Kent State vs. WVU

Deciding between Kent State University at Kent and West Virginia 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
West Virginia University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Kent State Kent, OH
  • WVU Morgantown, WV
  • Setting
  • Kent State Large Suburban
  • WVU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Kent State 26,374
  • WVU 23,643
  • Type
  • Kent State Public 4 Year
  • WVU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Kent State #807
  • WVU #566
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Kent State -
  • WVU -
  • Status
  • Kent State Non-profit
  • WVU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Kent State
  • WVU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Kent State $13,232
  • WVU $10,104
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Kent State $23,082
  • WVU $28,608
  • Room & Board
  • Kent State $13,794
  • WVU $14,582
  • Average Net Price
  • Kent State $21,278
  • WVU $15,169
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Kent State $10,076
  • WVU $12,363
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Kent State 95%
  • WVU 94%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Kent State 24,611
  • WVU 18,729
  • Admitted
  • Kent State 21,248
  • WVU 16,669
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Kent State 86.3%
  • WVU 89%
  • Enrolled
  • Kent State 20.3%
  • WVU 24.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Kent State 1130
  • WVU 1120
  • Typical ACT score
  • Kent State 21
  • WVU 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • Kent State 3.61
  • WVU 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Kent State A-
  • WVU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Kent State Moderate
  • WVU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Kent State
  • WVU
  • ACT Range
  • Kent State 18/25
  • WVU 20/26
  • SAT Range
  • Kent State 1010/1240
  • WVU 1010/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Kent State Test optional
  • WVU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Kent State Aug 1, 2027
  • WVU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Kent State 20:1
  • WVU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Kent State
    • Business (21%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • WVU
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Kent State 50%
  • WVU 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Kent State $40,300
  • WVU $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Kent State 46%
  • WVU 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Kent State $25,825
  • WVU $24,001
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Kent State $267
  • WVU $248
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Kent State 37%
  • WVU 47%
  • % Women
  • Kent State 63%
  • WVU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Kent State Low
  • WVU Low
  • HBCU
  • Kent State No
  • WVU No
  • % White
  • Kent State 75%
  • WVU 81%
  • % Asian
  • Kent State 1%
  • WVU 1%
  • % Black
  • Kent State 9%
  • WVU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Kent State 3%
  • WVU 4%
  • % Native American
  • Kent State 0%
  • WVU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Kent State 0%
  • WVU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Kent State 3%
  • WVU 3%
  • % International
  • Kent State 6%
  • WVU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Kent State 3%
  • WVU 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Kent State 80%
  • WVU 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Kent State 16%
  • WVU 58%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Kent State University at Kent in Kent, OH with West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Kent State University at Kent is larger than WVU based on total student enrollment (26,374 students vs. 23,643 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kent State University at Kent is located in Kent, OH (Large Suburban setting); West Virginia University is in Morgantown, WV (Small City setting).
  • Kent State University at Kent is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. West Virginia University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kent State University at Kent 20:1; West Virginia University 19:1.

Kent State vs. WVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kent State or WVU? 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 West Virginia University than Kent State ($15,169 vs. $21,278).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kent State University at Kent are 5.4% lower than at West Virginia University ($13,794 vs. $14,582).
  • Kent State University at Kent is 31% more expensive for in-state tuition than WVU (about $3,128 more per year; $13,232.00 vs. $10,104.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.9% higher at WVU than at Kent State University at Kent (about $5,526 more per year; $28,608.00 vs. $23,082.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kent State University at Kent than at West Virginia University (95% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by West Virginia University students is 22.7% larger than aid received by Kent State University at Kent students ($12,363 vs. $10,076).

Kent State vs. WVU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kent State University at Kent (1130) is 10 points higher than at WVU (1120).
  • Incoming WVU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 21 at Kent State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kent State University at Kent 1010/1240; West Virginia University 1010/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kent State University at Kent 18/25; West Virginia University 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kent State - Test optional; WVU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kent State Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Kent State students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at WVU (3.45).
  • WVU has a higher acceptance rate (89%) than Kent State (86.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.3% at Kent State vs. 24.8% at WVU.

Kent State vs. WVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • West Virginia University's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than Kent State University at Kent's (50%).
  • Graduates from West Virginia University earn a median of about $10,300 more per year than Kent State graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,600 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, West Virginia University graduates have a $1,824 lower median loan debt than Kent State graduates ($24,001 vs. $25,825).
  • Among borrowers, WVU graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kent State graduates ($248 vs. $267).
  • More WVU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kent State students, three years after graduation. (59% 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.