Kennesaw State is one of those schools that quietly delivers strong value — especially for Georgia families. Admission is accessible, and the real “money lever” isn’t institutional merit — it’s state programs like HOPE and Zell Miller. If your student hits those GPA thresholds, the price can drop fast without needing perfect scores or chasing competitive scholarships.
For out-of-state students, though, the story is different. KSU doesn’t lean heavily on large automatic merit packages, so affordability depends more on overall cost than big discounts. This is a great fit for students who want a growing campus, strong programs in business, tech, and engineering, and a practical path to a degree — just go in understanding where the real savings come from.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes — Kennesaw State University is test-optional.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 22; SAT: 1111.
Average net price? About $17,566/yearyear after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
Yes — participates in ACM.
Notes: Based on FY2026 per-semester rates (15 credits): in-state ≈ $3,474; out-of-state ≈ $11,139.
Housing (double occupancy) ≈ $3,324/semester; meal plan (7-day) ≈ $2,125/semester.
Rounded to nearest $10 for consistency with CRP formatting.
FAQ — Cost of Attendance at Kennesaw State University
Does KSU charge the same tuition for all majors?
Yes. Most undergraduate programs follow the same tuition structure, though some specialized courses (especially in engineering or lab sciences) may include small additional fees.
What if my student lives off campus?
Students who live off campus will only be billed for tuition and fees by KSU. Housing and meal costs will vary depending on rent, utilities, and food choices, but they generally mirror on-campus estimates for budgeting purposes.
Does Kennesaw State participate in any tuition reciprocity programs?
Yes. KSU participates in the Academic Common Market (ACM) for certain majors and offers multiple Out-of-State Tuition Waivers, including those for Honors students and select academic or athletic achievements.
How accurate is the “average net price” number?
The $17,566 figure comes from federal data and reflects what families actually paid after grants and scholarships. It’s an average—students with higher GPAs or lower family incomes often pay less.
Are housing and meal plan costs the same for every dorm?
No. KSU’s residence halls and meal plan options vary by campus (Kennesaw vs. Marietta) and room type. The table above uses the standard double-occupancy room and mid-tier meal plan as the baseline.
Do these totals include books and transportation?
No. Books, transportation, and personal expenses are indirect costs and aren’t billed by KSU. They’re included in the federal “cost of attendance” to calculate financial aid eligibility, but families pay those separately.
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.
This institution does not offer designated Automatic Merit scholarships at this time.
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. 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.
This institution does not offer designated Competitive scholarships at this time.
No university-wide competitive scholarship tiers or award tables are publicly available.
Even though Kennesaw State doesn’t offer automatic merit, Georgia families can still tap into strong state, donor, and departmental scholarships that keep costs down. These are the real “hidden gems” at KSU.
App Required
Coca-Cola Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Typically March 1 during the KSU internal scholarship application cycle; verify the current deadline in ScholarshipUniverse. ✓ Renews (2.75 GPA)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.8+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
May be combined with other KSU institutional aid, Georgia HOPE or Zell Miller, and federal aid as long as the student's total aid does not exceed cost of attendance and all Coca-Cola/KSU renewal conditions are met.
📄
How to Apply
Apply and be admitted as a first-time, full-time undergraduate student at Kennesaw State. Complete the KSU ScholarshipUniverse application and answer any Coca-Cola Scholars Program questions. Students must show eligibility as a first-generation college student and/or STEM student, be HOPE-eligible at admission, enroll full time, and meet any program deadlines listed by KSU.
Selection criteria: KSU reviews applicants using factors such as first-generation status, STEM enrollment, financial need, HOPE eligibility, academic performance, and fit with student-success expectations. Detailed scoring weights are not publicly posted.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
KSU's Coca-Cola Scholars Program is an institutional scholarship and student-success initiative for first-generation and STEM students. It provides financial support plus wraparound services. Award amounts, cohort size, and program details may vary by year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming first-time, full-time KSU undergraduates who fit the program mission: first-generation and/or STEM students with financial need, HOPE eligibility, solid academic standing, and willingness to participate in the program's student-success expectations.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
KSU Foundation and Institutional Scholarships
📅 Deadline: November 1, 2025 application opening; earlier completion may improve matching opportunities. ✓ Renews
$500–$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
KSU Foundation and institutional scholarships are generally designed to stack with Georgia HOPE or Zell Miller, federal aid, and other aid as long as the student stays within cost-of-attendance limits and meets any donor-specific rules.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the KSU ScholarshipUniverse general scholarship application during the annual scholarship cycle, typically November 1 through March 1. Students should answer profile questions carefully so the system can match them to KSU Foundation, college, departmental, donor, and institutional scholarships. If matched, submit any supplemental questions or essays by the posted deadlines.
Selection criteria: Selection committees may review academic performance, application responses, demonstrated financial need where applicable, and alignment with donor, college, or departmental priorities. Detailed scoring rubrics are not publicly posted.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
KSU administers a wide range of internal scholarships through ScholarshipUniverse. This is an umbrella record, not a single guaranteed award. Amounts, eligibility rules, renewal terms, and required materials vary by specific scholarship fund.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who complete ScholarshipUniverse early and thoroughly. These awards often go to students who match a specific donor or department profile: major, GPA, leadership, service, identity, first-generation status, financial need, or campus involvement.
* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
FAQ
Can these awards stack with HOPE or Zell?
Yes. Most hidden-gem and departmental scholarships at KSU are designed to combine with state aid as long as your total aid does not exceed your cost of attendance. (KSU’s Scholarship FAQs confirm multiple awards can be held.)
Is March 1 the universal deadline for all KSU scholarships?
For most KSU Foundation / institutional scholarships, yes — applications open Nov 1 and close March 1. But specific departmental or honors awards may have earlier or different deadlines (e.g. Honors priority by Feb 1).
How do I find the exact deadline for a departmental award?
Check your department’s scholarship pages or contact the college’s administrative office. The Scholarship Universe portal will often list the deadline when you view the award match.
When do scholarship awards typically notify students?
For many institutional awards, notifications are sent beginning in March, after the application closes.
Kennesaw State’s Journey Honors College is designed for motivated students who want smaller classes, faculty mentorship, and special opportunities. Admission is competitive and requires a separate application, essays, and strong academic performance. Many named scholarships are tied to specific Honors cohorts or donors.
What a Typical KSU Honors Student Looks Like:
High school GPA in the 3.6–4.0 range*, rigorous coursework (AP/IB/dual enrollment), plus leadership or service.
*Estimates based on past cohorts; exact cutoffs vary.
App Required
President's Emerging Global Scholars
📅 Deadline: February 1, 2026 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
PEGS scholarships are institutional Honors awards that may be combined with Georgia HOPE, Zell Miller, other KSU scholarships, and outside aid, as long as total aid does not exceed KSU's cost-of-attendance limits and the student meets all program rules.
📄
How to Apply
Apply and be admitted to Kennesaw State University, then submit a separate application to the KSU Journey Honors College by the published priority or final deadline. Students interested in President's Emerging Global Scholars, often called PEGS, should indicate that interest and complete any PEGS-specific questions or materials in ScholarshipUniverse or the Honors application as directed.
Selection criteria: Holistic selection based on Honors admission materials, academic record, leadership and service evidence, and fit with PEGS global and leadership outcomes. Specific scoring weights are not publicly posted.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
The Honors scholarships page lists the President's Emerging Global Scholars award as a $1,000 per year scholarship renewable for up to four years for students in the PEGS cohort. The program emphasizes leadership development, global experiences, and professional growth for Honors students across majors.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming first-year Honors students who are accepted into the Journey Honors College and selected for the PEGS cohort. Strong candidates usually show solid academics, leadership potential, service, curiosity, and a real interest in global engagement.
App Required
Ancient and Modern Classics Honors Cohort Scholarship
📅 Deadline: February 1, 2026 Non-Renewable
$1,000
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
This cohort scholarship is an institutional Honors award that may be combined with other KSU scholarships, Georgia HOPE, Zell Miller, and outside aid, subject to cost-of-attendance limits and any donor or cohort rules.
📄
How to Apply
Apply and be admitted to Kennesaw State University, then submit a separate application to the Journey Honors College. Students interested in the Ancient and Modern Classics Honors Cohort should indicate that interest and complete any cohort-specific questions or materials in ScholarshipUniverse or the Honors application.
Selection criteria: Selection emphasizes academic preparation in humanities-related areas, Honors application quality, and demonstrated interest in the Classics cohort. Detailed scoring criteria are not publicly listed.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
The Honors scholarships page lists the Ancient and Modern Classics Honors Cohort scholarship as a $1,000 one-time award tied to a humanities-focused Honors cohort. It is not described as renewable and is limited to selected Honors students.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students with a strong interest in humanities, classical studies, big ideas, writing, history, philosophy, culture, or related fields who are selected for the Ancient and Modern Classics cohort.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Journey Honors College General and Donor Scholarships
📅 Deadline: February 1, 2026 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000–$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Honors scholarships from the general and donor-funded pool are typically stackable with Georgia HOPE, Zell Miller, other institutional awards, and outside scholarships as long as combined aid does not exceed cost of attendance. Some donor awards may have specific stacking or renewal rules.
📄
How to Apply
Be admitted to Kennesaw State University and then to the Journey Honors College. Complete the KSU ScholarshipUniverse application during the annual scholarship cycle and respond to any Honors-specific questions. Students should submit materials by the February 1 priority deadline or March 1 final deadline for full consideration.
Selection criteria: Honors scholarship committees may consider academic performance, Honors engagement, application responses, demonstrated financial need where applicable, and fit with donor intent. Specific scoring rubrics are not publicly posted.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
KSU Journey Honors College reports more than $1.3 million in Honors scholarship funding annually, with many awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per year and many renewable for up to four years. This is an umbrella record for Honors general and donor-funded awards, not one guaranteed scholarship.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students who complete ScholarshipUniverse thoroughly and match a donor or college priority. These awards may favor major, leadership, service, financial need, campus engagement, or other donor-defined criteria, so the best move is to answer every matching question carefully.
* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Other Honors Opportunities (not tied to named awards):
Donor & Departmental Awards — Honors students often receive priority for $500–$5,000 scholarships through Scholarship Universe.
National Fellowship Guidance — Advising for Rhodes, Truman, Fulbright, Goldwater, and other external fellowships.
Study Abroad & Research Support — Competitive stipends for projects or international study.
FAQ
How selective is KSU’s Honors College?
Admission is competitive: most freshmen accepted had GPAs in the 3.6–4.0 range with AP/IB/dual enrollment rigor, plus evidence of leadership or service. A separate application and essays are required.
What’s the difference between Honors scholarships and state aid like HOPE/Zell?
Honors scholarships are donor-funded, competitive awards on top of state aid. Many students layer HOPE/Zell with $1k–$5k Honors awards to reduce net cost further.
Do all Honors students get funding?
No. While many receive support, named scholarships are limited and competitive. However, being in Honors improves access to donor pools and fellowship advising.
When should I apply for best consideration?
The Honors priority deadline is Feb 1, with a final deadline of Mar 1. Applying early maximizes scholarship consideration.
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.
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.
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