TU vs. Kent State

Deciding between Towson University and Kent State University at Kent? 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.

Towson University
Kent State University at Kent

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • TU Towson, MD
  • Kent State Kent, OH
  • Setting
  • TU Small City
  • Kent State Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • TU 19,401
  • Kent State 26,374
  • Type
  • TU Public 4 Year
  • Kent State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • TU #396
  • Kent State #807
  • Religious Affiliation
  • TU -
  • Kent State -
  • Status
  • TU Non-profit
  • Kent State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • TU
  • Kent State
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • TU $11,728
  • Kent State $13,232
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • TU $29,820
  • Kent State $23,082
  • Room & Board
  • TU $16,260
  • Kent State $13,794
  • Average Net Price
  • TU $16,653
  • Kent State $21,278
  • Average Grant Aid
  • TU $11,820
  • Kent State $10,076
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • TU 73%
  • Kent State 95%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • TU 19,777
  • Kent State 24,611
  • Admitted
  • TU 16,212
  • Kent State 21,248
  • Acceptance Rate
  • TU 82%
  • Kent State 86.3%
  • Enrolled
  • TU 18.2%
  • Kent State 20.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • TU 1090
  • Kent State 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • TU 23
  • Kent State 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • TU 3.69
  • Kent State 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • TU A-
  • Kent State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • TU Moderate
  • Kent State Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • TU
  • Kent State
  • ACT Range
  • TU 19/27
  • Kent State 18/25
  • SAT Range
  • TU 950/1235
  • Kent State 1010/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • TU Test optional
  • Kent State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • TU Apr 1, 2027
  • Kent State Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • TU 14:1
  • Kent State 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • TU
    • Business (18%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
  • Kent State
    • Business (21%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • TU 64%
  • Kent State 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • TU $53,500
  • Kent State $40,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • TU 69%
  • Kent State 46%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • TU $17,750
  • Kent State $25,825
  • Median Loan Payment
  • TU $183
  • Kent State $267
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • TU 38%
  • Kent State 37%
  • % Women
  • TU 62%
  • Kent State 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • TU Medium
  • Kent State Low
  • HBCU
  • TU No
  • Kent State No
  • % White
  • TU 61%
  • Kent State 75%
  • % Asian
  • TU 5%
  • Kent State 1%
  • % Black
  • TU 18%
  • Kent State 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • TU 6%
  • Kent State 3%
  • % Native American
  • TU 0%
  • Kent State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • TU 0%
  • Kent State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • TU 4%
  • Kent State 3%
  • % International
  • TU 2%
  • Kent State 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • TU 3%
  • Kent State 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • TU 88%
  • Kent State 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • TU 11%
  • Kent State 16%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Kent State University at Kent is larger than TU based on total student enrollment (26,374 students vs. 19,401 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Towson University is located in Towson, MD (Small City setting); Kent State University at Kent is in Kent, OH (Large Suburban setting).
  • Towson University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Kent State University at Kent is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Towson University 14:1; Kent State University at Kent 20:1.

TU vs. Kent State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TU or Kent State? 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 Towson University than Kent State ($16,653 vs. $21,278).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kent State University at Kent are 15.2% lower than at Towson University ($13,794 vs. $16,260).
  • Kent State University at Kent is 12.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than TU (about $1,504 more per year; $13,232.00 vs. $11,728.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 29.2% higher at TU than at Kent State University at Kent (about $6,738 more per year; $29,820.00 vs. $23,082.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kent State University at Kent than at Towson University (95% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Towson University students is 17.3% larger than aid received by Kent State University at Kent students ($11,820 vs. $10,076).

TU vs. Kent State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kent State University at Kent (1130) is 40 points higher than at TU (1090).
  • Incoming TU 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: Towson University 950/1235; Kent State University at Kent 1010/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Towson University 19/27; Kent State University at Kent 18/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: TU - Test optional; Kent State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: TU Apr 1, 2027; Kent State Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman TU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Kent State (3.61).
  • Kent State has a higher acceptance rate (86.3%) than TU (82%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at TU vs. 20.3% at Kent State.

TU vs. Kent State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Towson University's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Kent State University at Kent's (50%).
  • Graduates from Towson University earn a median of about $13,200 more per year than Kent State graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,500 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Towson University graduates have a $8,075 lower median loan debt than Kent State graduates ($17,750 vs. $25,825).
  • Among borrowers, TU graduates have an estimated $84 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kent State graduates ($183 vs. $267).
  • More TU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kent State students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.