Home Colleges New Jersey Kean University
Public 4-Year Minimally Selective Union, NJ NCAA Division III with football

Kean University

Union, NJ

75.9%
Acceptance Rate
$37,087/yr
Est. Cost of Attendancesum of published cost components
$12,447/yr
Avg Price After Aid
45%
6-yr Grad Rate
11,433
Undergrads

About Kean University

Kean University is a public institution located in Union, New Jersey, situated in a large suburban area. With an undergraduate enrollment of 11,433 students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1, the university serves a diverse student body, including nearly half first-generation students.

Type
Public 4-Year
Undergrads
11,433
Avg Faculty Salary
$95,236
Athletics
NCAA Division III with football
Endowment
$77.6M
Pell Students
47.9%
First-Gen
46.4%
What Kean University Is Known For
Majors far more concentrated here than at colleges nationally
Computer Systems Networking and... 55 graduates · 2.2% of degrees here vs 0.04% nationally 57×
Community Health and Preventive Medicine 41 graduates · 1.6% of degrees here vs 0.07% nationally 23×
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement... 191 graduates · 7.7% of degrees here vs 0.61% nationally 13×
Architecture 53 graduates · 2.1% of degrees here vs 0.18% nationally 12×
Speech Communication and Rhetoric 108 graduates · 4.3% of degrees here vs 1.25% nationally
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023, against the national share at the same degree level
Admissions
75.9%
Acceptance rate · Minimally Selective
12,142
Applicants
Can I Get In? →
Cost & Aid
$12,447 avg net
Average net price after aid
$7,374
Under $30K income
$77.6M
Endowment
Can I Afford It? →
Outcomes
$46,603 median
Median earnings 6 years after entering
45%
6-yr Grad Rate
$23,250
Median Debt
Is It Worth It? →

Kean University Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate
75.9%
12,142 applicants
Student:Faculty Ratio
17:1
Undergrad instruction

Kean University has an acceptance rate of 75.9%, indicating that most applicants who apply are admitted. This relatively high acceptance rate means the admissions process is not highly selective.

How Selective Is That, Really?
Each dot is one of 100 applicants · Source: school's Common Data Set, else College Scorecard
1 in 2 applicants is admitted · 12,142 applied
10-Year Acceptance Rate Trend
10-year trend · Source: College Scorecard
10 years

SAT & ACT Score Ranges

Where Admitted Students Score
Middle 50% of enrolled students, on the full SAT scale · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS)
Fall 2023
930–1150
40080012001600
Who Applies, and Who Gets In
First-year applicants, admits and enrollees by gender
Applied Admitted Rate Enrolled
Men 4,755 3,479 73.2% 822
Women 7,387 5,856 79.3% 1,146
SOURCEIPEDS Admissions — Fall 2023 admissions cycle
How These Admissions Numbers Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Kean University admits 75.9% of applicants — a typical similar college admits 83%.

Acceptance rate
This school
75.9%
Similar colleges (532)
83%
NJ (58)
76.3%
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (175)
73.3%
National (1,934)
78.1%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Kean University Tuition, Fees & Cost of Attendance

Avg Net Price
$12,447
Average for all students receiving federal aid, 2023-24
Median Federal Debt
$23,250
Federal Loan Rate
41.1%
Students borrowing federal loans

Kean University's cost of attendance is $37,087, while students pay an average net price of $12,447. Students with greater financial need, including the 47.9% receiving Pell grants, typically pay less.

Cost of Attendance Breakdown
Estimated annual costs · on-campus, 2023-24 · Source: College Scorecard
$37,087
In-state Tuition & Fees
$14,299
39%
Room & Board
$18,264
49%
Books & Supplies
$1,200
3%
Other Expenses
$3,324
9%

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income
Average net price after all grants and scholarships · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS net price)
Under $30,000
$7,374
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,859
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,136
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,146
Over $110,000
$20,110

* One or more income brackets show an unusually low net price, reflecting need-based aid that can reduce cost to near zero for families in that range.

Full Cost of Attendance
Source: College Scorecard
2023-24

Student Loan Debt

How Many Students Borrow
Undergraduates taking on any loan
Take out a loan
86%
Federal loans
41%

Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $246.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How This Price Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

After aid, Kean University costs $12,447 a year — about 15% less than a typical similar college.

Cost of attendance
This school
$26,949
Similar colleges (565)
$25,083
NJ (78)
$26,318
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (218)
$26,490
National (3,197)
$25,367
Students taking a loan
This school
85.7%
Similar colleges (583)
84.8%
NJ (104)
87.2%
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (221)
85.1%
National (4,096)
86.4%
Median debt at graduation
This school
$23,250
Similar colleges (585)
$21,000
NJ (105)
$11,995
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (230)
$12,523
National (4,347)
$13,097
Average net price
This school
$12,447
Similar colleges (565)
$14,600
NJ (133)
$18,332
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (324)
$18,541
National (5,106)
$17,160

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Kean University Graduation Rate & Student Outcomes

6-yr Grad Rate
45%
Median Earnings 6yr
$46,603
6 years after entering

Kean University has a 45.0% graduation rate. Median earnings for graduates reach $46,603 six years after entry and $57,237 ten years after entry.

Graduate Earnings After College

Median Graduate Earnings Over Time
6 and 10 years after entering · includes all students, not just graduates · Source: College Scorecard
Median Earnings by Gender · 6 Years After Entering
Students working 6 years after entering · Source: College Scorecard
$48,834
Men
$45,235
Women
Graduation Rate: Pell vs. Non-Pell
6-year graduation rate by grant status · Source: College Scorecard
44.4%
Pell recipients
50.4%
Non-Pell students

Top Majors & Programs

Top Majors by Graduates
Most recent year available · bachelor's degrees only · Source: IPEDS Completions 2023
MajorGraduates
Psychology, General378
Business Administration and Management,...272
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement...191
Biology/Biological Sciences, General183
Accounting119
Speech Communication and Rhetoric108
Elementary Education and Teaching94
Computer and Information Sciences, General89
Marketing/Marketing Management, General83
Exercise Science and Kinesiology59
Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity
Completing within six years
Asian
62.1%
White
54.2%
Hispanic
45.2%
Black
40%
SOURCECollege Scorecard — groups with too few students to report are omitted
Earnings Further Out
The longer horizon

Median earnings eight years after entering Kean University are $53,438, and 66% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How These Outcomes Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Six years after entry, former Kean University students earn $46,603 — 1% more than at a typical similar college.

Median earnings, 10 years
This school
$57,237
Similar colleges (587)
$54,560
NJ (106)
$45,782
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (246)
$47,148
National (4,696)
$40,782
Median earnings, 6 years
This school
$46,603
Similar colleges (589)
$46,058
NJ (109)
$38,311
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (256)
$38,451
National (4,847)
$35,433
Graduation rate
This school
45%
Similar colleges (566)
51.7%
NJ (52)
57.2%
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (166)
56.1%
National (2,168)
52.3%
Freshman retention
This school
75.7%
Similar colleges (567)
76%
NJ (46)
79.4%
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (145)
81.8%
National (1,841)
75.7%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Kean University Campus, Athletics & Faculty

Kean University is a public institution located in Union, New Jersey, a large suburb setting. The student body of 11,433 undergraduates includes significant populations of first-generation students (46.4%) and Pell grant recipients (47.9%), with women comprising 60.7% of enrollment.

Student Demographics
Undergraduate enrollment · Source: College Scorecard / IPEDS
Race & Ethnicity
White
23.9%
Asian
4.5%
Hispanic
39.2%
Black
21.2%
Other Indicators
First-generation
46.4%
Pell grant recipients
47.9%
Women
60.7%
Kean University Athletics
Total Revenue
$2.3M
Total Expense
$2.3M
Athletes
504
302 men · 202 women
Head Coach Salaries
Men's vs Women's programs · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's sports
$83,041
Women's sports
$83,274

Average head coach salary by program gender.

Academic Resources
376
Full-time faculty
$95,236
Avg faculty salary
5,924
FT staff
$77.6M
Endowment
Faculty Salary by Gender
All instructional ranks combined · Source: IPEDS Human Resources
Men (avg)
$97,545
Women (avg)
$93,703
Overall avg
$95,236
Who Is on Campus
Beyond the undergraduate headcount
Undergraduates
11,433
Graduate students
2,147
Varsity Athletes
Play a varsity sport
5%

461 of 9,277 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.

SOURCEIPEDS enrollment; Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filings
Online & Distance Learning
How much of the teaching happens remotely
Undergrads fully online
11.1%
Undergrads taking any
23.3%
Grad students fully online
5.3%

1,251 of 11,234 undergraduates study entirely at a distance, against 113 of 2,118 graduate students.

SOURCEIPEDS Fall Enrollment, distance education status

Kean University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How This Campus Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median
Pell grant share
This school
47.9%
Similar colleges (590)
34%
NJ (140)
43.8%
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (344)
44.3%
National (5,367)
40.1%
Research spending per student
This school
$2,356
Similar colleges (531)
$8,786
NJ (72)
$5,499
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (220)
$6,266
National (2,823)
$5,605
Students per faculty member
This school
17:1
Similar colleges (595)
16:1
NJ (143)
16:1
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (353)
15:1
National (5,427)
15:1

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Every Major at Kean University
50 fields of study, bachelor's degree level, grouped by subject area
2,492 graduates
Business and Marketing 547 grads · 5 majors
Business Administration and Management,... 272
Accounting 119
Marketing/Marketing Management, General 83
Finance, General 52
International Business/Trade/Commerce 21
Psychology 388 grads · 2 majors
Psychology, General 378
Psychology, Other 10
Homeland Security and Protective Services 191 grads · 1 major
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement... 191
Biological and Biomedical Sciences 183 grads · 1 major
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 183
Education 170 grads · 4 majors
Elementary Education and Teaching 94
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 48
Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching 26
Music Teacher Education 2
Health Professions 160 grads · 7 majors
Communication Sciences and Disorders, General 45
Community Health and Preventive Medicine 41
Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy 24
Nursing Science 21
Athletic Training/Trainer 14
Health Information/Medical Records... 8
Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical... 7
Computer and Information Sciences 144 grads · 2 majors
Computer and Information Sciences, General 89
Computer Systems Networking and... 55
Visual and Performing Arts 139 grads · 9 majors
Design and Visual Communications, General 39
Interior Design 37
Art/Art Studies, General 25
Fine/Studio Arts, General 9
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 8
Industrial and Product Design 8
Acting 7
Music, General 4
Music Performance, General 2
Communication and Journalism 112 grads · 2 majors
Speech Communication and Rhetoric 108
Advertising 4
Parks, Recreation and Kinesiology 69 grads · 2 majors
Exercise Science and Kinesiology 59
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities... 10
Social Sciences 61 grads · 3 majors
Sociology, General 38
Political Science and Government, General 20
Economics, General 3
English Language and Literature 54 grads · 1 major
English Language and Literature, General 54
History 54 grads · 1 major
History, General 54
Architecture 53 grads · 1 major
Architecture 53
Science Technologies 45 grads · 1 major
Science Technologies/Technicians, Other 45
Mathematics and Statistics 29 grads · 1 major
Mathematics, General 29
Physical Sciences 24 grads · 2 majors
Chemistry, General 12
Geology/Earth Science, General 12
Public Administration and Social Services 21 grads · 1 major
Public Administration 21
Foreign Languages and Linguistics 20 grads · 1 major
Spanish Language and Literature 20
Liberal Arts and General Studies 15 grads · 1 major
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General... 15
Multidisciplinary Studies 9 grads · 1 major
International/Globalization Studies 9
Natural Resources and Conservation 4 grads · 1 major
Environmental Science 4
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023 — first majors only, so a student with a double major is counted once

Kean University Location & Campus Safety

Kean University is in Union, NJ, in what IPEDS classifies as a large suburb setting. The campus sits about 2.3 miles from the center of Union. There are 105 other colleges within 25 miles, and New York, NY is 15.5 miles away.

Kean University Other colleges within 30 miles
Large suburb
Campus Setting
2.3 mi
To City Center
105
Colleges Within 25 mi
3,284
Union Population
Living in Union
Cost of living and getting around, for the whole city — not the campus
ACS 2023
$1,695
Median Rent / mo
$127,411
Median Household Income
28.7%
Rent as % of Income
How People Commute
Drive alone
74.8%
Walk
2.7%
Public transit
7%

Union County scores 13.1 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — above average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.

Undergraduates make up about 7.5% of Union's residents.

SOURCEU.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates; EPA National Walkability Index
Colleges Near Kean University
Within 30 miles, at least 500 students, by straight-line distance
Seton Hall University 6,036 students 4.5 mi
SOURCEIPEDS campus coordinates, Kean University to each campus

Campus Safety at Kean University

Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures Kean University reported for 2024.

9
On-Campus Offenses
4
In Residence Halls
0.6
Per 1,000 Students
2
Domestic, Dating & Stalking

Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.

Reported On-Campus Offenses by Year
Criminal offenses reported on campus, including residence halls · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Clery Act disclosures
2022
9
2023
6
2024
9
What Was Reported in 2024
On-campus criminal offenses by category
Sexual offenses
7
Burglary
1
Motor vehicle theft
1

Separately, Kean University reported 128 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.

SOURCEU.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety and Security — Clery Act disclosures, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Kean University admissions, costs, and outcomes.