Competitive; includes Honors College participation
Residency & Waivers
Regional Tuition Discount (OOS)
Reduced tuition for AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, LA, MS, MO, NC, OH, SC, TN, VA, WV
Murray State University delivers exceptional value through a mix of automatic merit scholarships and generous regional tuition discounts.
High-achieving students can earn up to $10,000 automatically, while the prestigious Presidential Fellowship covers full tuition plus housing and meals.
With test-optional admissions, Honors College benefits, and affordable out-of-state pricing across an expanded 15-state region,
Murray State makes it easy for families to find quality and affordability in one place.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes — Murray State University offers test-optional admission; GPA can qualify students for automatic scholarships (Trustee / Regents require scores).
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 19–26; SAT: 980–1170 (for students who submitted scores).
What’s the average net price? About $9,738/year after aid. See our Net Price & SAI guide.
Does this school use reciprocity or OOS waivers? Yes — Murray State offers a Regional Tuition Discount for residents of 15 states (AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, LA, MS, MO, NC, OH, SC, TN, VA, WV).
Sources:
University Tuition & COA – https://www.murraystate.edu/admissions/BursarsOffice/tuition/UndergraduateTuition.aspx
Scholarships (Freshmen Awards) – https://www.murraystate.edu/admissions/scholarships/freshmen.aspx
Scholarships (Deadlines & Presidential Fellowship) – https://www.murraystate.edu/admissions/scholarships/index.aspx
Regional Tuition Discount – https://www.murraystate.edu/admissions/BursarsOffice/tuition/index.aspx
Presidential Fellowship Details – https://www.murraystate.edu/news/posts/presidential-fellowships-2025.aspx
Common Data Set – https://www.murraystate.edu/about/administration/Provost/institutional-effectiveness/OfficeOfInstitutionalResearch/CommonDataSet.aspx
BigFuture (Profile & Net Price) – https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/murray-state-university/admissions
College Scorecard – https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?157401-Murray-State-University
💰 Cost of Attendance at Murray State University 2026-2027
📅 2026–2027 Planning Note: The costs below reflect the most recently published figures (2025–2026). Universities typically finalize the next year’s rates in the spring, and we’ll update this page once the university releases official 2026–2027 numbers.
Planning tip: At large public universities, tuition, fees, and housing usually increase modestly each year (often in the 2–5% range). For early budgeting, families may want to plan for roughly $1,000–$1,500 more in-state or $2,000–$3,000 more out-of-state in total direct costs once new rates are published.
Expense
Kentucky Resident
Regional States
Nonresident
Tuition & Mandatory Fees (12–15 credits)
$9,908
$10,452–$11,730
$15,036
Housing & Meals (median on-campus)
$11,280
$11,280
$11,280
Estimated Total (before aid)
$21,188
$21,732–$23,010
$26,316
Figures reflect the 2025–2026 academic year and assume full-time enrollment (12–15 credits/semester). The totals above include only direct, billed costs (tuition/fees + housing & meals). Other typical expenses — books & supplies, transportation, and personal costs — are not paid directly to the university and vary by student, so they are not included in the table.
Average Net Price: $9,738 per year (2022–2023). This is what families actually paid on average after scholarships and grants — no loans included.
Regional Tuition Savings: Students from AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, LA, MS, MO, NC, OH, SC, TN, VA, WV automatically qualify for the Regional Tuition rate, which trims about $4,500 per year compared to full nonresident tuition. In addition, students from select Tennessee border counties qualify for full in-state rates (≈ $5,000/year savings). Murray State also participates in the Academic Common Market (ACM) for approved majors not offered in the student’s home state.
Who qualifies for Regional Tuition? Students from the 15 listed states automatically receive the discounted Regional rate; no separate application is required.
How much do you actually save? On tuition alone, Regional students save about $4,500 compared to full nonresident costs. Tennessee border-county students save about $5,000 by paying in-state rates.
Is it automatic or do you have to apply? It’s automatic at admission if your permanent address is in an eligible Regional state or Tennessee border county. ACM requires an application through your state higher-education agency.
Sources:
University Tuition & Fees– https://www.murraystate.edu/admissions/BursarsOffice/tuition/UndergraduateTuition.aspx
Cost of Attendance Overview – https://www.murraystate.edu/admissions/BursarsOffice/tuition/index.aspx
Regional Tuition Program – https://www.murraystate.edu/admissions/BursarsOffice/tuition/index.aspx
NCES Net Price Data – https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Murray+State+University
✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships
Murray State’s Academic Achievement Scholarships are “automatic”—award levels are strictly based on GPA (and test scores for the highest tiers). Applicants must still complete the university’s General Scholarship Application in their myGate portal. Once submitted, eligible awards are applied automatically at admission.
Scholarship
Award Amount
Eligibility
Separate App?
Renewable?
Who Actually Wins?
Deadline
Trustee
$10,000/yr
GPA 3.80–4.00 AND 33+ ACT or 1450+ SAT
General Scholarship Application
Yes – 2.75 college GPA, 24 credits/year
Students with truly top GPAs and high test scores (top 2–3%)
Feb 2 (General App); submit scores by Dec 1
Regents
$8,000/yr
GPA 3.80–4.00 AND 28–32 ACT or 1300–1440 SAT
General Scholarship Application
Yes – 2.75 college GPA, 24 credits/year
High GPA, strong testers; generally top 10%
Feb 2 (General App); submit scores by Dec 1
Provost
$5,000/yr
GPA 3.80–4.00 (no test required)
General Scholarship Application
Yes – 2.75 college GPA, 24 credits/year
High GPA students, test-optional considered
Feb 2 (General App)
Carr
$4,000/yr
GPA 3.50–3.79
General Scholarship Application
Yes – 2.75 college GPA, 24 credits/year
Solid A-/B+ students
Feb 2 (General App)
University
$3,000/yr
GPA 3.30–3.49
General Scholarship Application
Yes – 2.75 college GPA, 24 credits/year
Mid B+ to A- students
Feb 2 (General App)
Deans
$2,500/yr
GPA 3.00–3.29
General Scholarship Application
Yes – 2.75 college GPA, 24 credits/year
Around a B average
Feb 2 (General App)
Opportunity
$1,000/yr
GPA 2.75–2.99
General Scholarship Application
Yes – 2.75 college GPA, 24 credits/year
Students just under a B average who stay full-time
Feb 2 (General App)
Important: You must complete the General Scholarship Application via the myGate portal (murraystate.edu) to activate any award—even those considered “automatic.” No essays or supplemental forms are required for these awards.
Do I need to apply separately? Just one General Scholarship Application is required for all awards. If you don’t submit it, you will not be considered for any merit award, regardless of your GPA or test score.
Are test scores required? Only Trustee and Regents tiers require ACT or SAT scores. All other tiers award using weighted high school GPA alone; test-optional applicants are eligible for everything below Regents.
Can these stack? No—students may only hold one Academic Achievement Scholarship. These cannot be combined with other flagship awards like Presidential Fellowship or National Merit Finalist. All scholarships combined cannot exceed the cost of attendance.
These are selective university-level awards with extra steps beyond admission. They’re competitive because the pool is limited and applicants are reviewed holistically (essays, interviews, leadership, and fit). Deadlines matter—apply early.
Scholarship
Award Amount
Eligibility (plain English)
Separate App?
Renewable?
Who Actually Wins?
Deadline
Marvin D. Mills Scholarship (Leadership)
Up to full in-state tuition, housing (double occupancy), and meal plan for 4 years
High school seniors, 24+ ACT or 1160+ SAT, 3.5+ GPA, strong leadership/service. Program participation & competitive review.
Yes — General Scholarship App, leadership/service documentation as prompted
Yes — 3.0 GPA and 24 credits/year, plus program requirements
Leaders with sustained school/community impact, solid grades, and engagement with campus leadership program
Dec 1 (General App & materials)
GSP / GSA / GSE / CHA Scholarships
Full in-state tuition (renewable 4 years); GSA competitive arts slots also available
Graduates/alumni of KY Governor’s Scholars, School for the Arts, School for Entrepreneurs, or MSU Commonwealth Honors Academy; min 3.5 GPA & 25 ACT/1200 SAT (GSA arts: 3.3 GPA & 18–24 ACT for competitive slots; must major in arts field)
Yes — General Scholarship App, confirm qualifying program/major
Program completers who meet GPA/test/major requirements and submit on time (arts awards based on portfolio/audition)
Dec 1 (General App)
National Merit Finalist Scholarship
Full tuition, standard housing, meal plan for up to 4 years
Students recognized by National Merit as Finalist; selection and documentation required
Yes — General Scholarship App; submit official Finalist documents
Yes — 3.0 GPA and 24 credits/year
Finalists with full documentation and confirmed academic progress
Feb 2 (General App); Finalist docs as soon as available
Stacking rules: Competitive scholarships listed above cannot be combined with Academic Achievement Scholarships or each other. See official offer or scholarship office for full details.
How competitive are these? Very. Cohorts are small. Most require strong essays, leadership/portfolio, engagement history, and interviews or documentation.
Do I need the General Scholarship Application? Yes. All competitive scholarships require the General Scholarship App through myGate. Some also require extra essays or external documentation.
Can these stack with Academic Achievement or other flagship aid? No. These awards replace Academic Achievement Scholarships and usually each other. Your total scholarships can’t exceed the university cost of attendance.
Are there major/departmental competitions? Departmental and major-specific awards are listed separately as hidden gem/location-based programs.
These aren’t always advertised on the front page, but they can make a real difference—especially for families looking at need-based support, legacy discounts, or opportunities tied to study abroad and language programs.
Scholarship
Award Amount
Eligibility
Separate App?
Renewable?
Who Actually Wins?
Deadline
Murray State Promise
Covers full tuition & mandatory fees (after Pell & other aid)
Kentucky residents who are Pell-eligible; new freshmen or new transfer
Yes — FAFSA + General Scholarship App
Yes — renewable with Pell eligibility & full-time status
Pell-eligible KY students covering tuition after grants
Feb 3 (General App) & FAFSA ASAP
Alumni Legacy Tuition Grant
In-state tuition rate (≈$4,000–$5,000 savings/yr)
Nonresident children or grandchildren of Murray State alumni
Yes — Scholarship Portal
N/A (rate benefit, no limit on duration)
Out-of-state legacy families
Feb 3 (General App)
Education Abroad Scholarships
$500–$2,000 typical per award
Degree-seeking students in approved study abroad; FAFSA + General App
Yes – ViaTRM + Scholarship Portal
One-time
Students with program acceptance and complete application
Program/app deadline varies
Global Languages Scholarships
$500–$1,500 typical
Majors/minors in Global Languages; 3.0+ GPA; sometimes linked to study abroad
Yes — department or study abroad office
Varies
Language majors/minors with advanced coursework, often with study abroad
Check department site
ROTC Scholarships (Army/Air Force)
Full or partial tuition + $420/mo stipend + $1,200/year books
ROTC cadets meeting fitness, academic, service requirements
Yes — ROTC application & board
Yes — contingent on service & program standards
Top ROTC candidates, selected by national & local boards
Vary by military branch/board
Harris-Nelson First-Generation Book Scholarship
Cost of required books ($300–$600 typical)
First-generation students; all levels
Yes — Scholarship Portal
No (one-time)
First-gen students who show need for book costs
Feb 3 (General App)
Earl and Sue Steele Family Scholarship
$500–$1,000 typical
First-gen college students; GPA and need reviewed
Yes — Scholarship Portal
Varies
First-gen students with financial need and good academics
Feb 3 (General App)
Travis and Kelly Taylor First-Generation Scholarship
$500–$1,000 typical
First-generation college students
Yes — Scholarship Portal
Varies
First-gen students showing persistence and early application
Feb 3 (General App)
Note: Department of Music scholarships are awarded to auditioned students in bands or ensembles; amounts vary. Dozens of departmental scholarships are run by application/portfolio/audition—these are usually found in departmental listings, not on central pages.
Department of Music Scholarships: Audition-based scholarships for marching band and ensembles, significant for active participants.
Education/Teaching, Art, STEM Scholarships: Academic departments offer dozens of field-specific awards (see department portals for details and deadlines).
Who should look into these? Need-based families (Promise), legacy (out-of-state) students, military-track students, study abroad participants, and first-gens should all explore these options by the early spring General App and FAFSA deadlines.
Do these stack with merit scholarships? Usually yes, unless stated otherwise (Promise covers tuition “last dollar” after grants/aid, study abroad awards generally stack, ROTC is additive if not full-tuition).
Are all “one-time”? Many are renewable (Promise, ROTC, legacy in-state rate), but study abroad and some first-gen awards are one-time/semester-limited.
Sources:
Murray State Promise – https://www.murraystate.edu/admissions/scholarships/msupromise.aspx
Alumni Legacy Tuition Grant – https://www.murraystate.edu/admissions/scholarships/legacy.aspx
Study Abroad Scholarships – https://www.murraystate.edu/academics/education-abroad/financial-resources.aspx
Global Languages Scholarships – https://www.murraystate.edu/academics/Global-Language-Support/scholarships.aspx
Army/Air ROTC – https://www.murraystate.edu/academics/rotc/
First-Gen Scholarships – https://www.murraystate.edu/admissions/scholarships/firstgen.aspx
General Scholarship Portal – https://www.murraystate.edu/admissions/scholarships/
🎖️ Honors College
Murray State’s Honors College offers motivated students the chance to go deeper—smaller classes, close faculty mentorship, distinct privileges, and a strong sense of community. Admission is competitive, requiring a separate application. Selection considers GPA, test scores, writing, rigor, and leadership/service.
What a Typical Murray State Honors Student Looks Like:
High school GPA around 3.7+ with 28+ ACT (or 1300+ SAT), challenging coursework (AP/IB/dual credit), and leadership or service background. (No published cutoff; this reflects recent fellow profiles.)
Perks that Matter:
Priority registration, honors-only seminars, advising for prestigious scholarships, undergraduate research and study abroad, and a strong cohort community that makes a big campus feel smaller.
Scholarship
Award Amount
Eligibility
Separate App?
Renewable?
Who Actually Wins?
Deadline
Presidential Fellowship
Full tuition, double room housing, & meal plan (up to 4 years)
GPA ≈3.7+ and 28+ ACT / 1300+ SAT; admission to Honors College plus essays/interviews; top leadership and service
Yes — General Scholarship Application and separate Honors application
Students with top grades, scores, leadership/service, and strong interview performance actively engaged in Honors
Priority: December 1 (General App); essays/interviews by mid-December
Is admission automatic? No. You must submit a dedicated Honors College application. Most who are admitted have GPAs near 3.8, 28+ ACT, and strong leadership/service activities.
Does Honors delay graduation? No. The Honors curriculum is meant to fit with most majors so you can graduate on time.
What are the deadlines? The Presidential Fellowship requires the General Scholarship and Honors applications by December 1 for top consideration. Regular Honors enrollment typically continues until cohort spaces are filled.
Extra funding for all Honors students? Not every Honors enrollee receives extra money, but those landing the Presidential Fellowship or top competitive awards must be engaged in Honors throughout their program.
Murray State is a regional public university that blends strong professional programs with a personalized campus feel. While it isn’t classified as an R1 research university, it has carved out statewide and even national recognition in a few signature fields. Families who are comparing majors will want to know where Murray State really shines.
Equine Science & Management: Murray State is one of the few universities in the nation with a dedicated Equine Center and multiple degree tracks (Equine Science, Equine Management, Equine Business). Students get hands-on training in riding, health, nutrition, and breeding—making it a statewide leader for students interested in equine careers.
Occupational Safety & Health: ABET-accredited programs at both the bachelor’s and master’s level; recognized nationally for preparing workplace safety professionals.
Agriculture: Hutson School of Agriculture offers diverse programs in animal science, agribusiness, and crop management with strong regional industry ties.
Music & Performing Arts: Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM); known regionally for its marching band and music education pipeline.
Education: Longstanding teacher-prep programs with statewide influence, producing a large share of Kentucky’s teachers.
Navigating scholarships at Murray State can feel overwhelming at first, but once you see the mix of automatic awards, competitive fellowships, and hidden gems, the picture gets clearer. For Kentucky families, programs like the Murray State Promise make college more affordable than the sticker price suggests. Out-of-state parents can also find savings through Regional Tuition or legacy programs. And for students ready to stretch themselves, the Honors College and Presidential Fellowship open doors not just to funding, but to mentoring and opportunities that can shape their entire college experience.
Was this helpful? Share it with another parent who’s comparing college costs!
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
__utmz
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager