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Murray, KY 42071-3318
p. 270-809-3011
w. www.murraystate.edu
Murray State University
Academics, History, Financial Aid, Alumni, Campus, Students, Faculty, Address, and Tuition - a StateUniversity.com profile
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Information Summary
Ranks 614th overall and 8th in Kentucky
| Overall Score
On StateUniversity.com (about) |
81.2 |
|---|---|
| Total Cost
On-Campus Attendance |
$13,076 |
| Admission
Success rate |
83% |
| ACT
75 %ile scores |
25 |
| Student Ratio
Ratio of students to faculty |
19 : 1 |
| Retention
(Full-Time / Part-Time) |
73% / 43% |
| Enrollment
Total (all students) |
10,298 |
Demographics – Main Campus and Surrounding Areas
Reported area around or near Murray, KY 42071-3318
| Surrounding community | Remote town (over 35 mi. away from an urban cluster) |
|---|---|
| Total Population | 26,922 (16,201 urban / 10,721 rural) |
| Households | 11,006 (2.19 people per house) |
| Median Household Income | $29,594 |
| Families | 6,458 (2.76 people per family) |
| Pop. — African American | 1,211 |
| Pop. — Asian | 527 |
| Pop. — Pacific Islander | 15 |
| Pop. — American Indian / Alaskan Native | 134 |
| Pop. — White (incl. Hispanic) | 25,134 |
| Pop. — Other | 202 |
Carnegie Foundation Classification
Master's Colleges and Universities (larger programs)
| Undergraduate | Professions plus arts & sciences, some graduate coexistence |
|---|---|
| Graduate | Postbaccalaureate comprehensive |
| Undergraduate Population | Full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in |
| Enrollment | High undergraduate |
| Size & Setting | Medium four-year, primarily residential |
General Characteristics
| Highest offering | Post-master's certificate |
|---|---|
| Calendar System | Semester |
| Years of college work required | N/A |
| Variable Tuition |  |
Special Learning Opportunities
| Distance Learning | |
|---|---|
| ROTC — Army / Navy / Air Force | —
/
 /
|
| Study Abroad | |
| Weekend College | |
| Teacher Certification | |
Campus Crime Statistics
Ranks 288th overall and 4th in Kentucky on StateUniversity.com‘s Safe School Index
| Incidents | per 1000 Students | |
|---|---|---|
| Aggravated assault | N/A | N/A |
| Forcible rape | N/A | N/A |
| Murder & Non-Negligent Manslaughter | N/A | N/A |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.09 |
| Violent crime | 1 | 0.09 |
| Arson | 4 | 0.37 |
| Burglary | 22 | 2.04 |
| Larceny-theft | 135 | 12.53 |
| Vehicle theft | 4 | 0.37 |
| Property crime | 161 | 14.94 |
Student Tuition Costs and Fees
What are the typical tuition costs and fees for attending Murray State University?
Ranks 1391st for total cost of attendance
| In District | In State | Out of State | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FT Undergraduate Tuition | $4,650 | $4,650 | $13,950 |
| FT Undergraduate Required Fees | $768 | $768 | $768 |
| PT Undergraduate per Credit Hour | $226 | $226 | $613 |
| FT Graduate Tuition | $5,580 | $5,580 | $16,740 |
| FT Graduate Required Fees | $576 | $576 | $576 |
| PT Graduate per Credit Hour | $342 | $342 | $962 |
| Total Cost of Attendance — On-Campus | $13,076 | $13,076 | $22,376 |
| Total Cost of Attendance — Off-Campus w/out Family | $6,118 | $6,118 | $15,418 |
| Total Cost of Attendance — Off-Campus with Family | $6,118 | $6,118 | $15,418 |
Student Tuition Cost History and Trends
Three year history and trends on the cost of attending
| In District | In State | Out of State | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published Tuition & Fees | $4,428  $5,418 |
$4,428  $5,418 |
$12,036  $14,718 |
| Cost (regardless of residency) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Books & Supplies | $700  $700 |
||
| On-Campus – Room & Board | $4,890  $5,818 |
||
| On-Campus – Other Expenses | $1,140  $1,140 |
||
| Off-Campus w/out Family – Room & Board | N/A  N/A |
||
| Off-Campus w/out Family – Other Expenses | N/A  N/A |
||
| Off-Campus with Family – Room & Board | N/A  N/A |
||
Admission Details
| Application Fee Required | N/A |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Application Fee | $30 |
| Graduate Application Fee | $30 |
| First Professional Application Fee | N/A |
| Applicants | 2,916 (1,145 male / 1,771 female) |
| Admitted | 2,416 (928 male / 1,488 female) |
| Admission rate | 83% |
| First-time Enrollment | 1,276 (520 male / 756 female) |
| FT Enrollment | 1,264 (515 male / 749 female) |
| PT Enrollment | 12 (5 male / 7 female) |
| Total Enrollment | 10,298 |
Admission Criteria
What criteria does Murray State University use for admissions?
| Open Admissions | |
|---|---|
| Secondary School GPA / Rank / Record |  /  / |
| College Prep. Completion | |
| Recommendations | N/A |
| Formal competency demo | N/A |
| Admission test scores | |
| TOEFL | |
| Other tests | N/A |
= Neither required nor recommended
Admission Credits Accepted
What types of credits does Murray State University accept?
| Dual Credit | |
|---|---|
| Life Experience | |
| Advanced Placement (AP) | |
Athletics - Association Memberships
| Sports / Athletic Conference Memberships | NCAA |
|---|---|
| NCAA Football Conference | Ohio Valley Conference |
| NCAA Basketball Conference | Ohio Valley Conference |
| NCAA Baseball Conference | Ohio Valley Conference |
| NCAA Track & Field Conference | Ohio Valley Conference |
ACT Test Admission
Ranks 508th for 75pctl scores
| Applicants submitting ACT results | 99% |
|---|---|
| Verbal scores (25/75 %ile) | 19 / 25 |
| Math scores (25/75 %ile) | 18 / 25 |
| Cumulative scores (25/75 %ile) | 19 / 25 |
Student Services
| Remedial Services | |
|---|---|
| Academic / Career Counseling | |
| PT Cost-defraying Employment | |
| Career Placement | |
| On-Campus Day Care | |
| Library Facility | |
Student Living
| First-time Room / Board Required | |
|---|---|
| Dorm Capacity | 3,029 |
| Meals per Week | 19 |
| Room Fee | $3,036 |
| Board Fee | $2,782 |
Student Financial Aid Details
How many students use Financial Aid, and how much do they use?
Murray State University Ranks 2925th for the average student loan amount.
| Average | Users | % of Attendees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Grant Aid | $2,782 | 403 |  28% |
| State & Local Grant Aid | $1,979 | 943 |  65% |
| Institutional Grant Aid | $4,897 | 558 |  39% |
| Student Loan Aid | $3,788 | 719 |  50% |
| Any financial aid type | 1,345 |  93% |
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at Murray State University?
| Men | Women | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
Non Resident Alien | 168 | 168 | 336 |
Black Non-Hispanic | 243 | 358 | 601 |
Hispanic | 39 | 56 | 95 |
Asian / Pacific Islander | 26 | 72 | 98 |
American Indian / Alaskan Native | 14 | 26 | 40 |
White Non-Hispanic | 3,618 | 5,404 | 9,022 |
Race Unknown | 43 | 63 | 106 |
| Total | 4,151 | 6,147 | 10,298 |
Student Graduation Demographics
How many students graduated at Murray State University?
| Men | Women | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
Non Resident Alien | 14 | 14 | 28 |
Black Non-Hispanic | 40 | 48 | 88 |
Hispanic | 3 | 5 | 8 |
Asian / Pacific Islander | 3 | 2 | 5 |
American Indian / Alaskan Native | 2 | 2 | 4 |
White Non-Hispanic | 417 | 653 | 1,070 |
Race Unknown | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Total | 480 | 730 | 1,210 |
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at Murray State University.
| Men | Women | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 97 | 86 | 183 | |
| 12 | 160 | 172 | |
| 67 | 42 | 109 | |
| 33 | 73 | 106 | |
| 11 | 84 | 95 |
Student Completion / Graduation Demographics
How many students are successful graduates?
Faculty Compensation / Salaries
Murray State University Ranks 1142nd for the average full-time faculty salary.
| Tenure system | |
|---|---|
| Average FT Salary | $59,057 ($63,561 male / $51,904 female) |
| Number of FT Faculty | 396 (243 male / 153 female) |
| Number of PT Faculty | 201 |
| FT Faculty Ratio | 2 : 1 |
| Total Benefits | $6,104,023 |
Murray State University Summary
The following paragraph provided courtesy of wikipedia.
Murray State University, located in the town of Murray in Kentucky’s far-western Jackson Purchase in the United States, is an approximately 10,000-student, four-year public university. The history of Murray State University can be traced to the passage of Senate Bill 14 by the General Assembly, which would create two normal schools to address the growing demand for professional teachers. On September 2, 1922, Murray was chosen as the site of the new western normal school, and Morehead was chosen as the site for the eastern normal school. On November 26, 1922, John Wesley Carr was elected as the first president of the Murray State Normal School by the State Board of Education. Opening day for Murray State Normal School was September 23, 1923. Until the first building was completed, now Wrather Hall, the Normal School held classes on the first floor of Murray High School. William Murray is an ancestor of the Murray family from whom the city and the University take their names. President Alexander left Murray State at the end of 2005 to accept a position as president of Long Beach State. While “Public Ivy” generally refers to a public school that excels on a national level and is competitive with the traditional ivy league schools, Murray State uses the term to emphasize its strive to maintain a strong academic reputation and high marks when compared with other regional public universities. Murray State was the first public university in the nation to adopt a successful campus-wide residential college program . Although the physical structures of Murray State’s residential colleges do not compare to those of the elite institutions, the basic residential college concept was effectively implemented. Once assigned to a residential college, a person remains a member of that college throughout their time at the University, developing friendships, traditions and lasting bonds that are meant to endure years after leaving Murray State. The eight colleges of Murray State The Student Government Association, commonly known as SGA, is the officially organized body governing all students and student organizations at Murray State University. Although Murray State has a fairly low percentage of students involved with Greek life, those students have traditionally maintained control of the Student Government Association. North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) chapters Murray State also has a chapter of Kappa Sigma (Founded Dec. 2, 2006), who’s nationals are not a member of the NIC. Its student newspaper, The Murray State News, has been awarded two Pacemaker awards in the last decade, the highest award given to collegiate newspapers;
Murray State University History
Murray State University is located in Murray, Kentucky. It also has an extensive extended education program, which serves 18 counties. It was founded in 1922 and received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1928 and now awards bachelor’s, master’s, and specialist degrees. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Murray State University’s mission statement states that, “Teaching, research, and service excellence are core values and guiding principles that promote economic development and the well-being of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the region.”
This site is not sponsored by, affiliated with, nor endorsed by Murray State University
Murray State University Academics
The University is composed of a number of different schools and colleges: the College of Business and Public Affairs, the College of Education, the College of Health Sciences and Human Services, the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, and the College of Science, Engineering and Technology. There is also a School of Graduate Studies and a School of Agriculture. There is an undergraduate honors program.
Bachelor’s degrees are awarded in a number of different disciplines, including accounting, computer science, management, education, art, he English in philosophy, music, biology, wildlife conservation biology, engineering, Agriculture science, and pre-veterinary medicine. There are additional preprofessional programs in medicine, dentistry, and physical therapy.
Master’s degrees are awarded in accounting, communication, education, nursing, English, psychology, biological science, industrial engineering technology, and Agriculture, among others. An MBA is awarded, and there is a Master of Public Administration program. Specialist degrees (Ed.S.) in education are available in the fields of early elementary, middle school, and secondary education.
Murray State includes five academic colleges, nine residential colleges, and a school of agriculture. While the Murray State campus is the main campus, its academic programs extend to four partner campuses in the area. Eighty-nine percent of the faculty are full-time, and 79% of faculty have the terminal degree in their field.
This site is not sponsored by, affiliated with, nor endorsed by Murray State University
Murray State University Unique Programs
The Department of Wellness and Therapeutic Services advocates Recreation as a career. The Division of Recreation and Leisure Services supports students who wish to go into youth programming, commercial recreation, tourism, resort management, working with older or at-risk populations, or other possible career choices. The program offers a BA, MS, or a minor.
This site is not sponsored by, affiliated with, nor endorsed by Murray State University
Murray State University Financial Aid
In-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students were $3436 per academic year in 2003-2004. Students applying from out of state and graduate students will have different costs.
The office of financial aid at Murray State offers various kinds of grants for students who qualify. Pell Grants are available, as are Federal SEOG grants and Kentucky Higher Education Association grants. Murray State also participates in a number of federal loan programs, including Federal Stafford Loans. Special loans include those for Nursing Program students and emergency loans for small expenses. Student employment is also an option for students who need financial assistance.
This site is not sponsored by, affiliated with, nor endorsed by Murray State University
Murray State University Students
The Murray State University Library offers electronic catalogs and on-line databases, in additional to physical volumes stored on site and inter-library loan. It is home to Murray State University’s participation in the American democracy project, run to the American Association of State colleges and universities. It is also part of the Kentucky virtual library system.
Student organizations at Murray State focus on departmental, social, recreational, religious, and other interests. There are also a number of Greek social organizations where students can meet new people and work on service to the local community. The eight residential colleges house over 3,000 students, and include two-student rooms with air conditioning.
This site is not sponsored by, affiliated with, nor endorsed by Murray State University
Murray State University Local Community
The town of Murray is located in Callaway County, which has a population of approximately 35,000. It is in Western Kentucky, not far north of the Tennessee border. Murray provides residents with numerous recreational, entertainment, shopping, and dining venues. Residents come to know one another by name and Murray very much as a small town feel.
This site is not sponsored by, affiliated with, nor endorsed by Murray State University
Comment and Corrections Make a comment …
Familiar with this school? We would love to hear about your experience. Feel free to add comments or additional information regarding Murray State University.
8 months ago
Amy Ramage
Murray State Unviersity is indeed a special place. I graduated from there with a Bachelor's degree and have since obtained a Master's degree and a second thiry-hour program. Without a doubt, my preparation for entering the education field, and later to become a school administrator, were superb. Thanks, MSU! Go Racers!
11 months ago
Julia Frazier White jifwhite ((at)) aol dot com
I am so proud of Murray State. I am a 1965 graduate. I majored in Mathematics. Minored in German and Chemistry. Murray State prepared me for a wonderful career with IBM. I am now retired and plan to be more involved with Murray State in donations and attending events such as Homecoming. I look forward to visiting soon. I want to see the campus up close and personal. The pictures of campus are beautiful! I have fond memories of my years of matriculation at Murray.