Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Murray State University

Murray State's Liberal Arts program lands squarely in the middle of the pack—both nationally and within Kentucky—but that middle position comes with a significant warning about long-term earnings potential. Starting at $34,304, graduates earn about $2,000 less than both the national and state medians for this major. While there's decent earnings growth to $40,665 by year four, that's still considerably below what liberal arts graduates make at schools like Thomas More ($62,607) or Northern Kentucky ($37,602).

The debt picture isn't alarming at $28,162, which sits close to national norms, but paired with below-average earnings, it creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82—manageable but not impressive. Kentucky families should note that this program performs in the 40th percentile statewide, meaning six out of ten similar programs in the state deliver better outcomes. The 86% admission rate and moderate Pell Grant percentage (31%) suggest an accessible institution, but accessibility doesn't compensate for earnings that lag behind comparable in-state options.

For parents weighing this investment, the question is simple: if your child is set on liberal arts at a Kentucky public university, schools like Eastern Kentucky and Western Kentucky deliver similar accessibility with slightly better earnings trajectories. Murray State isn't a bad choice, but it's definitively an average one in a field where average already means modest earning potential.