McMurry University

McMurry University is a moderately selective private nonprofit university in Abilene, Texas. It admits about 1 in 2 applicants, graduates 44% of its students within six years, and its former students earn a median $48,779 ten years after starting college, more than 40% of the Texas colleges we cover.

Mostly online. 60% of undergraduates take only online courses (IPEDS, fall 2023). Earnings and prices describe a mix of online and on-campus students.

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Yearly household income. Saved on this device only. No account needed.

Acceptance rate
57%

More selective than 78% of Texas colleges we cover.

College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class

What your family pays
$19,581 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $43,778. College Scorecard.

Graduation rate
44%

Higher than 49% of Texas colleges we cover and 32% of colleges nationwide. U.S. median 54%.

Within 6 years · College Scorecard

Earnings after college
$48,779

Higher than 40% of Texas colleges we cover and 37% of colleges nationwide. U.S. median $53,263.

Median, 10 years after starting · College Scorecard

McMurry University acceptance rate & admissions

Of 4,836 applicants, McMurry University admitted 2,788 and 318 enrolled (IPEDS, Fall 2023 entering class). The middle half of enrolled first-year students scored 950–1160 on the SAT or 18–24 on the ACT.

4,836
Applied
2,788
Admitted
318
Enrolled

IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class

SAT total, middle 50% of first-years950–1160
ACT composite, middle 50% of first-years18–24
First-years who sent SAT scores13%
First-year students who return64%
Pell Grant recipients24%
First-generation students37%
Women / men51% / 49%

Test scores: College Scorecard, Fall 2024. Other figures: College Scorecard; IPEDS

McMurry University tuition, cost & net price

What families actually pay per year, by income

Average net price after grants and scholarships for students who receive federal aid. Tap your income band.

College Scorecard, latest reported year (federal aid recipients)

Sticker price (before aid)

Tuition & fees$32,340
Housing & meals, on campus$9,788
Books & supplies$200
Total cost of attendance$43,778

IPEDS 2023-24 cost items; total from College Scorecard

Median debt at graduation$19,000
Loan default rate11.7%3-year rate, 2017 repayment cohort

College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal

Full cost breakdown, in-state vs out-of-state →

State aid: Texas residents with financial need attending eligible private nonprofit Texas colleges may receive a Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG); amounts are set each year. Not included in the prices above. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (College for All Texans)

What McMurry University costs to finish, and how fast it pays back

Graduates of McMurry University took 4.3 years on average to finish, so the yearly price adds up to the total below. Payback compares former students' earnings with what high school graduates earn in Texas. The figures follow your residency and income choices above.

Family incomeNet price / yrCost to finishYears to pay back
$0–30k$15,946$69,3654.5 years
$30–48k$16,181$70,3874.6 years
$48–75k$18,272$79,4835.2 years
$75–110k$23,285$101,2906.6 years
$110k+$27,297$118,7427.8 years

Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (27% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of former students 10 years after starting ($48,779) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in TX (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $15,263 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method

College Scorecard (net price, earnings); IPEDS Graduation Rates (time to finish); U.S. Census Bureau ACS (high school earnings). Calculated by EducationGuide.

Best-value colleges in Texas for your income →

McMurry University majors, earnings & careers

McMurry University offers 39 bachelor's majors across 11 areas. Earnings below are for this school's graduates of each major, four years after finishing.

  • Business & Finance · 8
  • Humanities & Languages · 6
  • Science & Math · 6
  • Social Sciences & Public Service · 5
  • Arts & Design · 4
  • Health & Medicine · 4
  • Education · 2
  • Communications & Media · 1
  • Engineering · 1
  • Technology & Computing · 1
  • Trades & Applied Technology · 1

Highest-earning majors at McMurry University

MajorEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Business$55,605$32,321
Education (Subject Teaching)$47,035$28,901
Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$44,668—
Education (Elementary / Secondary)$42,638$29,750
Sociology$41,749—
Quick list of all 39 majors
  • Accounting—
  • Allied Health (Imaging / Therapy / Tech)—
  • Biochemistry—
  • Biology—
  • Business$55,605
  • Business Administration—
  • Chemistry—
  • Communications—
  • Computer and Information Sciences—
  • Criminal Justice—
  • Criminology—
  • Education (Elementary / Secondary)$42,638
  • Education (Subject Teaching)$47,035
  • Engineering Physics—
  • English—
  • Entrepreneurship—
  • Environmental Science / Conservation—
  • Finance—
  • Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design—
  • Health Sciences—
  • History—
  • Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations—
  • International Business—
  • Kinesiology / Exercise Science—
  • Management Information Systems—
  • Marketing—
  • Mathematics—
  • Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$44,668
  • Music—
  • Nursing—
  • Physics—
  • Political Science—
  • Psychology—
  • Religious Studies—
  • Sociology$41,749
  • Spanish / French / Romance Languages—
  • Studio Art—
  • Theatre—
  • Writing—

— means too few graduates to report earnings.

College Scorecard field of study, latest release

All majors by area with earnings 1 and 4 years out, and debt →

Education (Subject Teaching) → High school teacher

$59,990
Abilene
$63,590
Texas
$72,040
U.S.

Median annual wage for all workers in this job, not only new graduates. U.S. jobs projected to shrink 0.2% from 2025 to 2035.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35

Education (Elementary / Secondary) → Elementary school teacher

$53,480
Abilene
$62,760
Texas
$63,970
U.S.

Median annual wage for all workers in this job, not only new graduates. U.S. jobs projected to shrink 0.4% from 2025 to 2035.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35

Living in Abilene

Cost of living
10% below the U.S. average

Overall prices in the Abilene, TX area.

BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024

Off-campus rent, 1 bedroom
$1,047/mo

2 bedrooms $1,310. Housing costs 26% below the U.S. average.

HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027

Weather
59° / 96°

January and July average highs. 24 inches of rain a year, 4 inches of snow.

NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020

Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate

Highest: winter weather (relatively high).

FEMA National Risk Index, Taylor County

Campus & students

Total enrollment (incl. graduate)2,549
First-year students from Texas94%
Next most common home statesNew Mexico, Alaska, Arizona
AthleticsNCAA Division III with football · 10 sports
Undergraduate degrees awarded, 2023-2495% bachelor's · 5% associate
Campus typeHighly residential
Student bodyWhite 44% · Hispanic 34% · Black 13% · Two or more 3%International 2%

IPEDS fall enrollment; Carnegie Classification; EADA via Urban Institute

Taylor County at a glance

Population145,863
Median household income$67,139
Adults with a bachelor's degree29%
Median age33

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2024

Compare McMurry University with similar schools

Similar private colleges in Texas by selectivity, graduation rate and size. Tap “Why?” to see where the price difference comes from.

SchoolAcceptanceYou'd payGraduationEarnings, 10 yrsPrice gap
McMurry University57%$19,58144%$48,779This school
East Texas Baptist University58%$23,91147%$52,788
Our Lady of the Lake University—$16,44246%$48,675
The King's University61%$14,14047%$41,471
North American University—$18,72132%—

College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.

Why the price is different

McMurry University would cost you $4,330 less per year than East Texas Baptist University, on average.

  • Lower sticker price at McMurry University, mostly from lower book costs (−$1,302).
  • McMurry University gives aided families $3,897 more in grants, on average.
Per year, Texas residentMcMurry UniversityEast Texas Baptist UniversityDifference
Tuition & fees$32,340$30,680+$1,660
Books & supplies$200$1,502−$1,302
Housing & meals$9,788$10,629−$841
Personal & travel$3,350$2,480+$870
Living-at-home adjustment−$1,900−$1,080−$820
Sticker price$43,778$44,211−$433
Average grants−$24,197−$20,300−$3,897
You pay$19,581$23,911−$4,330

“+” means McMurry University costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.

Common questions about McMurry University

What is the McMurry University acceptance rate?

McMurry University accepts 57% of applicants (College Scorecard). In the latest IPEDS admissions year, 2,788 of 4,836 applicants were admitted. The middle half of enrolled first-year students scored 950–1160 on the SAT or 18–24 on the ACT.

How much does McMurry University cost per year?

The sticker price (cost of attendance) is $43,778 a year. After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $19,581 a year on average; families earning $0–30k pay $15,946 and families earning $110k+ pay $27,297.

How much do McMurry University graduates earn?

Former McMurry University students earn a median $48,779 ten years after starting college, compared with a U.S. median of $53,263 across the colleges we cover.

What is the McMurry University graduation rate?

44% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 64% return for their second year.

How long does a McMurry University degree take to pay off?

For a family earning $48–75k, finishing at McMurry University costs about $79,483 after grants ($18,272 a year for 4.3 years, the average time graduates took). Former students earn a median $48,779 ten years after starting, $15,263 more than high school graduates in Texas ($33,516), so the cost is repaid in 5.2 years of that gain, before taxes and interest (EducationGuide calculation).

Is McMurry University the right fit for your family?

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Sources on this page: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; U.S. Census Bureau (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, Employment Projections); Bureau of Economic Analysis; HUD; NOAA; FEMA; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By); Wikidata. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Averages are not quotes; confirm costs with the school. How we score
Data: download this school's data (JSON) · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “McMurry University: cost, admissions and outcomes,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/mcmurry-university (College Scorecard and IPEDS data).