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Richmond, KY · Murray, KY
| Eastern Kentucky University | Murray State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $11,040/yr | $9,096/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $8,591/yr | $6,242/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $22,500 | $20,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $8,005/yr | $6,347/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $10,382/yr | $8,104/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $14,384/yr | $12,811/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $17,009/yr | $15,450/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $239/mo | $217/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $12,268/yr | $11,112/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $12,268/yr | $11,566/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $0/yr | $940/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,650/yr | $3,622/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $23,735/yr | $23,485/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,320/yr | $9,900/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $21,230/yr | $19,836/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 41% | 33% |
| Students taking federal loans | 41% | 35% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 78% | 86% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 880–1080 | 940–1170 |
| SAT average | 1149 | 1133 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 19–25 | 19–26 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 20–26 · Math 18–25 | English 19–27 · Math 18–25 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 17,082 | 11,038 |
| Students accepted | 13,340 | 9,511 |
| Students who enrolled | 2,782 | 1,659 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 21% | 17% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 3% | 20% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 87% | 81% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Not considered |
| Class rank | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Required | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 50% | 61% |
| Freshmen who come back | 77% | 76% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $45,795/yr | $44,737/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $29,173–$66,400 | $30,046–$66,231 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 50% | 63% |
| White students graduating | 52% | 64% |
| Black students graduating | 25% | 34% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 39% | 51% |
| Asian students graduating | 69% | 60% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $38,611/yr | $38,473/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 65% | 68% |
| Graduate on time | 41% | 49% |
| Pell students who graduate | 41% | 49% |
| First-gen students who finish | 39% | 47% |
| Low-income students who finish | 35% | 39% |
| Students who transfer out | 2% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $43,614/yr | $41,104/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 18% · Health Professions 13% · Homeland Security & Protective Services 11% | Business, Management & Marketing 16% · Agriculture & Veterinary Science 15% · Health Professions 10% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 18% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 16% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Health Professions — 13% of degrees | Agriculture & Veterinary Science — 15% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 11% of degrees | Health Professions — 10% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 10% of degrees | Education — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 9% of degrees | Engineering Technologies — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $104,754/yr | Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians — $99,473/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 11% | 21% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 12,318 | 6,688 |
| Students per professor | 17 : 1 | 17 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 2,225 | 2,169 |
| Average professor pay | $7,826/mo | $7,855/mo |
| Full-time professors | 56% | 82% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $39,224 | $46,064 |
| Setting | Town (distant) | Town (distant) |
| Location | Richmond, KY | Murray, KY |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1874 | 1922 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral/Professional Universities | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 0.7% | 4.1% |
| Men | 40% | 39% |
| Women | 60% | 61% |
| White students | 80% | 78% |
| Black students | 6.9% | 6.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 5.6% | 3.5% |
| Asian students | 1.1% | 0.8% |
| Two or more races | 5% | 3.6% |
| Other / not reported | 1% | 3.5% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 40% | 34% |
| Part-time students | 14% | 8.8% |
| Students age 25+ | 100% | 8.8% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $9,026/yr | $10,232/yr |
| Endowment | $97.8M | $128.6M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 4,688 | 3,052 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $6,695/yr | $5,748/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,040/yr | $4,846/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | No data reported | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FCS | NCAA Division I-FCS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 14 | 14 |
| Student athletes | 395 | 358 |
| Athletic scholarships | $6.2M | $5.1M |
| Athletics budget | $25.3M | $19.0M |
| Athletics revenue | $25.3M | $22.0M |
| Recruiting spend | $256,778 | $407,510 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.