Murray State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Murray State University charges a net price of $9,096/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $36,384. Median earnings ten years after entry are $44,737, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Murray State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #16 of 51 Kentucky colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $9,096/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $36,384 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $44,737 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$3,623/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $20,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$108,844 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Murray State University's own numbers. Net price $9,096 × 4 years = $36,384 total. Median earnings $44,737 fall $3,623 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $36,384 bill in about 3.6 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Murray State University students graduate with?
A median $20,500 in federal loans among completers, or 46% of the $44,737 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Murray State University students graduate?
61% finish their degree — 39% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $36,384 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $59,646 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Murray State University expensive compared with other Kentucky colleges?
Its $9,096 net price runs $5,011 below the $14,107 median across the 51 Kentucky colleges we profile, and $20,044 less across the full degree.