College Grad Analyst
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Kentucky · Public · Predominantly bachelor's

Murray State University

Murray, Kentucky. 6,646 undergraduate students. 144 programs in the federal Field-of-Study dataset.

UNITID 157401 · OPEID 001977 · IPEDS HDVINTAGE · COLLEGE SCORECARD · 2025-05 · HISTORY 1996–2024
ANOMALY ENGINE · NOTABLE SIGNALS

Earnings, completion, debt, and enrollment anomalies at Murray State University

Short-arc shifts (recent 3-year window), peer outliers, earnings trend breaks, completion drops, enrollment cliffs, and debt-to-earnings warnings — surfaced deterministically from the federal record. Multi-decade shifts are reported separately in the Long Arc section, since 25-year tuition drift isn't really an anomaly.

LONG-ARC SHIFT · TRENDING BETTER-100%

3-year cohort default rate

3-year cohort default rate at Murray State University fell 100% between 2021 and 2024 (2.2% → 0.0%).

LONG-ARC SHIFT · TRENDING BETTER+30%

100%-time completion

100%-time completion at Murray State University rose 30% between 2021 and 2024 (37.4% → 48.7%).

SECTION 01 · OUTCOMES SNAPSHOT

Murray State University earnings, debt, and completion vs. the Kentucky median

Each tile compares this institution to the Kentucky median for the same metric. Sub-line shows the comparison value, not an interpretation. Sparklines trace the federally available history.

MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10Y
$44,737+16% · 6→10y
Kentucky median $37,114
MEDIAN EARNINGS · 6Y
$38,473
Treasury earnings · 6y post-entry
COMPLETION · 150%
59.5%+57% · '97→'24
Kentucky median 49.7%
MEDIAN FEDERAL DEBT
$15,000+312% · '97→'20
At program completion
UNDERGRAD ENROLLMENT
6,646-2% · '96→'24
latest IPEDS
RETENTION
76.1%+5% · '04→'24
first-time, full-time
ADMISSION RATE
86.2%-8% · '01→'24
latest cohort
IN-STATE TUITION
$9,708+287% · '00→'24
out-of-state $19,452
SECTION 02 · EARNINGS HORIZONS

How Murray State University earnings spread, 4 to 10 years after entry

Treasury tax-record earnings for federally aided students who first enrolled at this institution. Each point is a horizon from the most-recent vintage. Single median per horizon (no p25/p75 publishing).

ALL FEDERALLY AIDED STUDENTS · TAX-RECORD EARNINGSVINTAGE 2025-05
Earnings widen with time post-entry. Selection: federal-aid recipients only — not all graduates.Methodology →
SECTION 03 · DEBT-TO-EARNINGS

What loans cost relative to earnings at Murray State University

Annual debt service as a share of median earnings 10 years after entry, computed under federal Direct loan terms (10-year fixed at 6%). The 8% line is the gainful-employment threshold from federal regulation; above 12% has historically been considered “failing” under prior rule cycles.

Institution-wide

4.5%
0%8% · GE20%+

Median federal debt $15,000 amortized over 10 years vs. median earnings $44,737 (10y after entry).

SECTION 04 · LONG ARC

Murray State University enrollment, completion, and debt over time

Federally available history. Coverage varies by metric — IPEDS publishes some series only after 2009 and others only before.

UNDERGRAD · 1996–20246,688
8,1266,58819962024
Undergraduate enrollment.IPEDS EF
COMPLETION 150% · 1997–202461.3%
61%39%19972024
150%-time completion rate.IPEDS GR
MEDIAN DEBT · 1997–2020$20,500
$22,431$4,98019972020
Median federal student debt at exit.SCORECARD
COMPLETION · 150% · 1997→2024+57%

Murray State University · completion · 150% rose

39.1% → 61.3%

COMPLETION · 100% · 1997→2024+353%

Murray State University · completion · 100% rose

10.8% → 48.7%

IN-STATE TUITION · 2000→2024+287%

Murray State University · in-state tuition rose

$2,556 → $9,900

OUT-OF-STATE TUITION · 2000→2024+187%

Murray State University · out-of-state tuition rose

$6,900 → $19,836

MEDIAN DEBT · 1997→2020+312%

Murray State University · median debt rose

$4,980 → $20,500

COHORT DEFAULT RATE · 2011→2024-100%

Murray State University · cohort default rate fell

8.0% → 0.0%

PELL SHARE · 2008→2024+23%

Murray State University · pell share rose

27.1% → 33.3%

EARNINGS_MEDIAN_8YR · 2005→2020+21%

Murray State University · earnings_median_8yr rose

$34,000 → $41,104

EARNINGS_MEDIAN_6YR · 2003→2020+26%

Murray State University · earnings_median_6yr rose

$30,500 → $38,473

SECTION 05 · PROGRAMS

Murray State University programs ranked by 5-year earnings

Each row is one (CIP × credential) program reported by the institution in College Scorecard's Field-of-Study data. Cohort floor is 30 students; below this, federal data is suppressed.

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingCIP 5138 · Master's Degree$206,110—Quality Control and Safety Technologies/TechniciansCIP 1507 · Master's Degree$99,77628 gradsInformation Science/StudiesCIP 1104 · Bachelor's Degree$89,111—Computer ScienceCIP 1107 · Bachelor's Degree$87,95428 gradsQuality Control and Safety Technologies/TechniciansCIP 1507 · Bachelor's Degree$85,86456 gradsBusiness/Commerce, GeneralCIP 5201 · Master's Degree$83,38670 gradsRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingCIP 5138 · Bachelor's Degree$74,353120 gradsCivil Engineering Technologies/TechniciansCIP 1502 · Bachelor's Degree$71,52230 gradsEducational Administration and SupervisionCIP 1304 · Master's Degree$64,25452 gradsFinance and Financial Management ServicesCIP 5208 · Bachelor's Degree$56,97330 gradsBiology, GeneralCIP 2601 · Bachelor's Degree$54,90356 gradsCommunication Disorders Sciences and ServicesCIP 5102 · Master's Degree$54,22848 gradsCriminal Justice and CorrectionsCIP 4301 · Bachelor's Degree$54,06627 gradsHealth and Physical Education/FitnessCIP 3105 · Bachelor's Degree$52,95426 gradsTeacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsCIP 1312 · Master's Degree$51,41943 gradsMarketingCIP 5214 · Bachelor's Degree$51,08723 gradsAccounting and Related ServicesCIP 5203 · Bachelor's Degree$50,19833 gradsTeacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasCIP 1313 · Master's Degree$49,86121 gradsDrafting/Design Engineering Technologies/TechniciansCIP 1513 · Bachelor's Degree$48,3636 gradsCommunity Organization and AdvocacyCIP 4402 · Master's Degree$47,72827 gradsSpecial Education and TeachingCIP 1310 · Master's Degree$47,41612 gradsBusiness/Commerce, GeneralCIP 5201 · Bachelor's Degree$47,25783 gradsMusicCIP 5009 · Bachelor's Degree$46,19726 gradsCommunication Disorders Sciences and ServicesCIP 5102 · Bachelor's Degree$45,66130 grads
Showing top 24 of 37 ranked programs.144 TOTAL PROGRAMS
SECTION 06 · BY CIP FAMILY

37 Murray State University programs with earnings, grouped by field

Programs are grouped by 2-digit CIP family. Programs without reported earnings are hidden to keep the list focused.

COMPUTER & INFORMATION SCIENCES · CIP 11

Computer ScienceBachelor's Degree$87,95428 gradsInformation Science/StudiesBachelor's Degree$89,111—

EDUCATION · CIP 13

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's Degree$39,712101 gradsEducational Administration and SupervisionMaster's Degree$64,25452 gradsTeacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsMaster's Degree$51,41943 gradsSpecial Education and TeachingBachelor's Degree$39,13225 gradsTeacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasMaster's Degree$49,86121 gradsSpecial Education and TeachingMaster's Degree$47,41612 grads

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES · CIP 15

Quality Control and Safety Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree$85,86456 gradsCivil Engineering Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree$71,52230 gradsQuality Control and Safety Technologies/TechniciansMaster's Degree$99,77628 gradsDrafting/Design Engineering Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree$48,3636 grads

FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES · CIP 19

Foods, Nutrition, and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$43,349—

ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE · CIP 23

English Language and Literature, GeneralBachelor's Degree$42,65228 grads

LIBERAL ARTS & GENERAL STUDIES · CIP 24

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesBachelor's Degree$44,106100 grads

BIOLOGICAL & BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES · CIP 26

Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$54,90356 grads

PARKS, RECREATION & FITNESS · CIP 31

Health and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree$52,95426 grads

PSYCHOLOGY · CIP 42

Research and Experimental PsychologyBachelor's Degree$41,38834 gradsPsychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$39,711—

HOMELAND SECURITY & PROTECTIVE SERVICES · CIP 43

Criminal Justice and CorrectionsBachelor's Degree$54,06627 grads

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION & SOCIAL SERVICES · CIP 44

Social WorkBachelor's Degree$39,31153 gradsCommunity Organization and AdvocacyMaster's Degree$47,72827 grads

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS · CIP 50

Fine and Studio ArtsBachelor's Degree$37,40931 gradsMusicBachelor's Degree$46,19726 grads

HEALTH PROFESSIONS · CIP 51

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree$74,353120 gradsCommunication Disorders Sciences and ServicesMaster's Degree$54,22848 gradsCommunication Disorders Sciences and ServicesBachelor's Degree$45,66130 gradsRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingMaster's Degree$206,110—

BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT & MARKETING · CIP 52

Business/Commerce, GeneralBachelor's Degree$47,25783 gradsBusiness/Commerce, GeneralMaster's Degree$83,38670 gradsAccounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$50,19833 gradsFinance and Financial Management ServicesBachelor's Degree$56,97330 gradsMarketingBachelor's Degree$51,08723 grads

AGRICULTURE · CIP 01

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences, OtherBachelor's Degree$45,641124 gradsVeterinary/Animal Health Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree$35,030116 grads

COMMUNICATION & JOURNALISM · CIP 09

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationBachelor's Degree$44,24569 gradsRadio, Television, and Digital CommunicationBachelor's Degree$44,7368 grads
FINANCIAL OUTCOME · ILLUSTRATION

Estimate the financial outcome at Murray State University

Pick a program. Cost from Scorecard net price by family income; earnings from Treasury 5-year-post-completion median, projected forward with a Mincer age-earnings curve. The selection-bias toggle applies the Dale-Krueger shrinkage. Outcomes illustration, not a forecast — see methodology.

Shrinks the earnings premium toward the matched-applicant mean. STEM <15%, business ~40%, arts & education ~60%.

NET PRESENT VALUE
$194,327
Over 40 years, discounted 5.0%
BREAKEVEN
Year 13
First year cumulative discounted earnings cross zero
graduationbreakeven · year 13year 0year 39
Cost per year
$9,616
HS-only baseline · KY
$33,900
Years to complete
4
CIP family
01

Outcomes illustration · not a forecast. Projects observed Scorecard earnings forward with a Mincer age-earnings curve under your assumptions. See methodology for the math.

SECTION 07 · SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS

Institutions similar to Murray State University in Kentucky

Picked by Carnegie sector × predominant credential level. These are not rankings — just nearest-neighbour surfaces for comparison.

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS$50.2k

Northern Kentucky University

Public · Predominantly bachelor's · 48% completion
MOREHEAD$43.2k

Morehead State University

Public · Predominantly bachelor's · 48% completion
RICHMOND$45.8k

Eastern Kentucky University

Public · Predominantly bachelor's · 50% completion
BOWLING GREEN$43.9k

Western Kentucky University

Public · Predominantly bachelor's · 54% completion
FRANKFORT$36.4k

Kentucky State University

Public · Predominantly bachelor's · 27% completion
CAUSAL DISCIPLINE

“Murray State University graduates earn $X” — not “Murray State University makes you earn $X”

Median earnings describe what cohorts earned. They do not describe what attending Murray State University caused. Selection effects (who admits, who enrolls, who completes) are real. We publish federal data with strict descriptive phrasing — and link the methodology where you can read about the limitations directly.

Methodology →