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Montclair State University New Jersey City University Rutgers University-Newark William Paterson University of New Jersey Rowan University Stockton Rutgers Rider University Rutgers University-Camden Saint Peters; SPC FDU Monmouth University| Kean University | Northern State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Kean | NSU | ||
| Location | Union, NJ | Aberdeen, SD | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 12,884 | 3,344 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #663 | #820 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | kean.edu | northern.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Kean | NSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,758 | $7,616 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $18,150 | $10,718 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,834 | $9,150 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $10,747 | $17,264 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $13,123 | $5,715 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 91% |
Admission |
Kean | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,485 | 1,322 | ||
| Admitted | 8,661 | 1,033 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 82.6% | 78.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.7% | 28.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.2 | 3.37 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 16/25 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 900/1160 | 800/1150 | ||
| 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 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Kean | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Kean | NSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 49% | 42% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,400 | $37,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 52% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $24,399 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $252 |
Diversity |
Kean | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 36% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 20% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 27% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 3% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 8% | 0% |
Students |
Kean | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 92% | 69% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 30% | ||
Campus |
Kean | NSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Kean University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (12,884 students vs. 3,344 students)
Kean vs. NSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Kean or NSU?
- Kean University is 41.3% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($10,758.00 vs. $7,616.00)
- Out of state tuition is 69.3% higher at Kean than Northern State University ($18,150.00 vs. $10,718.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kean University than NSU ($10,747 vs. $17,264)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern State University are 62.1% lower than costs at Kean University ($9,150 vs. $14,834)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Kean University than Northern State University (97% vs. 91%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Kean University students is 129.6% larger than aid received Northern State University ($13,123 vs. $5,715)
Kean vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Kean or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or Kean .
- The average SAT score at Northern State University (1024) is 96 points higher than at Kean (928)
- Incoming NSU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Kean (19)
- Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Kean (3.2)
- Kean has a higher acceptance rate (82.6%) than NSU (78.1%)
Kean vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Kean or NSU? 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 NSU and Kean.
- The graduation rate at Kean is higher than Northern State University (49% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from Kean University earn on average $9,000 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($46,400 vs. $37,400)
- Northern State University students graduate with a $601 lower median federal student loan debt than Kean graduates. ($24,399 vs. $25,000)
- NSU graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than Kean graduates. ($252 vs. $258)
- More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kean students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 52%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/