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Murray State University

#3 in Top Public Universities in Kentucky
  • 4 Year
  • Murray, KY
  • 1,198 reviews
    How to Apply
    B
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Academics
      B
    2. Value
      B
    3. Diversity
      A-
    4. Campus
      B+
    5. Athletics
      B+
    6. Party Scene
      B
    7. Professors
      B+
    8. Location
      B
    9. Dorms
      B
    10. Campus Food
      B+
    11. Student Life
      A-
    12. Safety
      B
    View Full Report Card
    Murray State is an above-average public university located in Murray, Kentucky. It is a mid-size institution with an enrollment of 6,584 undergraduate students. The Murray State acceptance rate is 87%. Popular majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Business, and Nursing. Graduating 49% of students, Murray State alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $29,700.
    About Murray State University...
    Athletic Division
    NCAA Division I-FCS
    Athletic Conference
    Ohio Valley Conference
    Address
    102 Curris Center
    Murray, KY 42071
    Website
    murraystate.edu

    Murray State University Rankings

    Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

    Admissions

    Acceptance Rate
    87%
    Application Deadline
    Rolling Admissions
    SAT Range
    980-1190
    ACT Range
    21-27
    Application Fee
    $40
    SAT/ACT
    Required
    High School GPA
    Required
    Early Decision/Early Action
    No

    Cost

    Net Price
    $11,562/ year
    National
    $15,523
    Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
    Average Total Aid Awarded
    $8,426/ year
    National
    $7,535
    Students Receiving Financial Aid
    94%

    Academics

    Professors
    B+
    Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
    Student Faculty Ratio
    15:1
    Evening Degree Programs
    Yes
    86%
    of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.72 responses
    78%
    of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.83 responses
    73%
    of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.83 responses

    Majors

    Most Popular Majors
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities
      125 Graduates
    • Business
      122 Graduates
    • Nursing
      114 Graduates
    • Social Work and Youth Services
      114 Graduates
    • Agriculture
      103 Graduates
    • Occupational Safety and Health Technician
      98 Graduates
    • Veterinary Technician and Assistant
      94 Graduates
    • Elementary Education
      64 Graduates
    • Research and Experimental Psychology
      48 Graduates
    • Kinesiology and Exercise Science
      45 Graduates

    Students

    Full-Time Enrollment
    6,584Undergrads
    Part-Time Undergrads
    1,975
    Undergrads Over 25
    8%
    Pell Grant
    32%
    Varsity Athletes
    4%
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
    Based on 46 responses
    Report
    • Friendly
      59%
    • Determined
      28%
    • Diverse
      4%
    • Small-town
      4%
    • Stressed
      2%
    • Surviving
      2%

    Campus Life

    Freshmen Live On-Campus
    —
    Poll
    54%
    of students say that Greek life is average, and no one will treat you differently if you don't join.98 responses
    Poll
    57%
    of students say varsity sports are a big part of campus life.106 responses
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes your school?
    Based on 58 responses
    Report
    • Great place to be.
      33%
    • Very friendly school, feels like home!
      26%
    • Proud
      14%
    • A place to grow and to bloom
      10%
    • Community
      7%
    • Excellent
      3%
    • Family.
      2%

    After College

    Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
    $37,100/ year
    National
    $33,028
    Graduation Rate
    49%
    National
    49%
    Employed 2 Years After Graduation
    93%
    National
    83%
    85%
    of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.48 responses
    Colleges like Murray State University
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    Murray State University Reviews

    1,198 reviews
    All Categories
    I was an undergrad student from Spring 2012 to Summer 2013, joined the military and transferred my credits to Cornell University. This school is competing and compares to the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky, but I would definitely recommend it for any first-timer going to college. The food is phenomenal! You won't ever go hungry or be bored with their food choices, as well as the mini food mart next to it. Students are the most friendly people I've ever met, greek life thrives on campus, one of the best basketball teams in the Ohio Valley Conference and a select few dorms are very good!
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    Murray is a small connected campus which makes it easy to make new friends. The food is average but with the new Chick-fil-a added, it will be the best in Kentucky for sure! Most dorms are big and spacious, and they give you a variety of options to chose on how you live your dorm life. Personally, Murray is close to home which makes me love it even more. Being close to home makes me a little bit more comfortable and not as homesick. Overall, Murray offers classes for so many different programs and is very good to accommodate your schedule needs. However, the food in the dining hall is where it goes kind of down hill. On the bright side, I lost 10 pounds in three weeks!
    So far I’ve had a good experience at Murray State. The majorities of my professors so far have been extremely good at their job, and they’re happy to explain whatever you don’t understand. The class sizes are also relatively small, which is a big help. The dorm rooms aren’t great, but most dorm rooms aren’t. It’s also difficult to get into the dorm you want as a freshman, since current students take priority. On-campus freshman are required to have an unlimited meal plan for Winslow dining hall. The food there isn’t bad, but it gets boring really quickly. As for student life, there are almost too many clubs and organizations to count. If you know where to look, it’s easy to find a good fit for you. Don’t be afraid to ask around and get as involved as possible. School is a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun too!