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Murray State University appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Great College Deals: Master of Public Administration Online.
Undergraduate students can choose their field of study, or they can visit Murray State University’s special survey. There, students enter their:
- personal information
- preferences
- interests
The software will issue a list of majors that best fit the students’ profile.
The degrees available to undergraduates include:
- Associate of Arts
- Associate of Applied Science
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Music, and others
The associate degrees comprise roughly 60 credits of study while the bachelor’s degrees encompass 120 credits. The degrees include core competencies, such as:
- English
- history
- mathematics
Students can study such diverse fields as:
- music
- archaeology
- business
- foreign languages
They may also minor in almost as many disciplines as those in which they may major. Instances include:
- applied statistics
- community recreation
- entrepreneurship
The graduate programs are equally diverse. Students may earn their master’s or doctorate in many different fields. Some of those include:
- occupational therapy
- psychology
- music education
Graduate degrees vary in length and number of credits. Students should check their chosen fields on the website to see the full curriculum of each of their choices.
As far as online degrees go, certificates in geospatial data science, human development and leadership, along with seven others, go hand-in-hand with:
- Associate of Arts in General Studies
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems
- Master of Science in Public Administration
- Doctor of Arts in English Pedagogy, and the rest of the available degrees.
Obviously, these are not all of the offered degrees. Interested students should peruse the website at their leisure to see all of what’s offered, how many credits each degree requires, and other relevant information.
About Murray State University
Murray State University came about in 1922 when the Kentucky State Legislature earmarked funds for the construction of two normal schools for teacher education. Teachers at the time were in short supply. Four years later, it became Murray State Normal School and Teachers College and began awarding four-year degrees.
Over the next four decades, the school morphed through a few name changes and missions. In 1966, it became Murray State University and had expanded to include many more fields of study than just education.
Today, Murray State University ranks No. 34 in the South Region as listed by U.S. News and World Report. It’s also No. 24 on the list of “Best Colleges for Veterans” and No. 11 among “Top Public Schools.”
Almost 9,000 students attend, and the campus covers 253 acres. Murray State University is somewhat selective and chooses eight in 10 students for admission. Just about half of the school’s classes have fewer than 20 students in them.
Murray State University Accreditation Details
The university has held its regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges continuously since 1928. Many of the departments at Murray State University have their own accreditation from various academic organizations, which include the:
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
- National Association of Schools of Art and Design
- National Association of Schools of Music
- National Association of Schools of Theatre
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
- Council on Social Work Education
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Inc.
Murray State University Application Requirements
Incoming freshmen must have achieved at least a 3.0 GPA in high school. They must self-submit their mid-year transcripts and GPA prior to admittance and then submit the official materials after they graduate. They are required to have an ACT score of 18 or higher, an SAT score of 960 or higher, or both. No letters of recommendation, essay, or other written materials are required.
Graduate students must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university or college. The basic requirements are:
- three letters of recommendation
- a letter of intent from the applicant
- a resume
If the university is interested in a student, it will contact that student to schedule an interview.
Beyond that, the recommendations vary by degree and field of study. Students should check the website for further details.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Semester tuition for in-state residents is $4,584. Nearby states with reciprocity agreements pay similar, if slightly larger, amounts. Out-of-state students pay semester tuition of $12,936. In-state students who take more than 15 credits per semester pay $382 per extra credit hour. Students who choose to study part-time pay the same $382 per credit hour. The out-of-state rate for such students is $1,033 per credit hour. The reciprocal states have per-credit rates that approximate the percentage difference between the in-state and reciprocal rates for full-time students.
The housing rates depend on the residence hall chosen and the number of occupants. Rates range from about $2,500 to $4,500 per semester. Meal plans all cost in the neighborhood of $2,000 per semester and even allow students to dine off-campus at selected locations.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is every student’s starting place when it comes to financial aid. This form outlines the student’s income and that of the student’s parents or guardians. It is the chief item considered for need-based aid. Need-based aid consists of any combination of subsidized:
- loans
- grants
- scholarships
Students who want to secure their own financial aid are free to do so. Private loans are not subsidized, so they will generate interest while students are enrolled. Many of the merit-based, private scholarships and grants come with stringent policies of behavior, academic performance, or both. Students should check into those at length before accepting such aid.
Murray State University has risen from humble normal school beginnings to become one of the pillars of education in the American South.