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Kennesaw State University logo
Public Kennesaw, GA · Suburban · Southeast · 100% data
A- Diversity B+ Earnings B Value
Graduation Rate
50% C-
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$57,552 B+
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$15,048 C+
Close to the national average
Acceptance Rate
69% B-
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +41% vs avg
Graduation -12% vs avg
Net Price +-12% vs avg
Mobility Top 66%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 24.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $24.0 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Georgia.

24.0× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $24.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,385,152.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Earnings 41% above the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $24.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Economic Footprint

Inventor Rate
0.1%
Top 88%
Patents
11
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
5
Downstream influence

Why Kennesaw State University Matters

Kennesaw State University is a public research university in Kennesaw, GA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public Research University
Carnegie Class
R2 · High Research
Enrollment
41,254
Setting
Suburban
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, Engineering, Health Professions

Why students choose Kennesaw State University

Strong STEM core
A heavy concentration in technical fields
Research-intensive environment
Active labs and research-active faculty
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 38% overall
B+
Earnings
$57,552 median
B
Value
3.8× net price
C+
Affordability
$15,048/yr net
C-
Graduation
50% graduate
D+
Social Mobility
1.2% climb Q1→Q5
B-
Selectivity
69% admit rate
A-
Diversity
0.73 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of over 41,000 students, Kennesaw State University serves a diverse community that thrives on collaboration and ambition. It's a solid choice for those interested in practical fields like Business and Marketing, Engineering, Computer Science, Psychology, and Health Professions. The acceptance rate of 69% makes it accessible for a wide range of applicants, and its vibrant campus life appeals to students looking for a well-rounded college experience.

Once you graduate, the numbers suggest a promising future. Graduates report average earnings of about $57,552 within ten years of completing their degree. This can be especially relevant for students considering their return on investment. Kennesaw State is also relatively affordable, with a net price of $15,048 after aid. For many, this means the financial burden post-graduation is manageable, especially considering that about 38% of students receive Pell Grants, which can help cover costs.

Looking at the practicalities, students here tend to thrive in an environment that balances academic rigor with community support. The median debt of $23,833 is something to keep in mind, but many find that the supportive services and resources available help them navigate their college journey effectively. Overall, Kennesaw State University is a great fit for students who value both academic and personal growth while preparing for a successful career.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Kennesaw State University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Kennesaw State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Kennesaw, Georgia, Kennesaw State University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 69% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,113. The graduation rate is roughly 50%.

Acceptance Rate
69%
Retention Rate
77%
SAT Average
1113
ACT Midpoint
23
SAT Range
1000–1220
ACT Range
19–26
Full-Time Faculty
63%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$9,711
Diversity Index
0.73
First-Gen Students
27%
Applicants
21,106
Admitted
14,320

Inside the Admissions Office

School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25

The acceptance rate tells you how hard Kennesaw State University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 38% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school many admits weigh against other offers.

Yield Rate
38%
of admits enroll
Submitted SAT
38%
of enrolled freshmen
Submitted ACT
16%
of enrolled freshmen

Test-optional, in practice. Only about 54% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.

Source: Kennesaw State University's Common Data Set, 2024-25 View the source document on collegedata.fyi →

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Kennesaw State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Kennesaw State University is $17,736, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $15,048. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,235 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,833 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$5,808
Out-of-State
$17,736
Avg Net Price
$15,048
Median Debt
$23,833
Pell Grant Rate
38%
Federal Loan Rate
33%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$12,235
Family Income $30K–$48K
$12,661
Family Income $48K–$75K
$15,185
Family Income $110K+
$19,309

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Kennesaw State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Kennesaw State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Kennesaw State University earn a median of $57,552, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$47,863
8 Years
$52,536
10 Years
$57,552
Debt-to-Earnings
0.41x
Earning > $25K
68%

Earnings Trajectory

$47,863 6yr $52,536 8yr $57,552 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (794)
18%
100% (794)
18%
100% (794)
18%
100% (794)
18%

How Kennesaw Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation50%Earnings 10yr$58KNet Price$15KRetention77%Median Debt$24KPell Grant Rate38%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$12K$0-30K$13K$30-48K$15K$48-75K$19K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%4.9%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%23.9%MOBILITY1.18%

College ROI Calculator

Is Kennesaw State University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Kennesaw State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $15,048/year ($60,192 total). Graduates earn $57,552 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,445,344 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,385,152 (24.0× your investment). The median debt is $23,833, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 50% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$60,192
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,445,344
Net Return
$1,385,152
ROI Multiple
24.0×
Cost Per Year
$15,048
Median Debt
$23,833
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
50%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Kennesaw State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Kennesaw State University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.18%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 4.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 23.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $99,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
1.18%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
23.9%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
4.9%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$135,729
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Kennesaw State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Kennesaw State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.63
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.03
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
5.2%
Support Ratio
0.98
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

Kennesaw State University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 11 patents tied to its graduates.

Inventor Rate
0.14%
Top 88% nationally
Patents Produced
11
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
5
Downstream influence
Inventors From Low-Income
0.22%
Bottom-20% families

Top Programs

The fields Kennesaw State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Kennesaw State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Kennesaw, Georgia, Kennesaw State University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 69% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,113. The graduation rate is roughly 50%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Kennesaw State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Kennesaw State University is $17,736, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $15,048. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,235 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,833 in federal student loans.

Is Kennesaw State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Kennesaw State University earn a median of $57,552, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does Kennesaw State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Kennesaw State University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.18%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 4.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 23.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $99,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Kennesaw State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Kennesaw State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Does Kennesaw State University offer Early Decision?

No. Kennesaw State University does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).

Is Kennesaw State University really test-optional?

In practice, yes. Only about 54% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Kennesaw State University (2024-25 Common Data Set).

What percentage of admitted students enroll at Kennesaw State University?

About 38% of admitted students choose to enroll at Kennesaw State University — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys