Kent State: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Kent State University at Kent · Kent, Ohio · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- 25,526
- Applicants
- 16,015
- Admitted63%
- 4,026
- Enrolled
- 25%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Moderately selective63% admittedRanked #236 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #192 (tie), Business Programs #199 (tie), Computer Science #217 (tie), Nursing #115 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Kent State University at Kent (see the source), read on 2026-06-15.
Is Kent State a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Kent State against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Kent State is a public university in Kent, Ohio that admits about 63% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $20,787 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Psychology, General and Business Administration, Management and Operations, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 65% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 1.6 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Kent State is a public institution located in Kent, Ohio with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Kent State admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 63%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1120 and an ACT composite around 22. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $20,787 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Kent State?
62% of enrolled students at Kent State had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.64, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
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What does Kent State weight in admissions?
Kent State reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
1- Academic GPA
Important
1- Rigor of secondary school record
Considered
10- Standardized test scores
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
Not Considered
6- Class rank
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores Kent State typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 500–610, with an EBRW midpoint near 555. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 18–25. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 990 |
| 50th percentile | 1120 |
| 75th percentile | 1230 |
| % submitting SAT | 16% |
| 25th percentile | 18 |
| 50th percentile | 21 |
| 75th percentile | 25 |
| % submitting ACT | 43% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional for first-year applicants; you choose on the application whether scores are considered, and the choice can't be changed online.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Kent State's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 18.7% |
| Top 25% of class | 44.6% |
| Top 50% of class | 79.5% |
| % submitting class rank | 47.5% |
How much does Kent State actually cost?
Published tuition is $13,232 for in-state students and $23,082 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,794 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $20,787 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 29% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $20,787 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 62% |
| Average need-based grant | $12,634 |
| Average merit award, no financial need1,248 first-year students received one | $6,592 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 63% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $30,381 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $50 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Kent State
| Regular deadline | 8/1 |
| Notification date | 10/1 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 or within 2 weeks if notified thereafter |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from Kent State?
These predict outcomes at Kent State better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Kent State
The most popular undergraduate programs at Kent State, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Psychology, General and Business Administration, Management and Operations. Across all programs, Kent State confers roughly 2,166 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program report a median income of about $70,845 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 533 | $70,845 |
| Psychology, General | 343 | $40,904 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 276 | $59,986 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 250 | $52,096 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | 239 | $57,478 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 178 | $40,115 |
| Marketing | 174 | $64,923 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 173 | $47,159 |
Is Kent State safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Kent State disclosed 30 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 1.6 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 1 violent offenses and 28 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Kent State?
About 31% of undergraduates at Kent State live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Ohio parents ask about
Next steps for Kent State
Common questions parents ask about Kent State
What GPA do I need for Kent State?
62% of enrolled students at Kent State had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.64, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Kent State typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 500–610, with an EBRW midpoint near 555. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 18–25.
How much does Kent State actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Kent State after grants and scholarships is $20,787 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $13,232 and $23,082 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Kent State realistic for my child?
Kent State admits 63% of applicants, so 500–610 SAT Math is target range and below 500 is a reach. Then check the $20,787 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Kent State?
Kent State accepts about 63% of applicants out of roughly 25,526 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is Kent State test-optional?
Yes. Kent State is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Kent State?
About 65% of students at Kent State graduate within six years. 80% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Kent State look for in applicants?
Kent State rates GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Kent State a public or private school, and where is it located?
Kent State is a public institution located in Kent, Ohio.
What are the most popular majors at Kent State?
The largest undergraduate majors at Kent State by annual graduates are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Psychology, General and Business Administration, Management and Operations. The school awards about 2,166 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Kent State safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Kent State reported 30 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 1.6 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Kent State?
At Kent State, 31% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Kent State University at Kent, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers