Students at Kennesaw State University consistently achieve earnings that exceed expectations, with graduates earning approximately $7,450 more than similar students at other institutions.
The university's "Mobility Engine" designation reflects its success in helping students from diverse backgrounds achieve meaningful economic advancement with manageable debt levels.
Kennesaw State University delivers consistent value for students across Georgia and beyond, combining broad access with meaningful economic mobility outcomes. As a large public university serving over 35% Pell Grant recipients and 27% first-generation students, KSU maintains strong graduation rates while helping students achieve earnings that often exceed expectations. The university's mobility outcomes place it in the coveted "Mobility Engine" category, meaning it successfully opens doors for students from diverse backgrounds and converts that access into real financial progress.
KSU's strength lies in its practical approach to career preparation. Computer Science graduates earn around $68,500 ten years out, while the university's broad program portfolio ensures students can find pathways that match their interests and career goals. With median 10-year earnings of $57,552 and a value-added earnings advantage of about $7,450 compared with similar institutions, KSU graduates consistently outperform expectations in the job market.
Located in the Atlanta metropolitan area, Kennesaw State University offers the resources and connections of a major research university while maintaining the accessibility that makes higher education attainable for working families. The combination of reasonable net prices, manageable debt levels, and strong post-graduation outcomes makes KSU a reliable choice for students who want clear returns on their educational investment.
Kennesaw State University's program portfolio balances high-return technical fields with broader professional and liberal arts options that serve diverse student interests. Computer Science leads in both aggregate return and individual earnings outcomes, with 240 graduates earning around $68,500 ten years after graduation. Computer Support Specialist programs also deliver strong financial outcomes at approximately $67,846, reflecting the university's strength in technology education and connections to Atlanta's growing tech sector.
Psychology represents KSU's largest major with 390 graduates, though at more moderate earnings levels around $29,876, demonstrating the university's commitment to serving students across different academic interests and career paths. This pattern reflects a healthy program mix where students can pursue their passions while still accessing pathways to financial stability.
The university's location in the Atlanta metropolitan area strengthens outcomes across programs by providing access to internships, job opportunities, and professional networks in technology, business, healthcare, and other growing sectors. As a large institution, KSU graduates substantial cohorts annually, creating meaningful alumni networks and employer recognition that benefit students across all fields of study. The consistent earnings advantages that KSU delivers suggest that the university's career preparation and employer connections extend beyond just the highest-earning majors.
Kennesaw State University graduates achieve solid long-term financial outcomes that consistently exceed expectations. Ten years after enrollment, they earn a median of $57,552, with the university delivering an earnings advantage of approximately $7,450 compared with what similar students achieve at other institutions. This "earnings beyond expectations" performance places KSU among the stronger public universities for actual financial outcomes, reflecting the institution's focus on career-relevant programs and practical skill development.
The university's program mix drives much of this success. Computer Science stands out as both the highest aggregate return major and a significant enrollment driver, with 240 graduates earning around $68,500 ten years out. Computer Support Specialist programs also deliver strong outcomes at about $67,846, while Psychology remains the largest major with 390 graduates, though at more moderate earnings levels around $29,876. This pattern reflects KSU's balanced approach—strong technical programs that command premium salaries alongside broader liberal arts and professional fields that serve diverse student interests and career paths.
What makes KSU particularly valuable is how consistently its graduates outperform earnings expectations across different fields of study. The university's location in the Atlanta metro area provides access to a diverse economy where graduates can leverage their degrees in technology, business, healthcare, and other growing sectors, contributing to the sustained earnings advantage that KSU delivers year after year.
Kennesaw State University maintains reasonable affordability across income levels, making it accessible to families throughout Georgia and beyond. Low-income students pay about $13,754 annually after aid, while middle-income families see net prices around $17,890—both figures that align with or fall below typical costs at similar public universities. Even higher-income families face predictable costs around $20,512, creating transparency that helps with multi-year financial planning.
Debt levels remain manageable for most KSU students. Typical graduates leave with about $23,833 in federal student loan debt, a reasonable amount given the university's strong earnings outcomes. Parent PLUS borrowing averages $16,612, reflecting moderate family contributions that don't create excessive burden for most households. The university's 0% federal loan default rate demonstrates that graduates can successfully manage their debt obligations, supported by solid post-graduation earnings and career stability.
What strengthens KSU's affordability story is the relationship between what students pay and what they ultimately earn. With median 10-year earnings of $57,552 and consistent outperformance of earnings expectations, graduates typically have the financial capacity to handle their debt obligations comfortably while building long-term wealth. This balance between reasonable upfront costs and strong earning potential makes KSU a financially sustainable choice for families across the income spectrum.
Kennesaw State University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
