Study abroad at Murray

Murray is a picturesque, exceptionally safe, and welcoming collegiate town in southwestern Kentucky, designated multiple times as the 'Friendliest Small Town in America' by Rand McNally and USA Today. Situated just 15 minutes from the breathtaking Kentucky Lake and Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (a 170,000-acre outdoor peninsula offering sailing, hiking, and camping) and 2 hours northwest of Nashville, Tennessee. Murray is the proud campus home of one of the South's top-ranked public master's universities: Murray State University (MSU - founded in 1922, ranked in the US Top 10 Regional Public Universities in the South by US News & World Report for over 30 consecutive years, enrolling nearly 10,000 students on a scenic 250-acre tree-lined campus crowned by historic Pogue Library and the historic Quad). Murray State is internationally acclaimed for the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business (AACSB-accredited, leading in Computer Information Systems, Finance, Accounting, and Logistics), Hutson School of Agriculture (renowned nationally for Veterinary Technology, Pre-Veterinary Medicine, and Agronomy), School of Engineering & Cybersecurity (ABET-accredited Electromechanical Engineering, Cybersecurity & Network Management), and School of Nursing and Health Professions. Degrees are taught 100% in English with prestigious US accreditations. International students benefit from an extremely low cost of living, generous Murray State International Leadership and Academic Merit Scholarships ($2,000 to $6,000/year), low student-to-faculty ratios (16:1), and direct US F-1 / I-20 Student Visa support with 3-year STEM OPT work extensions.

Tuition fees in Murray for international undergraduate students at Murray State University (MSU) are among the most economical in the US, ranging between $14,800 and $16,500 per academic year for Engineering, Cybersecurity, Computer Information Systems, Bauernfeind Business, and Veterinary Technology (with Murray State awarding automatic International Leadership and Academic Merit Scholarships discounting $2,000 to $6,000/year from tuition for qualified applicants with a GPA of 3.0+, bringing net tuition down to approx. $9,500–$12,500/year). Postgraduate Master's degrees range from $11,500 to $15,500 per year. Modern on-campus university student residences (MSU Residential Colleges: Hart Hall, Hester Hall, Regents Hall, White Hall, College Courts) cost between $550 and $880 per month (inclusive of meal plans, utilities, and high-speed Wi-Fi), while off-campus student apartments in Murray and along 12th Street range from $380 to $650 per month. General monthly living expenses range between $580 and $900 (among the most budget-friendly in the nation).

International students require a US F-1 Student Visa. Upon academic admission and verification of financial documentation (bank statement certifying first-year tuition and living expenses minus scholarship awards approx. $24,000), the International Student Services Office (MSU ISS) issues the official Form I-20. The student pays the SEVIS I-901 fee, completes the DS-160 online visa application, and attends the F-1 visa interview at the US Embassy or Consulate. STEM graduates qualify for a 24-month OPT extension (total 36 months of US employment authorization).