Head-to-head comparison
Murray State University vs Beckfield College-Florence: 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 Florence, KY
Beckfield College-Florence
- Net price / year
- $28,133
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,114
- 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 $37,114 at Beckfield College-Florence. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Murray State University | Beckfield College-Florence |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,096 | $28,133 |
| Total net cost | $36,384 | $56,266 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,737 | $37,114 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $23,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$108,844 | -$281,186 |
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 Beckfield College-Florence?
Murray State University, at $9,096 a year after aid versus $28,133 — a gap of $19,037 a year, or $19,882 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 Beckfield College-Florence graduates earn more?
Murray State University graduates report a median $44,737 ten years after entry, $7,623 more than the $37,114 at Beckfield College-Florence. 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 Beckfield College-Florence?
Murray State University: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $23,500 at Beckfield College-Florence, a difference of $3,000. 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?
61% of students finish at Murray State University, against 32% at Beckfield College-Florence. 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.