Sonoma State University vs. Kean

Should I go to Sonoma State University or Kean University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Sonoma State University or Kean 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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Sonoma State University vs. Kean University comparison
Sonoma State University Kean University College 3 College 4
Sonoma State University Kean University
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Overview

Sonoma State University Kean
Location Rohnert Park, CA Union, NJ
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,637 12,884
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #675 #663
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sonoma.edu kean.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Sonoma State University Kean
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $10,758
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $18,150
Room & Board $14,926 $14,834
Avg Net Price $15,507 $10,747
Avg Grant Aid $7,287 $13,123
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 97%

Admission

Sonoma State University Kean
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,806 10,485
Admitted 10,158 8,661
Acceptance Rate 94% 82.6%
Enrolled % 9.5% 22.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.2
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23 16/25
SAT Range 950/1150 900/1160
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Sonoma State University Kean
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Sonoma State University Kean
Graduation Rate 57% 49%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,300 $46,400
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 52%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,500 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $180 $258

Diversity

Sonoma State University Kean
% Men 37% 36%
% Women 63% 64%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 48% 36%
% Black 2% 20%
% Hispanic 29% 27%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 2%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 7% 8%

Students

Sonoma State University Kean
% In-State 97% 92%
% Out-of-State 3% 3%

Campus

Sonoma State University Kean
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Kean University is larger than than Sonoma State University based on total student enrollment (12,884 students vs. 6,637 students)

Sonoma State University vs. Kean Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sonoma State University or Kean?

  • Kean University is 87.4% more expensive to attend than Sonoma State University for in-state tuition ($10,758.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3% higher at Kean than Sonoma State University ($18,150.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kean University than Sonoma State University ($10,747 vs. $15,507)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kean University are 0.6% lower than costs at Sonoma State University ($14,834 vs. $14,926)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Kean University than Sonoma State University (97% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kean University students is 80.1% larger than aid received Sonoma State University ($13,123 vs. $7,287)

Sonoma State University vs. Kean Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Sonoma State University (996) is 68 points higher than at Kean (928)
  • Incoming Sonoma State University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Kean (19)
  • Accepted freshman Sonoma State University students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Kean (3.2)
  • Sonoma State University has a higher acceptance rate (94%) than Kean (82.6%)

Sonoma State University vs. Kean Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Sonoma State University or Kean? 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 Kean and Sonoma State University.

  • The graduation rate at Sonoma State University is higher than Kean University (57% vs. 49%)
  • Graduates from Sonoma State University earn on average $2,900 more per year than Kean graduates after ten years. ($49,300 vs. $46,400)
  • Sonoma State University students graduate with a $7,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Kean graduates. ($17,500 vs. $25,000)
  • Sonoma State University graduates are paying $78 less per month on federal student loans than Kean graduates. ($180 vs. $258)
  • More Sonoma State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kean students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 52%)

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