Murray State University vs. Mississippi State

Should I go to Murray State University or Mississippi State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Murray State University or Mississippi State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Murray State University vs. Mississippi State University comparison
Murray State University Mississippi State University College 3 College 4
Murray State University Mississippi State University
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Overview

Murray State University Mississippi State
Location Murray, KY Mississippi State, MS
Setting Remote Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 9,841 22,657
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #704 #452
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website murraystate.edu msstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Murray State University Mississippi State
Tuition (In State) $8,436 $9,665
Tuition (Out of State) $18,180 $26,430
Room & Board $10,594 $12,293
Avg Net Price $9,738 $16,480
Avg Grant Aid $12,939 $13,532
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

Murray State University Mississippi State
Applied 11,038 20,877
Admitted 9,511 15,934
Acceptance Rate 86.2% 76.3%
Enrolled % 17.4% 23.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.57 3.58
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26 21/29
SAT Range 950/1190 1110/1410
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

Murray State University Mississippi State
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Murray State University Mississippi State
Graduation Rate 52% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,400 $47,500
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $222 $240

Diversity

Murray State University Mississippi State
% Men 7% 9%
% Women 13% 11%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 81% 72%
% Black 8% 20%
% Hispanic 2% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Murray State University Mississippi State
% In-State 61% 55%
% Out-of-State 38% 43%

Campus

Murray State University Mississippi State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Mississippi State University is larger than than Murray State University based on total student enrollment (22,657 students vs. 9,841 students)

Murray State University vs. Mississippi State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Murray State University or Mississippi State?

  • Mississippi State University is 14.6% more expensive to attend than Murray State University for in-state tuition ($9,665.00 vs. $8,436.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 45.4% higher at Mississippi State than Murray State University ($26,430.00 vs. $18,180.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Murray State University than Mississippi State ($9,738 vs. $16,480)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Murray State University are 16% lower than costs at Mississippi State University ($10,594 vs. $12,293)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Murray State University than Mississippi State University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mississippi State University students is 4.6% larger than aid received Murray State University ($13,532 vs. $12,939)

Murray State University vs. Mississippi State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Murray State University or Mississippi State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mississippi State or Murray State University .

  • The average SAT score at Mississippi State University (1140) is 71 points higher than at Murray State University (1069)
  • Incoming Mississippi State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Murray State University (23)
  • Accepted freshman Mississippi State students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at Murray State University (3.57)
  • Murray State University has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than Mississippi State (76.3%)

Murray State University vs. Mississippi State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Murray State University or Mississippi State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Mississippi State and Murray State University.

  • The graduation rate at Mississippi State is higher than Murray State University (60% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from Mississippi State University earn on average $7,100 more per year than Murray State University graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $40,400)
  • Murray State University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Mississippi State graduates. ($21,500 vs. $23,250)
  • Murray State University graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Mississippi State graduates. ($222 vs. $240)
  • More Mississippi State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Murray State University students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/