University.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do schools typically charge for accommodation and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Murray State University was $12,000 in 2025. If you only needed a dorm room, it cost $6,680 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 10,320 |
| Room and Board | $ 12,000 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 950 |
| Total Expense | $ 23,270 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial support: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid available at Murray State University.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 1,164 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students amounted to $15,545.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
3,936 students were designated some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Murray State University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 4,115. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $14,377,899, and state $11,691,259. The students of Murray State University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $12,552,201, and external in the amount of $6,121,205.
$10,764
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
1,114 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 366 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $14,377,899 while the state aid is $164,057. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $19,140,664. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $6,466,999 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Murray State University was 17:1: that means 17 students per one teacher. This school has recently reported to have 536 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 258 men and 278 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Murray State University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Murray State University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about campus life at Murray State University.
It has a campus size of 253 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 132 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. This number includes sororities and fraternities. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 6 and female students 5. The student organization that has the biggest membership is MSU Student Ambassadors, followed by International Student Organization and National Panhellenic Council. Other popular organizations at Murray State University are Student Government Association and Racer Band.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Murray State University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. For students who have a passion for media and communication, Murray State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Murray State University offers a number of services important for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The school has electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Murray State University.
All in all, campus life at Murray State University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Murray State University.
Career Counselling
There are a library and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students.
FAQ
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Murray State University is located in Murray, KY.
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Murray State University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Murray State University is 85%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Murray State University is 75.23%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
