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Kean University

#449 in US ranking Union, NJ
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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Kean University award

Cost

Cost / year
$28,743
Tuition & fees
$15,300
Avg. aid
$13,008
Receiving aid
97%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
76%
SAT range
930–1150
Avg. ACT
20

Outcomes

Graduation rate
47%
Median salary
$46,221
1 yr after graduation

What does Kean University offer in terms of athletics?

Kean's Cougars compete in NCAA Division III varsity athletics and the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Representative varsity sports include football, basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, field hockey, volleyball, and track and field.

Varsity participation involves team selection, training, and competition; it should not be confused with club sports, intramurals, or informal recreation. NCAA Division III institutions do not award athletic scholarships, although students may qualify for other forms of aid. Students interested primarily in exercise or social competition should look at current recreation and club offerings rather than assume that every sport listed in a broad campus activities inventory is a varsity team.

What student groups and Associations are available at Kean University?

Kean students can join academic, cultural, service, recreational, and interest-based organizations. Examples in university activity listings include Active Minds at Kean University, the Association for Computing Machinery, Kean Esports, an Entrepreneurship Club, and a gardening club.

Student government, fraternities and sororities, and performing or media groups offer other ways to participate. Organization rosters and activity levels can change from year to year, so a student interested in a particular club should check the current recognized-organizations directory and meeting schedule. A student-run group also differs from a university office: it may create peer connections, but it does not replace professional counseling or academic advising.

Who studies at Kean University?

Kean enrolled about 14,500 students in the reported institutional figures. Its student body includes first-time students, transfers, graduate students, commuters, and students returning to education after their early twenties.

In the reported incoming undergraduate figures, 1,975 students entered as first-time degree-seeking students and 1,466 entered as transfers. About 90% of students were New Jersey residents, which helps explain the university's regional role. Students ages 18 through 24 made up the largest age groups, but enrollment also extended well beyond that range.

Reported racial and ethnic counts include substantial Hispanic or Latino and Black or African American student populations, alongside White, Asian, multiracial, and other students. These categories describe enrollment, not individual identities or experiences. Applicants looking for a particular peer community may find more useful evidence in current student organizations, support programs, and opportunities to participate than in demographic totals alone.

How does student life look like at Kean University?

Daily life at Kean reflects a campus with a large commuter population and a smaller residential community. About 84% of students were reported as commuters, while roughly 15% lived on campus; class schedules and travel time can therefore shape when students are able to join activities.

Student programming, campus recreation, performances, and gathering spaces provide opportunities to spend time on campus beyond class. Kean also reports a health clinic and personal or psychological counseling. Students balancing work, family responsibilities, or a commute may want to check the hours of advising, wellness services, and activities when building a schedule, rather than assuming that every service runs in the evening.

What libraries are available to students at Kean University?

The Nancy Thompson Learning Commons is Kean's main library and academic study center. Students can use it for research assistance, access to library materials and digital resources, and individual or group study.

Reported amenities include reservable study rooms and study areas with extended, including 24-hour, access on designated days. Hours can change during breaks or exams. Students working away from Union should check remote access to databases and journals, as well as borrowing and interlibrary-loan procedures for materials Kean does not hold.

Kean University Student Life for 2027

Total enrollment

13905

Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen

1893

Member of Athletic Associations

NCAA

Total staff

394 full time, 1100 part time

Veterans affair office

Yes

Kean University Student Body

Undergraduate vs. graduate students

Undergraduate: 11,758
Graduate: 2,147

Full-time vs. part-time students

Full-time: 11,147
Part-time: 2,758

Full-time degree-seeking students by gender

Women: 1,155
Men: 738

Students by race/ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino: 4,698
Black or African American: 2,438
White: 2,752
American Indian or Alaska Native: 15
Asian: 481
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 11
Two or more races: 240
Unknown: 190

Freshly enrolled students' age

Under 25 years
Over 25 years

Kean University Sports & Athletics

  • Member of NCAA

Varsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).

Sport

Varsity Intramural Aid

Baseball

MenMen–

Basketball

BothBoth–

Field hockey

Women––

Football

MenMen–

Lacrosse

Men––

Sand volleyball

–Both–

Soccer

BothBoth–

Softball

WomenBoth–

Swimming and diving

Women––

Tennis

WomenBoth–

Volleyball

BothBoth–

Weight lifting

–Both–

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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