Murray State University
Murray, Kentucky
A 0–100 composite of ROI, graduate earnings, net price, debt and graduation rate. How it’s scored.
Estimated for a typical student paying the average net price over 4 years.
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
The numbers behind the verdict
Lifetime ROI: the long view
Cumulative net gain over a high-school-only earner at different career lengths, with tuition and debt interest already subtracted. Built on IRS-verified federal earnings — not self-reported surveys.
Conservative: holds year-5 earnings flat (no raises). Adjust the assumptions, or see the highest 20-year ROI colleges.
Equity & access
Who the college serves and whether the payoff reaches everyone — earnings ten years after starting (IRS-linked), with access measures from federal enrollment data.
21% gap between the two groups
24% gap between the two groups
4% gap between the two groups
Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity. Federal data does not report earnings by race.
Net price by family income
What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by household income as of 2024.
| Family income | Average net price / yr |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30k | $6,242 |
| $30k–$48k | $6,347 |
| $48k–$75k | $8,104 |
| $75k–$110k | $12,811 |
| $110k+ | $15,450 |
How Murray State University compares
This college against the Kentucky and national averages — higher earnings and lower cost/debt are better.
Graduate earnings over time
Median earnings of Murray State University students 10 years after entering, by cohort year as of 2024.
Best-paying majors at Murray State University
Fields of study ranked by their own ROI — earnings five years after graduating against the cost and debt. Click a major for the deep dive.
| Major | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information Science/Studies | Associate's | $89,111 | $19,037 | +1,655% | Strong return |
| Computer Science | Associate's | $87,954 | $23,475 | +1,506% | Strong return |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | Associate's | $85,864 | $24,561 | +1,406% | Strong return |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | Certificate | $99,776 | — | +1,406% | Strong return |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate's | $74,353 | $18,203 | +1,082% | Strong return |
| Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians | Associate's | $71,522 | $22,250 | +908% | Strong return |
| Business/Commerce, General | Certificate | $83,386 | $28,786 | +719% | Strong return |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Associate's | $56,973 | $20,500 | +367% | Strong return |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | Certificate | $64,254 | $18,800 | +345% | Strong return |
| Biology, General | Associate's | $54,903 | $24,033 | +268% | Strong return |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | Associate's | $54,066 | $21,411 | +249% | Strong return |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | Associate's | $52,954 | $22,925 | +200% | Strong return |
| Marketing | Associate's | $51,087 | $21,997 | +132% | Strong return |
| Accounting and Related Services | Associate's | $50,198 | $18,318 | +109% | Strong return |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | Certificate | $54,228 | $42,000 | +79% | Strong return |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | Certificate | $51,419 | $20,093 | +47% | Break-even |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | Associate's | $48,363 | $22,500 | +27% | Break-even |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | Certificate | $49,861 | $22,500 | +9% | Break-even |
| Business/Commerce, General | Associate's | $47,257 | $17,500 | -8% | Poor return |
| Special Education and Teaching | Certificate | $47,416 | — | -34% | Poor return |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | Certificate | $47,728 | $39,986 | -47% | Poor return |
| Music | Associate's | $46,197 | $26,731 | -57% | Poor return |
| Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other | Associate's | $45,641 | $17,000 | -74% | Poor return |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | Associate's | $45,661 | $19,369 | -74% | Poor return |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | Associate's | $44,736 | — | -115% | Poor return |
Calculate your own ROI
Adjust the assumptions for your situation — the verdict, break-even and chart update live.
ROI at Murray State University
Estimates from federal data; your result will vary. How this works.
Admissions & profile
Location
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.
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