Samford University vs. Murray State University

Should I go to Samford University or Murray State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Samford University or Murray State University 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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Samford University vs. Murray State University comparison
Samford University Murray State University College 3 College 4
Samford University Murray State University
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Overview

Samford University Murray State University
Location Birmingham, AL Murray, KY
Setting Large Suburban Remote Town
Enrollment 5,682 9,479
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #213 #669
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website samford.edu murraystate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Samford University Murray State University
Tuition (In State) $35,750 $8,196
Tuition (Out of State) $35,750 $17,652
Room & Board $11,264 $10,160
Avg Net Price $31,803 $11,042
Avg Grant Aid $20,711 $11,560
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Samford University Murray State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,337 10,251
Admitted 3,611 8,609
Acceptance Rate 83.3% 84%
Enrolled % 27% 15.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.57
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 19/26
SAT Range 1080/1270 965/1190
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 May 1, 2024

Academics

Samford University Murray State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Work and Family Studies (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Samford University Murray State University
Graduation Rate 70% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,400 $40,400
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $232 $222

Diversity

Samford University Murray State University
% Men 32% 37%
% Women 68% 63%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 81% 81%
% Black 7% 8%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Samford University Murray State University
% In-State 25% 61%
% Out-of-State 74% 36%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Murray State University is larger than than Samford University based on total student enrollment (9,479 students vs. 5,682 students)

Samford University vs. Murray State University Cost Comparison

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

  • Samford University is 336.2% more expensive to attend than Murray State University for in-state tuition ($35,750.00 vs. $8,196.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 102.5% higher at Samford University than Murray State University ($35,750.00 vs. $17,652.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Murray State University than Samford University ($11,042 vs. $31,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Murray State University are 10.9% lower than costs at Samford University ($10,160 vs. $11,264)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Murray State University than Samford University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Samford University students is 79.2% larger than aid received Murray State University ($20,711 vs. $11,560)

Samford University vs. Murray State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Samford University (1162) is 93 points higher than at Murray State University (1069)
  • Incoming Samford University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Murray State University (23)
  • Accepted freshman Samford University students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Murray State University (3.57)
  • Murray State University has a higher acceptance rate (84%) than Samford University (83.3%)

Samford University vs. Murray State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Samford University or Murray State University? 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 Murray State University and Samford University.

  • The graduation rate at Samford University is higher than Murray State University (70% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from Samford University earn on average $17,000 more per year than Murray State University graduates after ten years. ($57,400 vs. $40,400)
  • Murray State University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Samford University graduates. ($21,500 vs. $22,500)
  • Murray State University graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Samford University graduates. ($222 vs. $232)
  • More Samford University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Murray State University students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 57%)

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