Kent State University College Portrait
Kent State University161 Schwartz Center Kent, OH 44242-0001
(330) 672-2444
Kent State University
Excellence in Action: Since 1910
Kent State University has been helping students fulfill their life goals for 100 years. As one of Ohio’s top universities, Kent State has eight colleges offering more than 280 academic programs at the certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral levels.
The Carnegie Foundation has ranked Kent State University among the nation’s 77 top public research universities and among the 76 top colleges and top universities in community engagement.
Kent State University has also been named one of the top 200 universities in the world by Times Higher Education.
Attend Kent State University and you’ll understand why more than 40,000 students have chosen one of the top colleges in Ohio and in the world.
Living in the Community
Kent State University plays a significant role in the local economy and is a sound investment from multiple perspectives. Students benefit from improved lifestyles and increased earnings. Taxpayers benefit from a larger economy and lower social costs. Finally, the community as a whole benefits from increased job and investment opportunities, higher business revenues, greater availability of public funds, and an eased tax burden.
Kent State faculty, staff and students strive to achieve the highest levels of scholarship and public service. This continuing quest for excellence -- evident across our eight-campus network -- translates into meaningful action that is ensuring a bright future for our students. Producing knowledge that helps solve societal problems, from illness to illiteracy, Kent State is a vital force for economic, cultural and workforce development in Ohio and beyond.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2011?
| Total Students | 27,855 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 22,260 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 13,045 | 59% |
| Men | 9,215 | 41% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 75 | <1% |
| Asian | 284 | 1% |
| African American / Black | 1,949 | 9% |
| Hispanic | 600 | 3% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 11 | <1% |
| White | 17,226 | 77% |
| Two or More Races | 301 | 1% |
| International | 1,045 | 5% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 769 | 3% |
| Where do KSU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Ohio | 86% |
| Other US States & Territories | 10% |
| Other Countries | 4% |
| How old are KSU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 22 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 15% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2011)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 20 - 25 | |
| Math | 18 - 25 | 450 - 580 |
| English | 18 - 25 | |
| Critical Reading | 440 - 570 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 36% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 71% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 78% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.00 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 99% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2011-12 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $25,030.00
The cost to attend Kent State University varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 52% of 2011-12 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $5,465.00. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 64% of 2011-12 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,107.00. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
KSU Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 21 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 75% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 90% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 878 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 50% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 6% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | Data |
Campus-based Housing
82% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
29% of all undergraduates live on campus
Campus Safety
Kent State University has one of the safest campuses in the nation, according to the FBI's annual Uniformed Crime Report. A nationwide study by the Consortium for Higher Education Campus Crime Research ranked Kent State in the lowest two percent of crime for universities of comparable size.
On the Kent Campus, Kent State Police Services is the only nationally accredited law enforcement agency at an Ohio public university and was one of the first university police departments in the nation to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies. The designation recognizes the Kent State police department as a select organization that consistently demonstrates excellence and serves as a model for police, sheriff and other law enforcement agencies around the country.
Kent State Police Services is empowered by the State of Ohio to enforce state laws and is directed by the university's board of trustees to enforce certain rules and regulations of the university. Essentially, the police officers at the university have the same authority as their state and municipal counterparts.
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Research Universities (high research activity)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily residential
- Enrollment Profile
- High undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Professions plus arts & sciences, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Comprehensive doctoral (no medical/veterinary)
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
Student Activities and Involvement at KSU
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 91% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 52% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 20% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 81% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 26% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 48% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 56% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 15% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 92% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 94% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 64% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 60% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 97% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 50% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 81% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 97% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 66% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 61% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 87% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 48% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 82% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 85% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 79% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at Kent State University in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 3,999 |
| Master's | 1,503 |
| Doctoral | 140 |
| Total | 5,642 |
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 82% four-year success and progress rate means that 82% of students starting in Fall 2005 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2005 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 3,746 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 1,831 Full-Time Transfer Students
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2010 that returned for their second year: 75%
Student Learning at Kent State University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
Kent State University defines the process of academic assessment as;
- Clarifying the learning needs of students
- Determining and making public the academic goals and expectations for student learning
- Implementing instruction and co-curricular activities
- Gathering, analyzing, and interpreting evidence to determine the degree to which student learning outcomes meet these expectations
- Agreeing on ways to use this evidence to improve student learning
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
2010 - 11 Results from the Collegiate Learning Assessment
The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving, and written communication using a performance task and an analytic writing task. The scores from the tasks are reported separately below.
Performance Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1103
Senior Score: 1155
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EAA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 22
Senior Score: 23
Analytic Writing Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the analytic writing task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1108
Senior Score: 1235
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EAA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 22
Senior Score: 23