Murray State University Acceptance Rate
Murray, Kentucky · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 11,038
- Admitted
- 9,511
- Yield
- 17.4%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Murray State University's acceptance rate has risen from 80% in 2014–15 to 86.2% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 4,760 to 11,038 (+132%) over that period.
Its 86.2% rate makes Murray State University more selective than about 29% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 24 tracked Kentucky schools, it is more selective than about 38%.
Murray State University has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 17.4% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 4,760 | 3,806 | 80% | 1,508 |
| 2015–16 | 4,874 | 4,416 | 90.6% | 1,468 |
| 2016–17 | 6,479 | 5,530 | 85.4% | 1,502 |
| 2017–18 | 6,900 | 5,980 | 86.7% | 1,443 |
| 2018–19 | 8,256 | 6,722 | 81.4% | 1,319 |
| 2019–20 | 8,327 | 6,861 | 82.4% | 1,421 |
| 2020–21 | 9,552 | 7,358 | 77% | 1,503 |
| 2021–22 | 9,144 | 7,787 | 85.2% | 1,395 |
| 2022–23 | 10,251 | 8,609 | 84% | 1,366 |
| 2023–24 | 11,038 | 9,511 | 86.2% | 1,659 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 6,767 | 5,850 | 86.4% |
| Men | 4,271 | 3,661 | 85.7% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 480–600 | 20% |
| SAT Math | 470–590 | |
| ACT Composite | 19–26 | 81% |
How Murray State University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Murray State University's acceptance rate?
Murray State University's acceptance rate is 86.2% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (9,511 admitted of 11,038 applicants).
Is Murray State University test optional?
Murray State University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Murray State University?
Murray State University received 11,038 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 9,511.
What SAT score do you need for Murray State University?
Admitted students at Murray State University typically scored 480–600 on SAT Reading/Writing and 470–590 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Murray State University getting harder to get into?
Murray State University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 80% in 2014–15 to 86.2% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.murraystate.edu/.