Posted on Jul 25, 2006

MURRAY, Ky., July 21 — Murray State University has been recognized as one of the nation’s top 22 “Best Buys” in online bachelor degrees for business and management. The GetEducated.com online organization headquartered in Vermont announced the 2006 recognition last week. MSU was the only Kentucky institution honored in the bachelor/business category. For Murray, the recognition joins a long list of “best value” honors that includes Kiplinger, U.S.News & World Report, Barron’s The Princeton Review and other noted college ranking services. According to GedEducated.com editors, the latest online degree rankings were based on their Spring 2006 survey of publicly posted tuition and fee rates at accredited bachelor degree programs offered through regionally accredited universities in the United States. Tuition rates were estimated for four years of online college study. The survey only included accredited academic institutions. The Bachelor of Science in Business online program at Murray is administered by the department of management, marketing and business administration within the college of business and public affairs. Offered online in cooperation with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) and the Kentucky Virtual University (KYVU), the program serves as an asset to students throughout the state and region who want to increase their educational opportunities and not stop with a two-year degree. “Murray State University and the college of business and public affairs strive to provide access to quality higher education for all, while keeping the costs down,” said Dr. Tim Todd, interim dean of the college. “This is the ultimate goal that drives us to constantly improve our delivery methods and our student outreach.” According to Jane Hall, undergraduate business advisor/coordinator, online students are coming from several sources, including an increasing number of staff members and recent graduates from other educational institutions such as KCTCS schools. At Murray, online students typically range from 20-49 years of age. The majority of students are both men and women who work full-time. A growing number are former students who for some reason did not finish when they were enrolled previously. Some are mothers at home with children who want to finish their degree, while others are men and women seeking promotions or who travel with their jobs. Online degree opportunities at Murray are also attracting students seeking second degrees and military personnel. Murray State University will put their MBA degree program online this fall. For more information contact Hall at (270) 809-3585, or send an e-mail to: bpaadvising@murraystate.edu.