
Keene, NHpublicwww.keene.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 88%–91% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Keene State College is a public liberal arts college in New Hampshire with a 90% acceptance rate and a focus on hands-on learning. Known for its strong education, nursing, and visual arts programs, it offers a classic New England college experience with a mix of academic rigor and a laid-back, community-oriented vibe. The school's affordability and high financial aid participation (100% of first-year students receive aid) make it a practical choice for many.
Test-blind — scores not considered
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Outcomes & value
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Keene State College is decidedly not selective, with an Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering around 90% (sources vary slightly between 89-90.3%). The middle 50% of admitted students typically score between 910-1130 on the SAT, though the college has adopted a test-optional policy as of fall 2026 admissions. The application deadline is April 1, with rolling admissions thereafter. In recent years, the college received 5,314 applications, admitted 4,800, and enrolled 2,744—reflecting its role as an accessible public option in New England.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Keene State offers 40+ undergraduate programs, with standout majors in Education, Nursing, Business, and Visual/Performing Arts. The curriculum leans liberal arts with a pre-professional twist, emphasizing hands-on learning—think student teaching, lab work, and studio art. Students can even design their own major. The Princeton Review notes its 'strong pre-professional bent,' while Niche highlights the nursing program's reputation. Classes are small (the student-faculty ratio isn't specified, but the vibe is personal), and the science programs are 'rigorous yet flexible,' per the college's own description.
Life at Keene State is classic small-college New England: 64% of students live on campus in dorms, while 36% commute. The campus has a state-of-the-art rec center (with Zumba, yoga, and three full basketball courts) and a bustling club scene. Reddit users describe it as a 'generic but happening party school' with 'diverse personalities.' The town of Keene offers coffee shops, hiking trails, and a tight-knit community vibe. Student activities range from activism to intramurals, with plenty of opportunities to engage locally.
Graduation rates are middling: 53-58% of students finish within six years (sources vary), slightly above the national average. Alumni earn a median salary of $39,208 one year post-graduation—comparable to many regional public colleges. In 2024, the college awarded 733 degrees, with 62.6% going to women. While not a powerhouse for elite grad school placements, Keene State prepares students for practical careers in education, healthcare, and business.
Keene State is affordable for a New England college, with a Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. of $19,546-$26,056 after aid. A whopping 100% of first-years receive financial aid, with average packages totaling $17,075. The college offers scholarships, grants, and work-study options. The Net Price Calculator helps families estimate costs, though it’s not a final offer. For in-state students, it’s a particularly good value compared to pricier private alternatives.
Keene State is the anti-Ivy: unpretentious, practical, and deeply rooted in its community. Its 90% acceptance rate and test-optional policy make it accessible, while programs like Education and Nursing punch above their weight. The vibe is collaborative, not cutthroat—a place where future teachers, artists, and healthcare workers train without cutthroat competition. Add in the 100% financial aid participation rate and the charm of small-town New Hampshire, and you’ve got a solid choice for students who want a no-frills, high-value degree.