Head-to-head comparison
Murray State University vs Asbury University: which has better ROI?
Option A Murray, KY
Murray State University
- Net price / year
- $9,096
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,737
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Wilmore, KY
Asbury University
- Net price / year
- $21,401
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,368
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Murray State University comes closer — median earnings $44,737 against a $36,384 total, vs $42,368 at Asbury University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Murray State University | Asbury University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,096 | $21,401 |
| Total net cost | $36,384 | $85,604 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,737 | $42,368 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $24,028 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$108,844 | -$205,444 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Murray State University or Asbury University?
Murray State University, at $9,096 a year after aid versus $21,401 — a gap of $12,305 a year, or $49,220 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Murray State University or Asbury University graduates earn more?
Murray State University graduates report a median $44,737 ten years after entry, $2,369 more than the $42,368 at Asbury University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Murray State University or Asbury University?
Murray State University: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $24,028 at Asbury University, a difference of $3,528. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
65% of students finish at Asbury University, against 61% at Murray State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.