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Murray, KY · Highland Heights, KY
| Murray State University | Northern Kentucky University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $9,096/yr | $8,191/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $6,242/yr | $2,603/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $20,500 | $23,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $6,347/yr | $3,630/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $8,104/yr | $6,761/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $12,811/yr | $12,679/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $15,450/yr | $14,522/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $217/mo | $244/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $11,112/yr | $12,712/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $11,566/yr | $12,712/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $940/yr | $800/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,622/yr | $2,500/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $23,485/yr | $19,725/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $9,900/yr | $11,088/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $19,836/yr | $21,912/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 33% | 25% |
| Students taking federal loans | 35% | 31% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 86% | 68% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 940–1170 | 953–1150 |
| SAT average | 1133 | 1087 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 19–26 | 18–25 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 19–27 · Math 18–25 | English 17–25 · Math 17–24 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 11,038 | 6,417 |
| Students accepted | 9,511 | 6,162 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,659 | 1,295 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 17% | 21% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 20% | 5% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 81% | 79% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Not considered |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Required |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 61% | 52% |
| Freshmen who come back | 76% | 76% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $44,737/yr | $50,220/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $30,046–$66,231 | $34,271–$71,430 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 63% | 52% |
| White students graduating | 64% | 53% |
| Black students graduating | 34% | 36% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 51% | 45% |
| Asian students graduating | 60% | 71% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $38,473/yr | $42,105/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 68% | 68% |
| Graduate on time | 49% | 36% |
| Pell students who graduate | 49% | 43% |
| First-gen students who finish | 47% | 43% |
| Low-income students who finish | 39% | 37% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $41,104/yr | $46,837/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 16% · Agriculture & Veterinary Science 15% · Health Professions 10% | Business, Management & Marketing 23% · Health Professions 17% · Computer & Information Sciences 9% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 16% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 23% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Agriculture & Veterinary Science — 15% of degrees | Health Professions — 17% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Health Professions — 10% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 9% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Education — 8% of degrees | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 7% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Engineering Technologies — 8% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians — $99,473/yr | Human Resources Management and Services — $106,262/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 21% | 18% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 6,688 | 8,246 |
| Students per professor | 17 : 1 | 19 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 2,169 | 5,184 |
| Average professor pay | $7,855/mo | $8,693/mo |
| Full-time professors | 82% | 55% |
| 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 | $46,064 | $48,195 |
| Setting | Town (distant) | Suburb (large) |
| Location | Murray, KY | Highland Heights, KY |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1922 | 1968 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Doctoral/Professional Universities |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 4.1% | 3.5% |
| Men | 39% | 41% |
| Women | 61% | 59% |
| White students | 78% | 75% |
| Black students | 6.1% | 8.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 3.5% | 5.1% |
| Asian students | 0.8% | 1.9% |
| Two or more races | 3.6% | 4% |
| Other / not reported | 3.5% | 2.8% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 34% | 38% |
| Part-time students | 8.8% | 18% |
| Students age 25+ | 8.8% | 16% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $10,232/yr | $9,637/yr |
| Endowment | $128.6M | $138.6M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 3,052 | 1,820 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $5,748/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan charge | $4,846/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | Yes — Army, Air Force |
| 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 | Yes | 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 | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | Yes |
| 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 without football |
| Football team | Yes | No |
| Varsity teams | 14 | 17 |
| Student athletes | 358 | 388 |
| Athletic scholarships | $5.1M | $3.3M |
| Athletics budget | $19.0M | $18.8M |
| Athletics revenue | $22.0M | $18.8M |
| Recruiting spend | $407,510 | $170,537 |
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.