Admit rate has ranged 68%–83% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. 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.
Kennesaw State University is a sprawling, pragmatic public institution in suburban Atlanta where career preparation is the dominant ethos. It’s a university of pathways, not pedigrees, offering a vast menu of undergraduate programs—from nursing and engineering to the arts—to a largely commuter student body. While its graduation rate lags behind national averages, its value proposition is clear: a relatively low-cost education that delivers solid earning potential for graduates who navigate its systems successfully.
Admission requirements
Test scores required
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
41,254
In-state tuition
$5,808
Out-of-state tuition
$17,736
No-Loan Policy
No
Meets Full Need
No
First-Year Retention
Not in sources
Demonstrated Interest
Not considered
Early Decision/Action
Not offered
Graduation Rate (6-yr)
52%
Median Earnings (10yr)
$57,552
Students Receiving Aid
92%
Average Debt at Graduation
$24,559
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$57,552
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.8×
Median debt at graduation
$23,833
Graduation rate
52%
First-year retention
77%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
53%
Pell (lower-income) share
38%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
27%
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer Science$68,499
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management$67,846
Co-application frequency from self-reported results — directional peer discovery, not a recommendation.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
15
Per 1,000 students
0.32
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.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
99
Summer high
86°F
Winter low
39°F
Annual rain
63.7"
Annual snow
1.3"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
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.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
212
Scholarly works
15,677
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.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.2%
Bottom → top quintile
24%
From bottom quintile
5%
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.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Kennesaw State University?
Kennesaw State University's acceptance rate is approximately 69% (Kennesaw, GA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Kennesaw State University?
Admitted students at Kennesaw State University typically score 1000–1220 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Kennesaw State University cost?
At Kennesaw State University, the average net price (after aid) is about $15,048 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Kennesaw State University?
Kennesaw State University enrolls approximately 41,254 undergraduate students.
Where is Kennesaw State University located?
Kennesaw State University is located in Kennesaw, GA.
Admissions
Kennesaw State operates with a moderately selective, formula-driven admissions process that prioritizes academic readiness over . With a 69% acceptance rate, it is accessible to a broad range of students, though admission is not guaranteed for all. The university uses clear, published minimums for automatic admission: a minimum score of 2200 on the KSU calculation (roughly a 990 SAT and a 2.5 GPA) or, alternatively, just a GPA of 3.2. For those submitting test scores, the middle 50% SAT range is 1000–1220, and the ACT range is 19–22. The process is rolling, with no early decision or early action programs offered. Notably, demonstrated interest is not considered in admissions decisions, per the . The overall yield rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—is 38%, though it has historically been much higher, ranking the university 10th nationally with a 61.7% in fall 2017. This suggests KSU is often a practical choice for students with other options.
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.
$63,005
Mechanical Engineering$63,005
Construction Management$62,409
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.
KSU’s academic identity is defined by its breadth and its focus on applied, multidisciplinary learning designed for the modern workforce. The university prepares students with teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving to focus on innovation. Students can explore a wide array of undergraduate degree programs across fields like business, technology, engineering, health, and the arts. According to U.S. News, the most popular majors include Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (6%), Education (6%), and Visual and Performing Arts (5%). The curriculum is structured to be a one-stop-shop for discovering majors, emphasizing practical exploration. Several academic programs have been ranked for their curriculum quality, affordability, course strength, and faculty credentials. This is not a liberal arts college; the vibe is vocational and direct, geared toward turning a degree into a job.
Life at KSU is what you make of it—a classic commuter-school dynamic where campus buzz is self-generated. The university supports a full range of world-class facilities and resources and boasts over 300 student-led organizations aimed at enhancing collaboration and community. The central hub for involvement is Owl Life, a platform where students can find events, join organizations, and track involvement. Student Affairs provides resources and programs to enhance success, well-being, and campus involvement. Descriptions of campus life highlight athletics, Greek life, ministries, dance, drama/theater, and film societies. The culture, as described by students, is diverse and driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, drawing students from throughout the region. However, the suburban Kennesaw location means the social scene isn't a given; students often seek out fun in nearby Atlanta or create their own through clubs and organizations.
KSU’s outcomes present a mixed but generally positive picture of return on investment. The six-year graduation rate is 52%, which is below the national midpoint for four-year colleges (59%). However, for those who graduate, the financial payoff is solid. According to the College Scorecard, the median earnings 10 years after entry are $57,552. More granular data shows earnings 1 year after graduation at $48,335 and earnings 5 years after at $62,098. The university has touted that its graduates earn higher salaries in their chosen career fields than those from the majority of Georgia’s colleges and universities. There is significant variance by major, with some fields like Music and Theatre bringing in average incomes closer to $20,000, while others presumably drive the higher median. The average debt at graduation is $24,559, which is nearly half the national average of $47,863 reported by U.S. News, underscoring the value proposition.
Affordability is a cornerstone of KSU’s appeal. The average net price after aid is $15,048. A significant majority of students receive financial help; 92% of full-time beginning undergraduates received grant or scholarship aid, with an average aid package of $17,357. The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid provides assistance, resources, and services, and students must complete the FAFSA each year to be considered for federal, state, and KSU aid. The university does not have a "no-loan" policy that meets full need with grants alone. Federal Direct Loans are available, with standard borrowing limits: freshmen may borrow up to $3,500, sophomores $4,500, and juniors/seniors $5,500. The includes estimates for housing, personal expenses, and loan fees, making the overall financial picture transparent and manageable for many Georgia families.
Kennesaw State stands out as a deliberate engine of socioeconomic mobility in the Atlanta metro. It rejects the high-stakes, anxiety of more selective schools in favor of clear, academic thresholds, making a four-year degree an attainable goal for a wide swath of students. Its strength isn't in exclusivity, but in access and output: a vast catalog of career-oriented majors fed directly into a strong regional economy. The culture is self-directed and entrepreneurial, perfect for students who want the resources of a large university without the pressure of a traditional "college town" experience. While its graduation rate indicates challenges with student persistence, those who cross the finish line do so with below-average debt and above-average earning potential for Georgia. It’s a practical, no-frills choice that delivers exactly what it promises: a affordable pathway to a solid career.
Kennesaw State University seal · sourceOffices & Services - Campus Hub · sourceVisit · sourceKennesaw State University recognized as Military Support College of Distinction - News · source
