Public
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Union, New Jersey
76.9% Acceptance Rate
Kean University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
76.9%Acceptance Rate
3.2Avg GPA
1150Avg SAT
$24,924Annual Cost
$57,237Grad Salary
46.3%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
76.9%
Avg GPA
3.2
Avg SAT
1150
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1020–1198
Avg Net Price
$12,168
Need-Based Aid
46.3% receive Pell
Kean University is a public research university in New Jersey known for its commitment to academic excellence, student success, and global engagement. Offering a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, the university provides a dynamic campus environment that encourages innovation, research, and career preparation. Its focus on providing an accessible and high-value education makes it an effective and reliable choice for students aiming to achieve their professional and academic ambitions.
Kean University Acceptance Rate
Kean University (Kean) runs an open-access admission policy — with a 76.9% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 76.9% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.20 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.00 – 3.19
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.75
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Kean University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Kean University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of January 15 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 172 days left — Priority
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Kean reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Priority
January 15
Priority
March 1
Rolling
April 30
💡 The scholarship deadline (Preferred FAFSA: 2026/03/01; EOF: 2026/05/01) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Kean GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Kean is 3.2. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 2.90–3.2 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.40–3.60.Kean GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.20 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.00 – 3.19
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.80 – 2.99
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.79
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Acceptance rate approximately 76% (2024-25: 13,936 applied, 10,578 admitted); test-optional; personal essay required (1-2 pages); two letters of recommendation recommended (required for SAT test-optional applicants); $75 application fee with waivers available.
- Kean and New Jersey City University signed a definitive merger agreement (October 2025) to form "Kean Jersey City," targeted for completion by July 1, 2026 pending accreditation approval; NJCU students will become Kean students with access to all Kean campuses including Wenzhou-Kean in China.
- Same-day admissions decision option available via one-on-one counselor meeting, including immediate scholarship eligibility determination and fee waiver.
- Wenzhou-Kean University is the only full campus operated by an American public university in China - same tuition as the NJ campus, up to $5,000 in new scholarship support, April 5 deadline for Fall enrollment, minimum 2.8 GPA for the exchange pathway.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Kean
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Kean University's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Kean University (Kean) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Kean is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Kean Without SAT or ACT?
Kean considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Kean University Average SAT Score: 1150
The average SAT score of admitted students at Kean University is 1150 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1150 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1198 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Kean University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1020, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Kean. Retaking multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 553 | 505 | 600 |
| SAT Reading | 557 | 515 | 598 |
| SAT Composite | 1150 | 1020 | 1198 |
Below 1020, you're behind most admitted students; at 1198 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1150
Can I get into Kean University (Kean) with a 1200 SAT?
A 1200 SAT puts you ahead of most of Kean's admitted class — but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Kean
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Kean is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Know That Kean and NJCU Are Merging - Confirm Which Campus and Programs Apply to You
Kean University and New Jersey City University signed a definitive merger agreement in October 2025 to create "Kean Jersey City," with completion targeted for July 1, 2026, pending accreditation approval. Once finalized, NJCU students will become Kean University students with access to Kean's Union, Toms River, and Wenzhou-Kean (China) campuses, and Kean Jersey City students will pay Kean's tuition rates - currently the lowest in New Jersey. Prospective students considering NJCU specifically should confirm with admissions counselors at both institutions which programs will continue, since some NJCU programs may not carry over and students in discontinued programs would either complete their NJCU degree or transfer into a similar Kean program.
Use the Same-Day Admissions Decision Option If You Want Immediate Certainty
Kean offers a structurally rare option: meeting one-on-one with an admissions counselor for an immediate decision on both admission and scholarship eligibility, plus an application fee waiver in the same visit. This removes weeks of uncertainty that typically accompanies college applications and is especially valuable for students managing multiple offers or tight financial aid timelines. Students should bring complete transcripts and any test scores they want considered to make the most of this option, since the counselor needs sufficient documentation on hand to render an actual decision rather than a preliminary read.
Consider Wenzhou-Kean University for a Genuinely Unique Study-Abroad-Equivalent Experience
Kean is the only American public university with a full standalone campus in China - Wenzhou-Kean University - where students study in a fully English-speaking environment for the same tuition cost as Kean's New Jersey campuses, with new scholarships of up to $5,000 for tuition, meals, or housing. This isn't a semester-abroad exchange program; it's a complete campus experience with its own dormitories, recreational facilities, and 18 undergraduate programs, located in a culturally rich region near Beijing and the Great Wall. Students interested should note the April 5 application deadline for Fall enrollment and confirm the minimum 2.8 GPA exchange eligibility requirement with the Center for International Studies well in advance.
Use STARS for a Streamlined Application If Your Counselor Office Is Slow
Kean's Self-Reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS) lets US-educated freshman applicants create a self-reported electronic transcript that satisfies the transcript submission requirement, rather than waiting on a high school counselor's office to send official documents. This is particularly useful for students at schools with slow or backlogged transcript-processing offices, since STARS submission counts as equivalent to an official transcript and moves the application forward without that bottleneck. Students should still confirm with their counselor that an official transcript will eventually be required if admitted and enrolling.
Expert Insight:
The most common failure pattern among prospective NJCU applicants right now is applying without understanding the merger timeline and what it means for program continuity. Because the Kean-NJCU merger is still pending final accreditation approval as of the 2025-26 cycle, students choosing NJCU for a specific program need to confirm directly with admissions whether that program will continue post-merger, transfer into an equivalent Kean program, or result in an NJCU-branded degree upon completion. Assuming "nothing changes" during an active institutional merger is the riskiest assumption a prospective student can make this cycle.
Kean Profile
Full Name
Kean University (Kean)
City
Union
State
New Jersey
ZIP Code
7083
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Kean Degree Worth It?
Kean offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes — the figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $76,100, with a graduate unemployment rate of 4.04%.
How much does a degree from Kean Cost?
The sticker price is $24,924/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is closer to $12,168.
46.3% of students receive a Pell Grant and 45.6% take federal loans at Kean — file your FAFSA early and list Kean as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Kean Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $57,237 — about 41% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Kean University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver, CO | 1119 | 24 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
| University of Saint Joseph | West Hartford, CT | 1100 | NA |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton, FL | 1136 | 25 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Kean University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 1150 | 24 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Kean University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
Degree Programs at Kean
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Kean Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Kean University run about $57,237 a year.
At about $24,924 a year, Kean University is on the more affordable end.
About 46.3% receive a Pell Grant at Kean University — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 76.9%, Kean University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Kean University average a 3.2 GPA.
Kean University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 2.9 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.8, Kean University becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Kean University — aim above 1150, ideally within the 1020–1198 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Kean University is January 15 for Priority applicants. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
The application fee is 75. Fee waivers may be available — check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is Preferred FAFSA: 2026/03/01; EOF: 2026/05/01. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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