Kennesaw State University

Public · Moderately Selective · GA

Photo: Larry Felton Johnson, Cobb County Courier (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationGA · South

SettingSuburban

Undergrads41,254

Student:faculty23:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate24.2%

6-yr grad rate52.2%

Drop-out rate23.3%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$6k

Out-of-state tuition$18k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity60.8%

Gender diversity49.9%

International1.8%

Identity—

Overview

Kennesaw State University is a large public university in the northern suburbs of Atlanta, with campuses in Kennesaw and Marietta that reflect its 2015 merger with Southern Polytechnic State University. That merger is a real key to understanding the school: it combined a traditional comprehensive university with a smaller, more technically focused polytechnic, which is why engineering and architecture concentrate specifically on the Marietta campus rather than being spread evenly across the university.

Academics

Engineering, computer science, and architecture are notable strengths concentrated on the Marietta campus, a direct legacy of the Southern Polytechnic merger, while the Coles College of Business draws heavily from the Atlanta metro's corporate presence for internships and recruiting. The university's size supports a broad program catalog beyond these signature areas, and Kennesaw's rapid growth in recent years has meant real, ongoing investment in facilities and faculty rather than a static program list.

Campus & student life

Division I athletics, including a football program launched only in 2015, give Kennesaw State a bigger-school sports culture than its relatively recent rise to university status might suggest. The split Kennesaw/Marietta campus structure means students' day-to-day experience depends somewhat on which campus their program is based on, with Marietta feeling more technical and Kennesaw more traditionally comprehensive. Proximity to Atlanta gives easy access to internships, entertainment, and city life without requiring students to live in the city itself.

Getting in

Admission is largely grade- and record-driven with relatively broad access compared to more selective Georgia public options like the University of Georgia or Georgia Tech, making it a realistic target for a wide range of applicants. Program-specific requirements apply for competitive majors like architecture. Transfer students, including many from Georgia's technical college system, make up a substantial share of the student body, reflecting the university's role as a major access point in metro Atlanta.

After graduation

Strong regional ties to Atlanta's corporate and tech employers give engineering, computer science, and business graduates solid local placement, aided by the university's scale and metro-area location. The Marietta campus's engineering and architecture programs, inherited from Southern Polytechnic, carry a strong applied, industry-connected reputation of their own.

Worth knowing

The 2015 merger means the two campuses still carry somewhat distinct academic personalities even under one university name, so prospective students should look closely at which campus their intended major is actually based on rather than assuming a uniform experience.

kennesaw.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate69.2%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1000–1220 · ACT 19–26

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Applying (2026-27 cycle)

Apply through Common App.

Priority / scholarshipNov 2

Financial aid formsMar 1

Applying by the priority deadline gives earlier consideration for financial aid, scholarships, and on-campus housing; applications are otherwise accepted on a rolling basis through the final deadline.

Verified from the school’s admissions pages ↗