Mission and Quick Facts

Mission Statement

Murray State University places our highest priority on student learning and excellent teaching, blending the range of educational opportunities often found at research institutions with the nurturing student-teacher interactions usually found at smaller universities.

Strategic Attributes

We offer relevant undergraduate and graduate degree programs with core studies in the liberal arts and sciences, leading to degrees from certificates to advanced practice doctorates that prepare students for success. Through effective and creative teaching, both in traditional formats and in an online environment; the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills to real-world situations, and academic and student support services, our quality faculty and staff foster student growth in knowledge, critical inquiry, and innovative thinking. As a public comprehensive university dedicated to diversity, global awareness and intellectual curiosity, we actively engage students, faculty, staff and the community in collaborative scholarship, creative activity and research. We invest in our communities through thoughtful public service in our 18-county service region and beyond. Our uniqueness arises from our combination of academic excellence, welcoming atmosphere and dedication to student success through mentored, real-world learning opportunities in an open-minded, supportive and innovative learning environment.

Basics

Location: Murray, Ky
Founded: 1922
Type: 4-year, state-supported public university
Colors: Navy blue and gold (white accent)
Nickname: Racers

Enrollment

Total: 10,035
53 countries, 49 states and 111 counties in Kentucky are represented among the student body.

First-time freshmen

Enrolled: 1,562 (Fall 2024)
The 2023-24 freshmen class earned an average GPA of 3.57 as high school students.
44% of the current freshman class ranked in the top 25 percent of their high school graduating classes
Our freshmen class is from 28 states, 4 foreign countries and 76 Kentucky counties.

Faculty and staff

More than $7.3 million in grants was awarded to Murray State faculty between July 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019 to benefit hands-on learning opportunities
The University includes nearly 450 full-time, instructional faculty with 77% having earned the highest degree in their field.
University Libraries provides access to more than 463,000 collections to aid faculty, staff and student research endeavors

Student body and faculty

The student body is 63% female and 37% male.
Fall 2023 full-time freshmen returning for the fall 2024 semester: 75%
Our students are residents of 49 states.
760 students transferred to Murray State in Fall 2020.
Our six-year graduation rate is 62%.

Academics

Undergraduate certificates: 6
Associate programs: 6
Bachelor's programs: 60
Graduate certificates: 11
Master's and specialist programs: 37
Specialist degrees: 3
Doctoral programs: 3
Average undergraduate class size: 18
Undergraduate student to faculty ratio: 15.5 to 1

Undergraduate fields with the highest enrollment:

Animal Health Technology
Agricultural Science
Nursing
Biology
Business Administration
Occupational Safety and Health

Other facts and statistics

Murray State University is a tax-supported institution composed of six academic colleges and schools:

Regional campuses

There are eight residential colleges on campus.

Financial Aid

Murray State awarded a record $136 million in financial aid and scholarships, based on its most recent data.
Highest percentage of graduates with no student debt - #1 among all Kentucky public institutions
(based on 2017-18 data)
In fall 2023, 99% of new, full-time freshmen received a scholarship or financial aid.

For more information, please see the Common Data Set and Murray State University Fact Books.