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Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, GA · Suburb · 41,254 students
WebsiteCommon AppForbes rankingScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$15,048
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
50%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
70% typical
$57,552
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$63,395 typical
69%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
73% typical · not scored
Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
About

Kennesaw State University is Georgia’s second-largest public institution, widely recognized for its rapid growth, active research initiatives, and strong professional preparation across its Kennesaw and Marietta campuses. Academically, the university is celebrated for its powerhouse programs in cybersecurity, nursing, business, education, and hands-on STEM degrees housed in the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology. Student life combines an energetic residential atmosphere fueled by NCAA Division I athletics with a large, career-focused commuter population involved in more than 300 campus organizations. A defining feature of KSU is its dual-campus model and deep integration into the booming metro Atlanta economy, providing undergraduates with exceptional co-op, internship, and corporate recruiting pipelines.

Wikipedia:Kennesaw State University (KSU) is a public research university in the U.S. state of Georgia with two campuses in the Atlanta metropolitan area, one in the Kennesaw area and the other in Marietta on a combined 581 acres (235 ha) of land. The school was founded in 1963 by the Georgia Board of Regents using local bonds and a federal space-grant during a time of major Georgia economic expansion after World War II. KSU also holds classes at the Cobb Galleria Centre, Dalton State College, and in Paulding County (Dallas). The total enrollment exceeds 51,000 students making KSU the third-largest university by enrollment in Georgia.

Location
Kennesaw, GA, 30144 · Suburb campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
ATL · Atlanta
29 mi away
Open in Google MapsView official campus map
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$5,808$17,736
Housing & food (on campus)$13,287$13,287
Books & supplies$1,500$1,500
Cost of attendance$24,008$44,977
Average net price$15,048Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$17,736
In-state: $5,808
Housing & food (on campus)$13,287
Books & supplies$1,500
Cost of attendance$44,977
In-state: $24,008
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $15,048
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: campus.kennesaw.edu
How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27
Kennesaw State University’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$21,660
Fees$1,188
Housing$9,332
Food$5,016
Books & supplies$1,500
Personal expenses$3,995
Transportation$2,222
Total published by the school$44,977
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$12,235
$30–48k
$12,661
$48–75k
$15,185
$75–110k
$18,263
$110k+
$19,309
Merit aid · 2024-25
Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.
Average award$1,070
First-years who got one64
Source: Kennesaw State University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
50%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
24%
Back for yr 2
77%
Transferred
28%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
51% graduated · 31% transferred · 2% still enrolled · 15% left or unknown
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$47,863
10 yrs after entry$57,552
Debt
Median at graduation$23,833
Monthly payment$253
Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$24.1k
90th percentile$35,312
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
69%
Test policy
Required
Checked Sep 2026
SAT average
1113
R 510–620 · M 490–600
ACT midpoint
23
Comp 19–26 · E 17–25 · M 17–25
SAT middle 50%: 1000–1220
40080012001600

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Essay prompts
How much essays count at Kennesaw State University: Not considered (one of four levels: very important · important · considered · not considered)
Source: Kennesaw State University's Common Data Set for 2024-25 — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

If Kennesaw State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 50%Women 50%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
23 : 1
Pell grant
38%
First-gen
27%
Family income
$43,182
Independent
24%
Veterans
0%
Age at entry
22.0
Part-time
24%
Race & ethnicity
White
39%
Hispanic
17%
Black
28%
Asian
6%
Two or more
5%
Non-resident
2%
Unknown
3%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division I-FCS · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Golf
    Men's · Women's
  • Lacrosse
    Women's
  • Soccer
    Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$47,863
After 10 yrs
$57,552
Psychology, General463
Business Administration, Management and Operations282
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing261
Mechanical Engineering240
Biology, General240
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness239
Marketing237
Computer Science224
Computer and Information Sciences, General198
Finance and Financial Management Services189
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods183
Accounting and Related Services176
Criminal Justice and Corrections173
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication170
Computer Engineering127
Construction Engineering125
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$124M
Full-time faculty
63%
Faculty salary
$9,711/mo
Teaching spend
$5,687
per student
Federal loans
33%
Classification
Carnegie type
Doctoral University
Research activity
R1 — very high research
$52M research spending · 82 research doctorates a year
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, selective admissions

Wondering if Kennesaw State University is the right fit for you?

SchoolScout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list
Financial aid & net cost estimates
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