Georgia State vs. KSU

Deciding between Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Georgia State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Georgia State Atlanta, GA
  • KSU Kennesaw, GA
  • Setting
  • Georgia State Large City
  • KSU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Georgia State 34,944
  • KSU 47,764
  • Type
  • Georgia State Public 4 Year
  • KSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Georgia State #763
  • KSU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Georgia State -
  • KSU -
  • Status
  • Georgia State Non-profit
  • KSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Georgia State
  • KSU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Georgia State $8,664
  • KSU $5,808
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Georgia State $24,840
  • KSU $17,736
  • Room & Board
  • Georgia State $13,392
  • KSU $13,287
  • Average Net Price
  • Georgia State $16,854
  • KSU $15,636
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Georgia State $12,052
  • KSU $8,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Georgia State 94%
  • KSU 92%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Georgia State 33,447
  • KSU 34,680
  • Admitted
  • Georgia State 18,543
  • KSU 23,995
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Georgia State 55.4%
  • KSU 69.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Georgia State 22.7%
  • KSU 38%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Georgia State 1060
  • KSU 1110
  • Typical ACT score
  • Georgia State 22
  • KSU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • Georgia State 3.54
  • KSU 3.33
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Georgia State A-
  • KSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Georgia State Easy
  • KSU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Georgia State Low
  • KSU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Georgia State 19/26
  • KSU 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • Georgia State 940/1180
  • KSU 1000/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Georgia State Required
  • KSU Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Georgia State Apr 1, 2027
  • KSU Jun 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Georgia State 25:1
  • KSU 23:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Georgia State
    • Business (29%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • KSU
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Georgia State 47%
  • KSU -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Georgia State $46,200
  • KSU N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Georgia State 45%
  • KSU 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Georgia State $23,699
  • KSU $21,200
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Georgia State $245
  • KSU $219
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Georgia State 39%
  • KSU 49%
  • % Women
  • Georgia State 61%
  • KSU 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Georgia State Very High
  • KSU High
  • HBCU
  • Georgia State No
  • KSU No
  • % White
  • Georgia State 26%
  • KSU 58%
  • % Asian
  • Georgia State 12%
  • KSU 4%
  • % Black
  • Georgia State 42%
  • KSU 20%
  • % Hispanic
  • Georgia State 10%
  • KSU 9%
  • % Native American
  • Georgia State 0%
  • KSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Georgia State 0%
  • KSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Georgia State 5%
  • KSU 4%
  • % International
  • Georgia State 2%
  • KSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Georgia State 3%
  • KSU 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Georgia State 79%
  • KSU 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Georgia State 11%
  • KSU 1%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Georgia State Yes
  • KSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Georgia State No
  • KSU
  • Meal Plan
  • Georgia State Yes
  • KSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Georgia State No
  • KSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Georgia State Yes
  • KSU

Comparable Facts

Compare Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA with Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, GA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Kennesaw State University is larger than Georgia State based on total student enrollment (47,764 students vs. 34,944 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Georgia State University is located in Atlanta, GA (Large City setting); Kennesaw State University is in Kennesaw, GA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Georgia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Kennesaw State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Georgia State University 25:1; Kennesaw State University 23:1.

Georgia State vs. KSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Georgia State or KSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kennesaw State University than Georgia State ($15,636 vs. $16,854).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kennesaw State University are 0.8% lower than at Georgia State University ($13,287 vs. $13,392).
  • Georgia State University is 49.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than KSU (about $2,856 more per year; $8,664.00 vs. $5,808.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.1% higher at Georgia State than at Kennesaw State University (about $7,104 more per year; $24,840.00 vs. $17,736.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Georgia State University than at Kennesaw State University (94% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Georgia State University students is 46.6% larger than aid received by Kennesaw State University students ($12,052 vs. $8,223).

Georgia State vs. KSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Georgia State or KSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between KSU and Georgia State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kennesaw State University (1110) is 50 points higher than at Georgia State (1060).
  • Incoming Georgia State students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 22) as students at KSU (22).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Georgia State University 940/1180; Kennesaw State University 1000/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Georgia State University 19/26; Kennesaw State University 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Georgia State - Required; KSU - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Georgia State Apr 1, 2027; KSU Jun 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Georgia State students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at KSU (3.33).
  • KSU has a higher acceptance rate (69.2%) than Georgia State (55.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.7% at Georgia State vs. 38% at KSU.

Georgia State vs. KSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Georgia State and KSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kennesaw State University graduates have a $2,499 lower median loan debt than Georgia State graduates ($21,200 vs. $23,699).
  • Among borrowers, KSU graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Georgia State graduates ($219 vs. $245).
  • More KSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Georgia State students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.