How to get into Kennesaw State University
How to get into Kennesaw State: Georgia's third-largest public with a fast-growing applied STEM and business presence
69.2%
Acceptance rate
$5,808
In-state cost
$17,736
Out-of-state cost
What makes Kennesaw State University admissions different
Kennesaw State University is a public research university north of Atlanta — roughly 41,000 students, making it one of the largest universities in Georgia. KSU admits around 69% of applicants. The school has grown rapidly over the past two decades, with established programs in engineering technology and computing (the Coles College of Business, the College of Computing and Software Engineering, the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services, the Bagwell College of Education). For Georgia residents, KSU offers in-state tuition, HOPE scholarship eligibility, and proximity to the Atlanta job market.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply through the Common App or KSU's direct application. The school operates on rolling-style admissions with priority deadlines for honors and scholarship consideration.
- 2.
Georgia residents: confirm HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship eligibility. HOPE covers a substantial share of in-state tuition; Zell Miller (3.7+ HOPE GPA, 1200+ SAT/26+ ACT) covers full in-state tuition.
- 3.
Pick the right college within KSU. The Coles College of Business, the College of Computing and Software Engineering, the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services, and the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology all have their own program-specific framing.
- 4.
Apply to the Honors College through its separate process. Honors students get smaller seminars, priority registration, and dedicated advising.
- 5.
Apply for the Presidential and named merit scholarships at the priority deadline.
- 6.
Out-of-state applicants: run the net price calculator. KSU OOS sticker is moderate for a Southern public but in-state remains the cleaner value.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Missing the priority deadline for Honors College and scholarship consideration.
- ✕
Treating KSU as a backup to UGA or Georgia Tech without engaging with what it specifically offers. The proximity to the Atlanta job market and the applied STEM focus are real.
- ✕
Ignoring the HOPE/Zell Miller scholarship math for in-state students.
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Underestimating the growth. KSU's enrollment and program offerings have expanded rapidly — check current program details rather than older descriptions.
The specifics for Kennesaw State University
What makes this admissions process distinctive
Coles College of Business
AACSB-accredited with strong placement into the Atlanta business community; the Michael J. Coles College of Business is one of the larger undergraduate business schools in Georgia.
Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering
KSU's engineering and engineering technology programs (formerly the standalone Southern Polytechnic State University before the 2015 consolidation) provide applied-STEM pathways distinct from research-engineering schools.
Atlanta metro proximity and internship pipeline
KSU sits in the northern Atlanta metro with structured internship and co-op pipelines into Atlanta-based corporations and government, particularly in business, IT, and applied engineering.
Notable scholarships at Kennesaw State University
Georgia HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships
Georgia state aid programs covering substantial in-state tuition shares (HOPE for 3.0+ HOPE GPA, Zell Miller for 3.7+ HOPE GPA plus test thresholds). Stacks with KSU institutional aid.
What graduates actually do
Kennesaw State, one of Georgia's largest public universities, feeds metro Atlanta's corporate ecosystem heavily — Home Depot, Delta, Coca-Cola, UPS, and the regional tech corridor along I-75/I-285. The Coles College of Business and the College of Computing and Software Engineering are particular strengths, and the university's growing engineering programs (post-merger with Southern Polytechnic) place graduates into Atlanta-area manufacturing and tech.
Notable alumni
- Brandon Beachy — Professional baseball
Transfer pathway
Kennesaw State accepts transfers via the University System of Georgia's articulation policy. Transfer applicants need a 2.5+ GPA and 30+ transferable credits. The university has formal partnerships with Chattahoochee Technical College, Georgia Highlands College, and other Technical College System of Georgia institutions. Engineering and nursing transfers face higher requirements.
Articulation partners
Chattahoochee Technical College · Georgia Highlands College · Georgia Piedmont Technical College
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App. Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
If you're a Georgia resident with a B/B+ transcript and HOPE eligibility, KSU is a likely admit and a strong in-state value with proximity to Atlanta. The Honors College is the lever for high-achieving applicants who want a smaller-cohort experience inside a large public. Out-of-state applicants should compare cost against home-state publics — KSU is most compelling for Georgia residents and specific-program applicants.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.