the program » cost/financial aid
Tuition
Current
tuition rates can be found online at the Bursar's
Office Website. All figures below are based on the 2009-2010 academic
year unless otherwise noted.
Tuition and fees for in-state graduate students are currently $377.00 per credit hour, or $3,393.00 per full-time semester.
In addition to tuition, each residency includes an $872.00 course fee, which is billed when you enroll for the follow-up tutorial.
In total, by the 2009-2010 rates, the cost per semester (including the $872.00 residency course fee, but excluding books, meals, and housing) for MFA students who are Kentucky residents is $4,265.00.
(The above total will fluctuate based on the student's enrollment. For instance, during terms when the student doesn't participate in a residency, the $872.00 residency course fee won't apply. And when the student enters the thesis defense semester, a fee will apply for that course as well. See Course Fee Breakdown).
The overall cost for Murray State's program (roughly half the national average for low-residency MFA programs) also applies to residents of many nearby counties in Illinois and Indiana, and residents of the entire state of Tennessee (see Regional Tuition, below).
Course Fee Breakdown
The residencies and thesis defense semesters carry course fees applied on top of tuition, to cover additional costs associated with these courses.
ENG 661, 662, 663, 674: Residency Course Fee
- $872.00 for 2009-2010 academic year
ENG 668: Thesis Defense Course Fee
- $1032.50 for 2009-2010 academic year
Regional Tuition Discounts***
Students who legally reside in one of the Kentucky border states of Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, or Tennessee receive regional tuition rates. This is an incredible incentive. Murray State calculates discounted tuition based on college costs from each of these respective border states. Regional tuition discounts vary from state to state, and in some cases by your county of residence.
Students residing in Tennessee's Montgomery County, and students admitted effective fall 2005 who reside in the Tennessee counties of Henry, Obion, Stewart and Weakley receive discounted tuition rates adjusted to the equivalent of Kentucky in-state tuition. Students admitted after fall 2004 who reside in Massac County, Illinois, or the Indiana counties of Posey, Vanderburgh and Warrick receive discounted tuition rates adjusted to the equivalent of Kentucky in-state tuition. For details, see the MSU 2009-2010 Fee Schedule or contact the Bursar's Office Website.
Students from the states of Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Tennessee (outside the above counties) admitted or re-admitted (after a one-year absence) beginning in the summer 2001 will be assessed out-of-state tuition, but with a tuition discount credit reflecting the difference between Murray State University's out-of-state tuition and an average in-state rate, based on college rates from the student's state of residency on record with Admissions Services. The following list reflects Murray State tuition costs per full-time graduate semester (2009-2010) for legal residents of Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, or Tennessee, after the regional tuition discount is applied:
|
If you're from |
Base tuition (full time) |
Base tuition (per credit) |
MFA residency course fee (only if taking residency) |
Total cost (excluding
housing and books) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $4,567.50 | $507.50 | $872.00 | $5,439.50 |
| Indiana | $4,043.25 | $449.25 | $872.00 | $4,915.25 |
| Missouri | $3,676.50 | $408.50 | $872.00 | $4,548.50 |
| Tennessee | $3,393.00 | $377.00 | $872.00 | $4,265.00 |
Out-of-State/Out-of-Region Tuition
Out-of-state students in the MFA program who don't qualify for Regional Tuition (see above) are eligible to enroll in most of the required courses as WEB courses. This substantially reduces costs for out-of-state students. For more details on tuition for out-of-state residents, click here.
Our average cost is quite competitive for out-of-state students, coming in at around a thousand dollars less per semester than the average for public universities. Our costs are competitive with elite institutions, both public and private, nationwide.
Housing
University housing for the Winter 2010 residency is available at very
reasonable rates.
College Courts apartments: $25/night
Single-occupancy dorm: $15/night
Double-occupancy dorm: $12/night
Off-campus lodging is also available.
Dining
On-campus meal plans are not offered during the Winter 2010 residency.
But we have the typical college town gamut of dining options, plus a number
of eateries unique to Murray—the oft-visited Quarter's Campus Grill, Matt
B's Main Street pizza, and for a bit of international taste, Gloria's
World Village—all within walking distance to the workshop locations.
Financial Aid
For information about financial aid, consult MSU's Student Financial Aid Office online or call 800-272-4MSU (ext. 3) or (270) 809-3116.
Scholarships
For information about MSU scholarships, contact the University Scholarship Office online or call 800-272-4MSU (ext. 4) or (270) 809-3225.
*** Information provided for reference only. For final fees please refer to Murray State's official Fee Schedule, issued by the Bursar's Office.