Accounting at Murray State University

Murray State's accounting program comes with a significant warning label: the sample size is too small to draw confident conclusions. But if we take the numbers at face value, they reveal a program struggling to compete—even within Kentucky. At $42,322 one year out, graduates earn about $8,000 less than the state median and roughly $11,000 below the national benchmark, landing this program in just the 25th percentile statewide.

The debt picture offers the only silver lining here. At $18,750, graduates carry substantially less debt than both state and national medians (around $26,000 and $25,000 respectively). That lower debt load translates to a manageable 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates can realistically handle their payments even with below-average starting salaries. The 8% earnings growth to year four suggests some stability, though $45,889 still trails peers considerably.

For families comparing Kentucky options, the gap is stark: UK and Transylvania graduates earn $15,000-$17,000 more in their first year. Unless there are compelling reasons to choose Murray—like scholarships that would further reduce that already-lower debt—most accounting students would likely find better returns elsewhere in the state. The small sample size means these numbers could shift dramatically year to year, but that uncertainty itself is a concern when making a four-year investment.