Kean University admits approximately 76.9% of applicants, meaning roughly 3 in 4 applicants receive an offer of admission. This places Kean University in the Open Access tier, providing broad educational opportunity to students across academic preparation levels. The peer median admission rate of 78.1% indicates Kean University's acceptance rate aligns closely with similar institutions, differing by just 1.2 percentage points. This accessibility reflects the university's mission to serve diverse student populations, including first-generation and transfer students who may have varied academic backgrounds. For prospective students, this admission rate indicates strong chances of acceptance for those who meet basic eligibility requirements. Students should focus on demonstrating college readiness and alignment with program requirements rather than competing against highly selective standards. The open access approach means students can realistically include Kean University as a likely admission option when building their college lists, allowing them to focus on fit, affordability, and program quality rather than admission uncertainty.
A directional estimate — not a prediction
Kean University admits students across a wide range of academic preparation levels, reflecting its commitment to educational access. The SAT range for enrolled students spans 1020-1198, with a median of 1150. SAT Math scores typically range from 505-600, while SAT Verbal scores range from 515-598. The ACT midpoint stands at 20 for students who submit ACT scores. Most admitted students score between 1020 and 1198 on the SAT, representing the middle 50% of enrolled students. Scores below 1020 are less common but not disqualifying, as the university evaluates applications holistically. Students scoring within the 1020-1198 range can expect to be academically competitive for admission. The university's SAT performance ranks at the 92nd percentile nationally, indicating enrolled students demonstrate strong academic preparation despite the accessible admission rate. Compared to peer institutions with a median SAT of 1198, Kean University enrolls students with scores 48 points lower on average, reflecting the trade-off between selectivity and access. Students should consider whether their academic profile aligns with this range when assessing fit and likelihood of success in Kean University's academic environment.
Understanding institutional priorities and student support
Kean University enrolls a highly diverse student body that reflects its commitment to educational opportunity and access. The university serves 46.3% Pell-eligible students, indicating nearly half of enrolled students come from lower-income families. First-generation students comprise 46.4% of the student body, demonstrating the university's role in expanding higher education access to families new to college. Transfer students represent 40.8% of enrollment, highlighting multiple pathways to degree completion and second-chance opportunities for students. This composition indicates the university prioritizes serving underrepresented populations alongside students from more traditional backgrounds. The substantial Pell and first-generation shares suggest the institution actively supports students who may face additional financial or social barriers to college success. For prospective students, these demographics indicate a campus environment where diverse backgrounds and experiences are common. First-generation students should know that nearly half of their peers share their background, providing built-in community and understanding. Students from lower-income families will find substantial representation among their classmates, with institutional systems designed to support their success.
While Kean University admits 76.9% of applicants, students seeking alternatives should consider options with different strengths in earnings, location, or cost structures.
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Kean University demonstrates mixed but improving outcomes in supporting student retention and completion. The retention rate of 75.4% indicates that approximately 3 in 4 freshmen return for sophomore year, though this falls below the peer median of 83.7%. The overall graduation rate of 43.4% reflects challenges in degree completion, significantly below the peer median of 65.8%. However, Pell-eligible students graduate at 55.1%, creating a notable positive gap where low-income students outperform the overall population by 11.7 percentage points. This reverse gap is unusual and suggests strong institutional support systems specifically benefit students from lower-income backgrounds. Students who gain admission should expect an environment where persistence and engagement with support services matter significantly for success. The positive Pell gap indicates lower-income students who enroll can expect targeted assistance that helps them achieve degree completion at higher rates than their peers. Prospective students should view these completion patterns as indicators that success requires active participation in academic and support programs, particularly during the critical first and second years.
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