Can these hidden gem awards stack with HOPE or Zell?

Yes. Most departmental, marching band, ROTC, and study abroad awards can combine with state aid as long as total aid does not exceed the cost of attendance.

How do I access KSU’s donor and departmental scholarships?

Through KSU’s Scholarship Universe portal. Completing the profile and materials early helps surface more matches and deadlines.

Is admission to the Honors College automatic for high achievers?

No. Students must submit a separate Honors application and essays; admission is selective.

Does being in Honors add time to the degree?

No. Honors courses typically replace general education or electives and are designed to keep students on time to graduate.

Kennesaw State University Scholarships (2025–2026)

Q: Who qualifies for in-state tuition?

Georgia residents who can document state residency under Board of Regents rules.

Q: How much is the savings for in-state students?

Roughly $15,000 per year compared to non-resident tuition based on KSU’s published cost of attendance.

Q: Do I need to apply for in-state rates?

Georgia residents receive in-state rates after submitting required residency documents. Non-residents cannot apply for reduced rates at KSU.

Q: Are marching band awards guaranteed?

No. Stipends depend on annual donor funding and ensemble needs, and require successful audition and active participation.

← Back to the College Scholarships Hub

If you’re a first-gen parent, this page breaks Kennesaw State’s costs and scholarships into simple, real-world steps—what’s automatic, what’s competitive, and what hidden gems are actually worth a look. Use the Georgia State Aid Guide alongside this page to see how state grants stack with KSU awards, then jump back to our hub to compare colleges side by side.

💰 Cost of Attendance at Kennesaw State University

Expense	In-State	Out-of-State
Tuition	$5,700	$21,030
Mandatory Fees	$1,248	$1,248
Housing	$8,795	$8,795
Meal Plan	$5,000	$5,000
Books & Supplies	$1,500	$1,500
Transportation	$2,040	$2,040
Personal Expenses	$3,970	$3,970
Total (before aid)	$28,318	$43,648

Average Net Price: $18,079 per year. That’s what families actually paid on average after grants and scholarships were applied — no loans included (NCES 2021-22).

Reciprocity & Regional Programs: Kennesaw State does not offer border-state tuition waivers or broad reciprocity programs. However, it does participate in the Academic Common Market (Graduate Only), which lets students from participating SREB states pay in-state tuition if their graduate program is not offered in their home state (state certification required).

Example: An in-state student pays about $28K before aid, while an out-of-state student pays about $43K — a difference of roughly $15,000 each year.

FAQ

Who qualifies for in-state tuition?
Georgia residents who can prove state residency under Board of Regents rules.

How much is the savings for in-state students?
About $15,000 per year compared to non-resident tuition.

Do I need to apply for in-state rates?
If you’re a Georgia resident, it’s automatic — but new students must submit proof of residency. Non-residents cannot apply for reduced rates at KSU.

✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships

Kennesaw State University does not currently publish any admission-based automatic merit scholarships for freshmen. Unlike some universities that award guaranteed aid based on GPA and test scores, KSU’s scholarships are competitive or departmental rather than automatic.

🏆 Competitive Scholarships

Kennesaw State offers scholarships through its Office of Scholarships, but none are guaranteed by GPA or test score alone. All institutional awards are competitive, meaning students must apply, often through the KSU Scholarship Universe portal. Awards vary by donor, department, and eligibility criteria.

KSU does not publish a single flagship full-ride or named university-wide merit program (like some state flagships do). Instead, students compete for a mix of smaller institutional and donor-funded awards inside the Scholarship Universe portal.

No university-wide competitive scholarship tiers or award tables are publicly available.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

Even though Kennesaw State doesn’t offer automatic merit, Georgia families can still tap into strong state-funded, donor, and departmental scholarships that keep costs down. These are the real “hidden gems” at KSU.

Scholarship / Program	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
HOPE Scholarship (Georgia Lottery)	Covers most in-state tuition (≈$5,700)	Georgia residents; 3.0+ high school GPA; maintain 3.0 in college	No	Yes	Typical B+/A- Georgia students; widely awarded
Zell Miller Scholarship (Georgia Lottery)	Covers full in-state tuition (≈$7,000)	Georgia residents; 3.7+ GPA + 1200 SAT/26 ACT; maintain 3.3 in college	No	Yes	Georgia’s top graduates; covers tuition completely
Coca-Cola First-Generation & STEM Scholars	$5,000/yr for 4–5 years	First-time, full-time KSU students who are first-gen or STEM; HOPE-eligible; demonstrate need; maintain ≥2.75 GPA	Yes	Yes	First-gen B-level students with HOPE eligibility and financial need
Marching Owls (Athletic Bands)	Performance stipends; $500–$2,000 typical	Any major; must audition and stay active in Marching Band (fall) + concert ensemble (spring)	Yes — audition	Yes	Musicians who commit to rehearsals, games, and performances
ROTC (Army, Air Force, Navy)	Full or partial tuition + stipend ($250–$420/mo) + books	U.S. citizens meeting GPA/fitness; must commit to service	Yes	Yes	Students with strong academics, leadership, and military career goals
Gary Kaukinen Memorial (History Education)	~$1,000	First-gen students majoring in History Education	Yes	Varies	First-gen history ed majors with need and solid standing
Bagwell College Alumni Club (Student Teaching)	$500–$1,500	Full-time student teachers; recommendations from faculty & mentor teacher; need preferred	Yes	No	Education majors entering student teaching with proven ability
Study Abroad Scholarships (Clark, Takada, ENPLAS, True Family, Davidson, Keene)	$500–$1,000	Business, science, arts, anthropology, or Honors students; most require 3.0+ GPA and financial need; tied to specific destinations or programs	Yes	No	Students who plan faculty-led or field-study abroad; preference to need-based, first-gen, or single-parent backgrounds
KSU Donor & Departmental Scholarships	$500–$5,000	Varies by major, leadership, first-gen, or financial need	Yes — via Scholarship Universe portal	Varies	Students who complete the portal profile early and match donor criteria

FAQ

Can these awards stack with HOPE or Zell?
Yes. Most hidden gem scholarships can combine with state aid, as long as total aid doesn’t exceed cost of attendance.

Who should prioritize the Coca-Cola First-Gen program?
First-gen students with B averages who qualify for HOPE and show need; it’s renewable and provides support services.

Are marching band awards guaranteed?
No. They depend on annual donor funding and ensemble needs, but committed musicians usually receive stipends.

How do I access the donor and departmental scholarships?
Through KSU’s Scholarship Universe portal (correct link above). Completing the profile early surfaces more matches.

⭐ College Specialty

Kennesaw State has grown into one of Georgia’s largest universities, with more than 43,000 students and a mix of practical programs that connect directly to the state’s workforce. Families looking at KSU often choose it for applied majors and strong regional pipelines rather than national prestige.

What Stands Out at KSU: While not a nationally selective school, KSU is recognized for career-ready programs and hands-on learning — especially in fields that feed directly into Atlanta’s job market.

Business (Coles College of Business) — Ranked the No. 1 Online MBA in Georgia and No. 42 nationally by U.S. News & World Report (2025). EMBA program ranked top 3 in the U.S. by CEO Magazine.
Online Programs — KSU has nationally ranked online graduate degrees in IT, business, and engineering. Its online undergraduate business program is ranked No. 21 nationally (U.S. News, 2025).
Engineering — Undergraduate engineering ranked No. 62 nationally among non-doctoral programs (U.S. News, 2025), with strong ABET accreditation and ties to Georgia’s construction/transportation sectors.
Institutional Growth — Named one of the “7 Fastest-Growing Universities” in the U.S. (Statista, 2023) and among the top 3% of best campuses nationwide (Niche, 2025).
Nursing & Health Professions — Well-established nursing program with consistently high NCLEX pass rates, feeding directly into Georgia’s healthcare system.

🎖️ Honors College

Kennesaw State offers an Honors College designed for motivated students who want smaller classes, faculty mentorship, and special opportunities. Admission is by application, and students can join as freshmen or as current KSU students once they establish a strong GPA.

What a Typical KSU Honors Student Looks Like:
High school GPA in the 3.6–4.0 range*, strong academic rigor (AP/IB/dual enrollment), and evidence of leadership or service. *Estimates based on past cohorts; exact cutoffs vary.

Perks That Matter:

Priority course registration
Honors housing and small seminar-style classes
Faculty mentorship and support for research/creative projects
Funding opportunities for study abroad, internships, or research
Special graduation recognition and thesis opportunities

Honors-Specific Scholarships: KSU does not advertise a flagship Honors full-ride or large institutional award. Instead:

Donor & Departmental Awards — Honors students often receive priority consideration for $500–$5,000 scholarships inside the Scholarship Universe portal.
National Fellowship Guidance — Honors provides mentorship and workshops for major external awards (Rhodes, Truman, Fulbright, Goldwater).
Study Abroad & Research Support — Small stipends for research or international study are sometimes available, on a competitive basis.

FAQ

Is admission automatic for high achievers?
No. Students must apply separately to the Honors College and submit essays.

Does being in Honors add time to my degree?
No. Honors courses replace general education or elective courses and don’t extend graduation.

Are there guaranteed scholarships just for Honors students?
No. Honors students gain stronger access to donor awards and external fellowships, but there is no automatic institutional scholarship tied to Honors.

When should students apply?
Incoming freshmen are encouraged to apply at the same time as their KSU application for best consideration. Current students may apply after their first year if they meet GPA requirements.

📎 Official Links

Final Thoughts

Kennesaw State University may not hand out automatic merit or big-name competitive scholarships, but that doesn’t mean affordability is out of reach. For Georgia families, the real value comes from stacking HOPE or Zell Miller with smaller donor awards, plus the lower in-state tuition that KSU already offers. Out-of-state students won’t find reciprocity discounts here, but they can still compete for departmental scholarships or use KSU’s growing online and applied programs as a more affordable pathway into Atlanta’s job market.

Bottom line: if your student is aiming to stay in Georgia, take advantage of the state lottery-funded scholarships, and explore Honors or departmental awards through the Scholarship Universe portal. KSU’s strength is accessibility and career preparation, not prestige pricing — which can be a big win for families looking for a practical, affordable degree.

Last updated: August 2025