UC vs. Kent State

Deciding between University of Cincinnati Main Campus 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.

University of Cincinnati Main Campus
Kent State University at Kent

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UC Cincinnati, OH
  • Kent State Kent, OH
  • Setting
  • UC Large City
  • Kent State Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UC 45,026
  • Kent State 26,374
  • Type
  • UC Public 4 Year
  • Kent State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UC #429
  • Kent State #807
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UC -
  • Kent State -
  • Status
  • UC Non-profit
  • Kent State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UC
  • Kent State
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UC $13,976
  • Kent State $13,232
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UC $29,310
  • Kent State $23,082
  • Room & Board
  • UC $13,564
  • Kent State $13,794
  • Average Net Price
  • UC $24,696
  • Kent State $21,278
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UC $8,196
  • Kent State $10,076
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UC 73%
  • Kent State 95%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UC 34,285
  • Kent State 24,611
  • Admitted
  • UC 29,242
  • Kent State 21,248
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UC 85.3%
  • Kent State 86.3%
  • Enrolled
  • UC 22.5%
  • Kent State 20.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC 1270
  • Kent State 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC 26
  • Kent State 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • UC 3.69
  • Kent State 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UC A-
  • Kent State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UC Difficult
  • Kent State Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • UC
  • Kent State
  • ACT Range
  • UC 24/29
  • Kent State 18/25
  • SAT Range
  • UC 1160/1370
  • Kent State 1010/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UC Test optional
  • Kent State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UC Mar 1, 2027
  • Kent State Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UC 19:1
  • Kent State 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UC
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Kent State
    • Business (21%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UC 59%
  • Kent State 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UC $45,600
  • Kent State $40,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UC 57%
  • Kent State 46%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UC $23,000
  • Kent State $25,825
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UC $237
  • Kent State $267
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UC 47%
  • Kent State 37%
  • % Women
  • UC 53%
  • Kent State 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UC Low
  • Kent State Low
  • HBCU
  • UC No
  • Kent State No
  • % White
  • UC 75%
  • Kent State 75%
  • % Asian
  • UC 3%
  • Kent State 1%
  • % Black
  • UC 7%
  • Kent State 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • UC 3%
  • Kent State 3%
  • % Native American
  • UC 0%
  • Kent State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UC 0%
  • Kent State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UC 3%
  • Kent State 3%
  • % International
  • UC 4%
  • Kent State 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UC 4%
  • Kent State 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UC 74%
  • Kent State 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UC 22%
  • Kent State 16%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Cincinnati Main Campus in Cincinnati, OH with Kent State University at Kent in Kent, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Cincinnati Main Campus is larger than Kent State based on total student enrollment (45,026 students vs. 26,374 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Cincinnati Main Campus is located in Cincinnati, OH (Large City setting); Kent State University at Kent is in Kent, OH (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Cincinnati Main Campus 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: University of Cincinnati Main Campus 19:1; Kent State University at Kent 20:1.

UC vs. Kent State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC 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 Kent State University at Kent than UC ($21,278 vs. $24,696).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Cincinnati Main Campus are 1.7% lower than at Kent State University at Kent ($13,564 vs. $13,794).
  • University of Cincinnati Main Campus is 5.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Kent State (about $744 more per year; $13,976.00 vs. $13,232.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 27% higher at UC than at Kent State University at Kent (about $6,228 more per year; $29,310.00 vs. $23,082.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kent State University at Kent than at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (95% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kent State University at Kent students is 22.9% larger than aid received by University of Cincinnati Main Campus students ($10,076 vs. $8,196).

UC vs. Kent State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC 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 UC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (1270) is 140 points higher than at Kent State (1130).
  • Incoming UC 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: University of Cincinnati Main Campus 1160/1370; Kent State University at Kent 1010/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Cincinnati Main Campus 24/29; Kent State University at Kent 18/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC - Test optional; Kent State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Mar 1, 2027; Kent State Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UC 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 UC (85.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at UC vs. 20.3% at Kent State.

UC vs. Kent State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC 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).

  • University of Cincinnati Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Kent State University at Kent's (50%).
  • Graduates from University of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than Kent State graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,600 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates have a $2,825 lower median loan debt than Kent State graduates ($23,000 vs. $25,825).
  • Among borrowers, UC graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kent State graduates ($237 vs. $267).
  • More UC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kent State students, three years after graduation. (57% 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.