Kean University

Public · Moderately Selective · NJ

Photo: LizzyBran (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationNJ · Northeast

SettingSuburban

Undergrads11,433

Student:faculty17:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate24.7%

6-yr grad rate46.6%

Drop-out rate23.9%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$14k

Out-of-state tuition$22k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity76.1%

Gender diversity60.7%

International6.1%

Identity—

Overview

Kean University is a public university in Union, New Jersey, built around access and career preparation for a diverse and heavily first-generation student body drawn largely from the New York City and northern New Jersey metro area. It began as a teacher-training institution, and that identity still shapes its practical, career-oriented culture even as it has broadened into a comprehensive university with a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs.

Academics

Education remains a historic strength with deep ties to New Jersey school districts for student teaching placements, and the university has built out a range of other career-oriented majors around that same practical core. Business, psychology, and the sciences are also sizable programs, generally taught with a practical, career-oriented emphasis rather than a research-first orientation, with many students balancing coursework against outside jobs or family responsibilities.

Campus & student life

Union sits in a dense, suburban part of northern New Jersey with easy access to New York City by train, and a large share of Kean's students commute rather than live on campus, which shapes a less traditionally residential social culture than at a rural flagship. Campus life is built more around commuter-friendly scheduling, clubs, and commuter lounges than around a dominant Greek or athletics scene.

Getting in

Kean's admissions process emphasizes access over selectivity, and the university is known for supporting students who are the first in their family to attend college, with academic support services built directly into the student experience rather than treated as an add-on. The application itself is straightforward, with academic record as the main factor considered.

After graduation

Education graduates place readily into New Jersey public schools given the university's deep, long-standing relationships with area districts. Business and health-related graduates generally find work across the New York-northern New Jersey job market the university sits inside, and the alumni network, while not nationally prominent, is practically useful for students staying in-region after graduation.

Worth knowing

Kean operates an unusual branch campus in Wenzhou, China, giving it an international dimension uncommon among regional New Jersey publics and creating some cross-campus exchange opportunities for students on either side. Its proximity to New York City also makes it a realistic commuter option for students balancing work and family responsibilities, and its relatively accessible admissions process makes it a common choice for students who want a four-year public option without a highly competitive application.

kean.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate75.9%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 930–1150

Test policyoptional

Rec letters2

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying