Kenyon College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Gambier, Ohio · Private nonprofit · Selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- Early Decision
- Early Decision II
- 7,091
- Applicants
- 2,138
- Admitted30%
- 412
- Enrolled
- 19%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Selective30% admittedRanked #41 (tie) in National Liberal Arts Colleges; Economics #140 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Kenyon College (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is Kenyon College a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Kenyon College against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Kenyon College is a private nonprofit university in Gambier, Ohio that admits about 30% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $38,512 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for English Language and Literature, General, Economics and Psychology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 85% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 7.5 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Kenyon College is a private institution located in Gambier, Ohio with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Kenyon College admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 30%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1430 and an ACT composite around 33. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $38,512 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Kenyon College?
64% of enrolled students at Kenyon College had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 4.15, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare Kenyon College with the other schools on your list
Open Kenyon College in College Search to set it beside up to three other colleges on cost, admission odds and outcomes, and save it to a shortlist when you are ready.
What does Kenyon College weight in admissions?
Kenyon College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
2- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
Important
6- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- Level of applicant's interest
Considered
9- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- Interview
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not Considered
1- Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores Kenyon College typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 678–760, with an EBRW midpoint near 715. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–33. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1400 |
| 50th percentile | 1430 |
| 75th percentile | 1495 |
| % submitting SAT | 7.5% |
| 25th percentile | 31 |
| 50th percentile | 32 |
| 75th percentile | 34 |
| % submitting ACT | 8% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional; all applicants automatically considered for merit aid.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Kenyon College's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does Kenyon College actually cost?
Published tuition is $71,520 for in-state students and $71,520 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $15,640 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $38,512 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 10% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $72,880 |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $38,512 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 100% |
| Average need-based grant | $59,495 |
| Average merit award, no financial need131 first-year students received one | $28,992 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 41% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $28,833 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA and CSS Profile (incl. noncustodial parent)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | — |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Kenyon College
| Regular deadline | 1/15 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 15 |
| Offers Early Decision II | Yes |
| ED II deadline | January 15 |
| ED acceptance rate (all rounds) | 35% |
Will my child graduate from Kenyon College?
These predict outcomes at Kenyon College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Kenyon College
The most popular undergraduate programs at Kenyon College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are English Language and Literature, General, Economics and Psychology, General. Across all programs, Kenyon College confers roughly 328 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its English Language and Literature, General program report a median income of about $44,562 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General | 70 | $44,562 |
| Economics | 61 | $85,978 |
| Psychology, General | 48 | n/a |
| Political Science and Government | 44 | n/a |
| History | 33 | n/a |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 25 | n/a |
| Biology, General | 24 | n/a |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 23 | n/a |
Is Kenyon College safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Kenyon College disclosed 13 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 7.5 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 13 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Kenyon College?
About 100% of undergraduates at Kenyon College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 14% of men join a fraternity and 20% of women join a sorority. 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 Kenyon College
Common questions parents ask about Kenyon College
What GPA do I need for Kenyon College?
64% of enrolled students at Kenyon College had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 4.15, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Kenyon College typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 678–760, with an EBRW midpoint near 715. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–33.
How much does Kenyon College actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Kenyon College after grants and scholarships is $38,512 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $71,520. Budget against the net figure.
Is Kenyon College realistic for my child?
Kenyon College admits 30% of applicants, so 678–760 SAT Math is target range and below 678 is a reach. Then check the $38,512 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Kenyon College?
Kenyon College accepts about 30% of applicants out of roughly 7,091 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is Kenyon College test-optional?
Yes. Kenyon College 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 Kenyon College?
About 85% of students at Kenyon College graduate within six years, and 80% finish in four years. 91% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Kenyon College?
Kenyon College's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 35%, compared with its overall rate of 30%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Kenyon College look for in applicants?
Kenyon College rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Kenyon College a public or private school, and where is it located?
Kenyon College is a private nonprofit institution located in Gambier, Ohio.
What are the most popular majors at Kenyon College?
The largest undergraduate majors at Kenyon College by annual graduates are English Language and Literature, General, Economics and Psychology, General. The school awards about 328 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Kenyon College safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Kenyon College reported 13 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 7.5 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 Kenyon College?
At Kenyon College, 100% of undergraduates live on campus, 14% of men are in fraternities, 20% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Kenyon College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers