At $15,071/yr net price, Murray State College graduates earn $36,545/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $2,545/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $15,071 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $60,284 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $36,545/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$2,545/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 23.7 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 30.5% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $13,387 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $14,627/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,133/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,735/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $14,519/yr |
| $110,001+ | $15,460/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $57,318 | $17,969 |
| Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies. | Associate | $32,029 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Associate | $25,658 | $12,000 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | Associate | $25,194 |
The Risk Factor
30.5% of students at Murray State College graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
Murray State College gives you a mixed financial picture, and the split comes down entirely to what you study. The median graduate earns $36,545 ten years out against a net price near $15,000 a year. Pay two years for a degree that lands you below the earnings of many high school jobs, and the math only works if you pick the right program.
Nursing is the reason to come here. The associate nursing program pays roughly $57,000, nearly double what the general studies or management tracks return. That gap is the whole story: nursing graduates out-earn liberal arts graduates by more than $30,000 a year while carrying only about $6,000 more in debt. Rural Oklahoma and the surrounding region keep steady demand for registered nurses, so those earnings hold up close to home.
Precision systems maintenance sits in the middle around $32,000, workable if you want a trade without a four-year commitment. But the general studies and management associate degrees pay in the mid-$20,000s, and those numbers should stop you. A liberal arts associate here returns less than $26,000 with $12,000 in debt, and it rarely stands alone as a career credential. Treat it as a transfer step toward a bachelor's degree elsewhere, or the money does not add up.
The real risk is the 30.5% graduation rate. Most people who enroll do not finish, and you carry debt whether or not you get the degree. Borrow $13,000, leave without a credential, and you are worse off than when you started.
Net price barely moves across income levels here, from about $14,500 to $15,700, so lower-income families do not get the discount you see at many schools. This school fits you if you enter the nursing program and finish it. If you are aiming at general studies or management for their own sake, look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Murray State College worth the money?
Murray State College has mixed value depending on your program. Nursing graduates earn $57,318 annually, making it worthwhile, but other programs like liberal arts lead to $25,658 salaries that barely justify the $15,071 annual cost.
What is the return on investment for Murray State College?
The overall ROI is poor with average graduate earnings of $36,545 after 10 years and only a 30.5% graduation rate. Students who don't complete their degree face significant financial loss with limited earning potential.
How much debt do Murray State College graduates have?
Graduates typically leave with $13,387 in debt, which is manageable for nursing students but challenging for those in lower-paying fields. The debt becomes problematic given that 70% of students don't graduate.
Which Murray State College programs offer the best job prospects?
Registered nursing and precision systems maintenance provide the strongest returns, with nursing graduates earning over $57,000 annually. Liberal arts and general studies programs offer poor job prospects with starting salaries around $25,000.