JCU vs. Kent State

Should I go to John Carroll University or Kent State University at Kent? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if JCU or Kent State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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John Carroll University vs. Kent State University at Kent comparison
John Carroll University Kent State University at Kent College 3 College 4
John Carroll University Kent State University at Kent
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Overview

 JCU Kent State
Location University Heights, OH Kent, OH
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,773 26,106
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #247 #829
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website jcu.edu kent.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 JCU Kent State
Tuition (In State) $47,300 $12,674
Tuition (Out of State) $47,300 $22,144
Room & Board $14,160 $13,040
Avg Net Price $30,790 $20,333
Avg Grant Aid $32,359 $9,888
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

 JCU Kent State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,238 22,365
Admitted 3,437 19,379
Acceptance Rate 81.1% 86.6%
Enrolled % 16.2% 22.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.66 3.61
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/30 18/25
SAT Range 1190/1350 1000/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

 JCU Kent State
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 21:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

 JCU Kent State
Graduation Rate 71% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,600 $40,300
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,939 $25,825
Median Loan Payment $278 $267

Diversity

 JCU Kent State
% Men 6% 8%
% Women 12% 14%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 86% 75%
% Black 4% 9%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

 JCU Kent State
% In-State 69% 80%
% Out-of-State 30% 18%

Campus

 JCU Kent State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Kent State University at Kent is larger than than JCU based on total student enrollment (26,106 students vs. 2,773 students)

JCU vs. Kent State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, JCU or Kent State?

  • John Carroll University is 273.2% more expensive to attend than Kent State for in-state tuition ($47,300.00 vs. $12,674.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 113.6% higher at JCU than Kent State University at Kent ($47,300.00 vs. $22,144.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kent State University at Kent than JCU ($20,333 vs. $30,790)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kent State University at Kent are 8.6% lower than costs at John Carroll University ($13,040 vs. $14,160)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at John Carroll University than Kent State University at Kent (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by John Carroll University students is 227.3% larger than aid received Kent State University at Kent ($32,359 vs. $9,888)

JCU vs. Kent State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, JCU or Kent State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Kent State or JCU .

  • The average SAT score at John Carroll University (1127) is 60 points higher than at Kent State (1067)
  • Incoming JCU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Kent State (23)
  • Accepted freshman JCU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Kent State (3.61)
  • Kent State has a higher acceptance rate (86.6%) than JCU (81.1%)

JCU vs. Kent State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, JCU or Kent State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Kent State and JCU.

  • The graduation rate at JCU is higher than Kent State University at Kent (71% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from John Carroll University earn on average $17,300 more per year than Kent State graduates after ten years. ($57,600 vs. $40,300)
  • Kent State University at Kent students graduate with a $1,114 lower median federal student loan debt than JCU graduates. ($25,825 vs. $26,939)
  • Kent State graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than JCU graduates. ($267 vs. $278)
  • More JCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kent State students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 46%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/