Murray State University vs. GVSU

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

Murray State University GVSU
Location Murray, KY Allendale, MI
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 9,479 21,648
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #669 #583
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website murraystate.edu gvsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Murray State University GVSU
Tuition (In State) $8,196 $13,952
Tuition (Out of State) $17,652 $19,856
Room & Board $10,160 $10,140
Avg Net Price $11,042 $17,105
Avg Grant Aid $11,560 $8,811
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 93%

Admission

Murray State University GVSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,251 17,123
Admitted 8,609 15,474
Acceptance Rate 84% 90.4%
Enrolled % 15.9% 25%
Avg High School GPA 3.57 3.65
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26 21/27
SAT Range 965/1190 960/1210
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, 2025

Academics

Murray State University GVSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Murray State University GVSU
Graduation Rate 52% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,400 $44,600
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $258

Diversity

Murray State University GVSU
% Men 37% 38%
% Women 63% 62%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 81% 83%
% Black 8% 5%
% Hispanic 2% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Murray State University GVSU
% In-State 61% 91%
% Out-of-State 36% 8%

Campus

Murray State University GVSU
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

  • Grand Valley State University is larger than than Murray State University based on total student enrollment (21,648 students vs. 9,479 students)

Murray State University vs. GVSU Cost Comparison

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

  • Grand Valley State University is 70.2% more expensive to attend than Murray State University for in-state tuition ($13,952.00 vs. $8,196.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.5% higher at GVSU than Murray State University ($19,856.00 vs. $17,652.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Murray State University than GVSU ($11,042 vs. $17,105)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Valley State University are 0.2% lower than costs at Murray State University ($10,140 vs. $10,160)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Murray State University than Grand Valley State University (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Murray State University students is 31.2% larger than aid received Grand Valley State University ($11,560 vs. $8,811)

Murray State University vs. GVSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Grand Valley State University (1090) is 21 points higher than at Murray State University (1069)
  • Incoming GVSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Murray State University (23)
  • Accepted freshman GVSU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Murray State University (3.57)
  • GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than Murray State University (84%)

Murray State University vs. GVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at GVSU is higher than Murray State University (63% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from Grand Valley State University earn on average $4,200 more per year than Murray State University graduates after ten years. ($44,600 vs. $40,400)
  • Murray State University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than GVSU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $25,000)
  • Murray State University graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than GVSU graduates. ($222 vs. $258)
  • More GVSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Murray State University students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 57%)

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