University of Northern Colorado vs. Murray State University

Deciding between University of Northern Colorado and Murray State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Northern Colorado
Murray State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO
  • Murray State University Murray, KY
  • Setting
  • University of Northern Colorado Small City
  • Murray State University Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Northern Colorado 8,869
  • Murray State University 10,020
  • Type
  • University of Northern Colorado Public 4 Year
  • Murray State University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Northern Colorado #680
  • Murray State University #711
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Northern Colorado -
  • Murray State University -
  • Status
  • University of Northern Colorado Non-profit
  • Murray State University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Northern Colorado
  • Murray State University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Northern Colorado $12,416
  • Murray State University $9,900
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Northern Colorado $27,266
  • Murray State University $19,836
  • Room & Board
  • University of Northern Colorado $16,154
  • Murray State University $11,112
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Northern Colorado $19,376
  • Murray State University $10,182
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Northern Colorado $9,992
  • Murray State University $14,178
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Northern Colorado 95%
  • Murray State University 100%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • University of Northern Colorado Calculate
  • Murray State University Calculate
  • Applied
  • University of Northern Colorado 11,127
  • Murray State University 10,486
  • Admitted
  • University of Northern Colorado 9,553
  • Murray State University 8,984
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Northern Colorado 85.9%
  • Murray State University 85.7%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Northern Colorado 13%
  • Murray State University 17.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Northern Colorado 1070
  • Murray State University 1060
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Northern Colorado 23
  • Murray State University 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Northern Colorado 3.53
  • Murray State University 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Northern Colorado A-
  • Murray State University A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Northern Colorado Easy
  • Murray State University Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Northern Colorado
  • Murray State University
  • ACT Range
  • University of Northern Colorado 21/26
  • Murray State University 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • University of Northern Colorado 950/1190
  • Murray State University 940/1170
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Northern Colorado Test optional
  • Murray State University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Northern Colorado Aug 1, 2027
  • Murray State University

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Northern Colorado 14:1
  • Murray State University 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Northern Colorado
    • General Studies (14%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Murray State University
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (15%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Northern Colorado 46%
  • Murray State University 52%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Northern Colorado $44,600
  • Murray State University $40,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Northern Colorado 62%
  • Murray State University 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Northern Colorado $21,970
  • Murray State University $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Northern Colorado $227
  • Murray State University $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Northern Colorado 32%
  • Murray State University 37%
  • % Women
  • University of Northern Colorado 68%
  • Murray State University 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Northern Colorado Medium
  • Murray State University Very Low
  • HBCU
  • University of Northern Colorado No
  • Murray State University No
  • % White
  • University of Northern Colorado 56%
  • Murray State University 81%
  • % Asian
  • University of Northern Colorado 2%
  • Murray State University 1%
  • % Black
  • University of Northern Colorado 4%
  • Murray State University 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Northern Colorado 18%
  • Murray State University 2%
  • % Native American
  • University of Northern Colorado 0%
  • Murray State University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Northern Colorado 0%
  • Murray State University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Northern Colorado 4%
  • Murray State University 2%
  • % International
  • University of Northern Colorado 1%
  • Murray State University 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Northern Colorado 15%
  • Murray State University 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Northern Colorado 86%
  • Murray State University 62%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Northern Colorado 12%
  • Murray State University 36%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO with Murray State University in Murray, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Murray State University is larger than University of Northern Colorado based on total student enrollment (10,020 students vs. 8,869 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Northern Colorado is located in Greeley, CO (Small City setting); Murray State University is in Murray, KY (Remote Town setting).
  • University of Northern Colorado is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Murray State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Northern Colorado 14:1; Murray State University 17:1.

University of Northern Colorado vs. Murray State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Northern Colorado or Murray State University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Murray State University than University of Northern Colorado ($10,182 vs. $19,376).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Murray State University are 31.2% lower than at University of Northern Colorado ($11,112 vs. $16,154).
  • University of Northern Colorado is 25.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Murray State University (about $2,516 more per year; $12,416.00 vs. $9,900.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 37.5% higher at University of Northern Colorado than at Murray State University (about $7,430 more per year; $27,266.00 vs. $19,836.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Murray State University than at University of Northern Colorado (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Murray State University students is 41.9% larger than aid received by University of Northern Colorado students ($14,178 vs. $9,992).

University of Northern Colorado vs. Murray State University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Northern Colorado or Murray State University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Murray State University and University of Northern Colorado.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Northern Colorado (1070) is 10 points higher than at Murray State University (1060).
  • Incoming University of Northern Colorado students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 22 at Murray State University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Northern Colorado 950/1190; Murray State University 940/1170.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Northern Colorado 21/26; Murray State University 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Northern Colorado - Test optional; Murray State University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Northern Colorado Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Murray State University students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at University of Northern Colorado (3.53).
  • University of Northern Colorado has a higher acceptance rate (85.9%) than Murray State University (85.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13% at University of Northern Colorado vs. 17.4% at Murray State University.

University of Northern Colorado vs. Murray State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Northern Colorado and Murray State University? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Murray State University's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than University of Northern Colorado's (46%).
  • Graduates from University of Northern Colorado earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than Murray State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,600 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Murray State University graduates have a $470 lower median loan debt than University of Northern Colorado graduates ($21,500 vs. $21,970).
  • Among borrowers, Murray State University graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Northern Colorado graduates ($222 vs. $227).
  • More University of Northern Colorado 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.