Murray State's Fall 2027 Academic Achievement Scholarships pay $1,000 to $10,000 a year, awarded automatically at admission. Up to a 3.79 weighted GPA, the award depends on GPA alone. At 3.80 and above, your ACT or SAT decides whether you get $5,000, $7,500 or $10,000.
Murray State University in Kentucky uses one chart for domestic students from every state. For the basics of how these charts work, see what an automatic scholarship chart is.
Murray State scholarship chart (Fall 2027)
| Scholarship | Weighted GPA | ACT / SAT | Award per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trustee | 3.80-4.00 | 33+ ACT or 1450+ SAT | $10,000 |
| Regents | 3.80-4.00 | 28-32 ACT or 1300-1440 SAT | $7,500 |
| Provost | 3.80-4.00 | Not required | $5,000 |
| Carr | 3.50-3.79 | Not required | $4,000 |
| University | 3.00-3.49 | Not required | $2,500 |
| Opportunity | 2.75-2.99 | Not required | $1,000 |
You qualify for one Academic Achievement Scholarship. Murray State uses your highest test score, but no superscores, and accepts scores until fall classes start.
The part that surprises people: the test only matters above a 3.8
Below a 3.80 GPA, a test score changes nothing. A student with a 3.7 and a 34 ACT gets the same $4,000 Carr award as a student with a 3.7 and no score at all. At 3.80 and above, the score is worth a lot: a 28 ACT turns $5,000 into $7,500, and a 33 ACT doubles it to $10,000.
That makes the jump from 3.79 to 3.80 worth more than it looks for a strong tester. With a 33 ACT, it moves you from $4,000 to $10,000 a year.
Deadlines and renewal
- Awarded at admission. No separate application is needed for these awards.
- December 1, 2026: deadline for the competitive Presidential Fellowship (General Scholarship Application).
- February 1, 2027: General Scholarship Application and FAFSA for other awards. Notifications come in mid-March, and you accept by May 1, 2027.
- Renewal: keep a 2.75 cumulative GPA, enroll full time (12+ hours a semester) and complete 24+ credit hours a year. Awards last up to eight semesters.
- Limits: awards are capped at 12-15 hours a semester and can't be combined with the Presidential Fellowship, Marvin D. Mills Scholarship or GSP/GSA/GSE/CHA scholarships.
Other awards worth knowing
- Kentucky residents: the Murray State Promise offers tuition-free attendance to eligible Kentucky first-year and transfer students.
- Out-of-state legacy students: the Alumni Legacy Tuition Grant gives children and grandchildren of Murray State alumni the in-state tuition rate.
What this means for you
- If your weighted GPA is 3.80+, send your best ACT or SAT. A 28 ACT is worth $2,500 more a year, and a 33 ACT $5,000 more.
- If you're below 3.80, don't spend money retesting for this chart. Your score won't change the award.
- Out-of-state students get the same amounts. Compare it with Kentucky's other charts at Western Kentucky and the University of Kentucky, or check every chart with the scholarship finder.