Check out why Murray State University received a C grade in our Report Card below. 
Murray State University, situated in Murray, Kentucky, is a public university with an undergraduate enrollment of 7,735. Nestled in the rural landscape of southwestern Kentucky, the university offers a unique small town learning environment. The campus is known for its vibrant Greek life and strong student club presence. Surrounded by natural beauty, students at Murray State University have the privilege of exploring the nearby Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, appreciating the artistic treasures showcased at the Clara M. Eagle Gallery, and venturing into the world-renowned wonder of Mammoth Cave National Park. Murray State University has two mascots, Racer One and Dunker, while the community calls themselves the &#8220;Racers.&#8221;
Murray State University offers more than 146 majors and minors between its five regional campuses. Notable former students include former actress and real estate agent Chrishell Stause, actor and comedian Jim Varney, and basketball player Ja Morant.

Murray State University receives a &#8220;B&#8221; grade by <a href="https://www.whatwilltheylearn.com/schools/3239" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What Will They Learn?</a> which takes into account the university&#8217;s educational prowess. Factors include composition, literature, foreign language, U.S. government or history, economics, mathematics, and natural science.
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What Will They Learn? Academic Score

Murray State University receives a &#8220;D-&#8221; grade for the Average Salary of Recent Graduates. As of 2021, alumni with 0-5 years of experience after graduating from Murray State University with a bachelor&#8217;s degree make $49,000 on average according to <a href="https://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Payscale</a>.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-106" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/13102645/d-minus-e1671666923723.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Average Salary of Recent Graduates

Murray State University receives a &#8220;D&#8221; grade for the Average Salary of Graduates Mid-Career. As of 2021, alumni with 10+ years of experience after graduating from Murray State University with a bachelor&#8217;s degree make $85,400 on average according to <a href="https://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Payscale</a>.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-85" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06165831/d-e1671666996995.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Average Salary of Graduates Mid-Career

Murray State University receives a &#8220;C+&#8221; grade for the Percent of Graduates with Debt (Federal and Private). In 2020, 52% of graduates accumulated student debt from federal and/or private sources according to <a href="https://ticas.org/interactive-map/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Institute for College Access &amp; Success</a>.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-80" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06154124/c-plus-e1671667027604.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Percent of Graduates with Debt (Federal and Private)

Murray State University receives a &#8220;C+&#8221; grade for the Average Debt of Graduates (Federal and Private). In 2020, graduates accumulated $28,563 of debt on average from federal and/or private sources according to <a href="https://ticas.org/interactive-map/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Institute for College Access &amp; Success</a>.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-80" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06154124/c-plus-e1671667027604.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Average Debt of Graduates (Federal and Private)

Murray State University receives a &#8220;C&#8221; grade for Mandated Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Training for Staff. The university requires that some, but not all, employees complete a Diversity and Inclusion program.
The university <a href="https://www.murraystate.edu/about/Offices/HumanResources/employment/index.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">states</a> that all members of search committees must take the &#8220;Online Search Committee Training Module.&#8221; The website also says, &#8220;The Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Access has developed additional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advocate Training for search committee chairs.&#8221;
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-79" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06151308/c-e1671667169543.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Mandated Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Training for Staff

Murray State University receive an &#8220;A&#8221; grade for not having a Bias Reporting System or a Bias Response Team. Bias Reporting Systems and Response Teams are systems or teams of faculty, staff, and sometimes law enforcement.
According to <a href="https://speechfirst.org/bias-reporting-systems/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SpeechFirst</a>, students are &#8220;encouraged to report &#8216;bias incidents&#8217; to these boards (or teams) in the name of inclusion and tolerance, but it&#8217;s often unclear what the school considers &#8216;bias&#8217; in the first place. Overly broad or vague definitions of bias put all kinds of speech at risk of being reported – even unpopular speech which is protected by the First Amendment.&#8221;
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-84" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06164434/a-e1671667004869.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Bias Reporting System or Bias Response Team

Murray State University receives an &#8220;A&#8221; grade for the Ratio of Right-Leaning Clubs to Left-Leaning Clubs. Out of a list of 20 clubs (10 from each side), the <a href="https://www.murraystate.edu/campus/orgsRecreation/StudentOrganizations/media/2022-2023RSORegistrationStatus15.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">university</a> has one right-leaning club compared to one left-leaning club. Turning Point USA is the one right-leaning club. Planned Parenthood Generation Action is the one left-leaning club.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-84" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06164434/a-e1671667004869.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Ratio of Right-Leaning Clubs to Left-Leaning Clubs

Murray State University receives an &#8220;A&#8221; grade due to having an active and thriving <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080061506758" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Turning Point USA chapter</a>. Unfortunately, universities and Student Governments around the country often use their power to prevent certain clubs from operating on campus.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-84" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06164434/a-e1671667004869.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Denied Turning Point USA Chapter

Murray State University receives a &#8220;D&#8221; grade for In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants. According to an email from the Admissions Office,
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-711 size-full" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2023/08/04161625/1017B950-A16C-4B37-8C38-5117B6F77FF3_4_5005_c.jpeg" alt="" width="688" height="319" srcset="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2023/08/04161625/1017B950-A16C-4B37-8C38-5117B6F77FF3_4_5005_c.jpeg 688w, https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2023/08/04161625/1017B950-A16C-4B37-8C38-5117B6F77FF3_4_5005_c-300x139.jpeg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 688px) 100vw, 688px" />
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-85" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06165831/d-e1671666996995.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants

Murray State University receives an &#8220;A-&#8221; grade for the Amount of Foreign Funding Received. According to <a href="https://sites.ed.gov/foreigngifts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">College Foreign Gift Reporting</a>, the total amount of foreign funding the university has received is $220.13 per current undergraduate student. Oftentimes, foreign parties will convey their influence by funding certain courses, activities, professors, and organizations on campus. In certain cases, universities must abide by restrictions dictated by foreign parties to receive funding. In addition, there have been <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/top-universities-took-billions-in-unreported-foreign-funds-u-s-finds-11603226953" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a> that claim that universities underreport foreign funding. The figure above only takes into account reported foreign funding.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-98" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/11154510/a-minus-e1671666943472.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Amount of Foreign Funding Received

Murray State University receives a &#8220;B&#8221; grade for Required Equity, Diversity, or Inclusion Courses for Students. The <a href="https://www.murraystate.edu/academics/UniversityStudies/program.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">university</a> requires all students to take courses within it&#8217;s &#8220;Culture and Diverse Perspectives and Responsible Citizenship&#8221; category. Examples of courses in this category include, but are not limited to, &#8220;Introduction to Gender and Diversity Studies&#8221; and &#8220;Diversity and Advocacy Issues.&#8221; However, not all courses within this category contain a left-learning bias. Students can easily bypass these courses for unbiased options like:
<ul>
<li>&#8220;Macroeconomics&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;American National Government&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Research in the Information Age&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-82" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06154915/b-e1671667012553.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Required Equity, Diversity, or Inclusion Courses for Students

Murray State University receives a “B” grade for Segregated Dormitories, Graduations, and Classes. The university has one segregated convocation (<a href="https://www.murraystate.edu/about/administration/StudentAffairs/departments/lgbt/index.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lavender Graduation</a>).
The university has no segregated classes or dormitories.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-82" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06154915/b-e1671667012553.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Segregated Dormitories, Graduations, and Classes 

Murray State University receives an &#8220;A&#8221; grade for Protests and Canceling Speakers. Since 2021, no incidents of protests, speech cancelations, or violence/attempted violence against speakers have occurred.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-84" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06164434/a-e1671667004869.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Protests and Canceling Speakers

Murray State University receives an &#8220;A&#8221; grade for Mask and Vaccine Mandates. Murray State University provides <a href="https://www.murraystate.edu/vaccine/index.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">information</a> on COVID-19, but it does not require or encourage vaccines or masks.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-84" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06164434/a-e1671667004869.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Mask and Vaccine Mandates

Murray State University receives a “D+” grade for the Percent of Students Graduating with STEM Degrees. According to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Center (<a href="https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/use-the-data" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IPEDS</a>), as of 2020, 4.41% of the current undergraduate student population graduate with a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) degree. Across the United States, students who graduate with STEM degrees tend to earn more on average than their other student counterparts.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-96" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/11141032/d-plus-e1671666956734.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Percent of Students Graduating with STEM Degrees

Murray State University receives an “A” grade for Crime Rates in University City or Town. According to the <a href="https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2018/crime-in-the-u.s.-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Federal Bureau of Investigation</a>, the Murray, Kentucky violent crime rate was 118.54 per 100,000 people in 2018, lower than the 2018 national average of 380.56 per 100,000 people. While campus safety is of utmost importance, it is also pertinent to consider the crime rates of the surrounding town or city as students often tend to venture off campus, especially after their freshman year.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-84" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06164434/a-e1671667004869.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Crime Rates in University City or Town

Murray State University receives an &#8220;F&#8221; grade for Required Western Civilization Courses for Students. <a href="https://www.murraystate.edu/academics/CollegesDepartments/CollegeOfEducationandHumanServices/coehsacademicunits/EducationalStudiesLeadershipandCounseling/EdDinP20/SpecializationsCurriculum/P-20CoreCurriculum.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The university</a> does not require any course or category of courses designed to teach students about the history of the United States and western civilization as a whole.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-83" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06163659/f-e1671666890828.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Required Western Civilization Courses for Students

Murray

Check out why Murray State University received a C grade in our Report Card below. 

Murray State University, situated in Murray, Kentucky, is a public university with an undergraduate enrollment of 7,735. Nestled in the rural landscape of southwestern Kentucky, the university offers a unique small town learning environment. The campus is known for its vibrant Greek life and strong student club presence. Surrounded by natural beauty, students at Murray State University have the privilege of exploring the nearby Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, appreciating the artistic treasures showcased at the Clara M. Eagle Gallery, and venturing into the world-renowned wonder of Mammoth Cave National Park. Murray State University has two mascots, Racer One and Dunker, while the community calls themselves the "Racers."

Murray State University offers more than 146 majors and minors between its five regional campuses. Notable former students include former actress and real estate agent Chrishell Stause, actor and comedian Jim Varney, and basketball player Ja Morant.

Murray State University

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