Kent State vs. ONU

Deciding between Kent State University at Kent and Ohio Northern 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.

Kent State University at Kent
Ohio Northern University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Kent State Kent, OH
  • ONU Ada, OH
  • Setting
  • Kent State Large Suburban
  • ONU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Kent State 26,374
  • ONU 3,140
  • Type
  • Kent State Public 4 Year
  • ONU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Kent State #807
  • ONU #228
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Kent State -
  • ONU United Methodist
  • Status
  • Kent State Non-profit
  • ONU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Kent State
  • ONU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Kent State $13,232
  • ONU $39,800
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Kent State $23,082
  • ONU $39,800
  • Room & Board
  • Kent State $13,794
  • ONU $14,604
  • Average Net Price
  • Kent State $21,278
  • ONU $25,941
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Kent State $10,076
  • ONU $27,696
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Kent State 95%
  • ONU 97%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Kent State 24,611
  • ONU 4,640
  • Admitted
  • Kent State 21,248
  • ONU 3,452
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Kent State 86.3%
  • ONU 74.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Kent State 20.3%
  • ONU 19.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Kent State 1130
  • ONU 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • Kent State 21
  • ONU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Kent State 3.61
  • ONU 3.78
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Kent State A-
  • ONU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Kent State Moderate
  • ONU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Kent State
  • ONU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Kent State 18/25
  • ONU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Kent State 1010/1240
  • ONU 1175/1400
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Kent State Test optional
  • ONU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Kent State Aug 1, 2027
  • ONU Aug 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Kent State 20:1
  • ONU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Kent State
    • Business (21%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • ONU
    • Business (19%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Kent State 50%
  • ONU 65%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Kent State $40,300
  • ONU $71,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Kent State 46%
  • ONU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Kent State $25,825
  • ONU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Kent State $267
  • ONU $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Kent State 37%
  • ONU 53%
  • % Women
  • Kent State 63%
  • ONU 47%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Kent State Low
  • ONU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Kent State No
  • ONU No
  • % White
  • Kent State 75%
  • ONU 84%
  • % Asian
  • Kent State 1%
  • ONU 1%
  • % Black
  • Kent State 9%
  • ONU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Kent State 3%
  • ONU 1%
  • % Native American
  • Kent State 0%
  • ONU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Kent State 0%
  • ONU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Kent State 3%
  • ONU 4%
  • % International
  • Kent State 6%
  • ONU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Kent State 3%
  • ONU 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Kent State 80%
  • ONU 85%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Kent State 16%
  • ONU 13%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Kent State University at Kent in Kent, OH with Ohio Northern University in Ada, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Kent State University at Kent is larger than ONU based on total student enrollment (26,374 students vs. 3,140 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kent State University at Kent is located in Kent, OH (Large Suburban setting); Ohio Northern University is in Ada, OH (Distant Town setting).
  • Kent State University at Kent is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio Northern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kent State University at Kent 20:1; Ohio Northern University 13:1.

Kent State vs. ONU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kent State or ONU? 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 Kent State University at Kent than ONU ($21,278 vs. $25,941).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kent State University at Kent are 5.5% lower than at Ohio Northern University ($13,794 vs. $14,604).
  • Ohio Northern University is 200.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Kent State (about $26,568 more per year; $39,800.00 vs. $13,232.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 72.4% higher at ONU than at Kent State University at Kent (about $16,718 more per year; $39,800.00 vs. $23,082.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio Northern University than at Kent State University at Kent (97% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Northern University students is 174.9% larger than aid received by Kent State University at Kent students ($27,696 vs. $10,076).

Kent State vs. ONU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kent State or ONU? 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 ONU and Kent State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio Northern University (1290) is 160 points higher than at Kent State (1130).
  • Incoming ONU students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 21 at Kent State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kent State University at Kent 1010/1240; Ohio Northern University 1175/1400.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kent State University at Kent 18/25; Ohio Northern University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kent State - Test optional; ONU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kent State Aug 1, 2027; ONU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ONU students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at Kent State (3.61).
  • Kent State has a higher acceptance rate (86.3%) than ONU (74.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.3% at Kent State vs. 19.9% at ONU.

Kent State vs. ONU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kent State and ONU? 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).

  • Ohio Northern University's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than Kent State University at Kent's (50%).
  • Graduates from Ohio Northern University earn a median of about $30,900 more per year than Kent State graduates about ten years after starting college ($71,200 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kent State University at Kent graduates have a $1,175 lower median loan debt than ONU graduates ($25,825 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Kent State graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ONU graduates ($267 vs. $279).
  • More ONU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kent State students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 46%)

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.