Kean University

<h4 id="section---Pros">Pros</h4> <ul><li>Located less than 12 miles from New York City and less than 30 miles from JFK, LaGuardia and Newark international airports </li><li>Acceptance rate is 4.5 percentage points higher than the national average </li><li>Diverse student body </li></ul><h4 id="section---Cons">Cons</h4> <ul><li>Total cost for in-state students, including on-campus housing, is $11,548 higher than the national average for 4-year, public schools </li><li>Student-teacher ratio is 18:1, which is higher than the national average </li></ul><h3 id="section---RankingsAndSchoolAnalysis">Rankings and School Analysis</h3> <p>The student body reflects the school's diversity; about 58% of attendees are 'non-white' ethnicities. Among universities, Kean reports it's New Jersey's third largest public one, and it produces the most teachers in the state. With 37% of enrollees pursuing this course of study, you can see that, if this is your educational goal, you will be in good company at Kean. If an education major isn't for you, there are almost 50 undergraduate programs at Kean, as well as more than 30 graduate programs to choose from. In the 2013 edition of <i>Best Colleges,</i> <i>US News and World Report</i> ranked Kean University as No. 133 among regional universities in the North. </p> <p>If you choose to apply to Kean, be prepared to pay more than $11,000 above the national average for in-state tuition, fees and on-campus housing. The national average cost for in-state, 4-year public schools is $17,136, but Kean students can expect to pay $28,684. Many students, however, chose to reduce their costs by living off-campus. Only 15% of undergraduates live at Kean, and it's considered a commuter campus. They even have their own stop on the local transit system. </p> <p>Nearly 16,000 students attend Kean University, and 70% of students are accepted. This is slightly higher than the national average acceptance rate of 65.5%. However, the student-faculty ratio of 18:1 is also a bit higher than the national average ratio of 16:1. </p> <h2 id="section---GettingInFinancialAidAtKeanUniversity">Getting In &amp; Financial Aid at Kean University</h2> <p>If you choose to apply for admission to Kean University, your regular application package, including a $75 fee, is due May 31 for admission in the fall. Rolling admission notifications begin November 15. <i>US News and World Report</i> considers Kean University to be less selective. </p> <p>To apply for financial aid, you can submit your FAFSA for priority consideration by March 15. According to the College Board, the average financial aid package for students at Kean in 2011-2012 was $9,201. That year, 8% of students had their total need met, whereas 76% received some type of need-based aid. If you're judged to have need (based on the results of your FAFSA) you may receive some type of loan, grant or scholarship - but to meet your total need, you may have to find other funding sources. One way you may do this is by seeking outside scholarships. In this case, it's good to know that the Kean University Foundation accepts scholarship applications from December 1 through March 1 each year; the application is available online. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> <b>Admissions and Financial Aid</b> </th><th /></tr> <tr><td><i>Regular Application Deadline (2013)</i> </td><td> May 31***</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Financial Aid Application Deadline (2013)</i></td><td> March 15***</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Application Fee (2013)</i></td><td> $75*</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Acceptance Rate (2011)</i></td><td> 70%**</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Tuition and Fees (2011-2012)</i></td><td> $10,200 in-state, $16,012 out-of-state**</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Average Financial Aid Package (2011-2012)</i></td><td> $9,201***</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Percent of Students With Need Met (2011)</i></td><td> 8%***</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Average Student Debt at Graduation (2011)</i></td><td> $25,119***</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Student Loan Default Rate (2009)</i></td><td> 7.5%**</td></tr> </table><h2 id="section---StudentLifeAtKeanUniversity">Student Life at Kean University</h2> <p>With 62 computer labs on campus, a local museum that houses artifacts from the birth of our nation and a library housing approximately 275,000 volumes, Kean's campus is a local and international resource. From its Holocaust Research Center to many faculty members' commitment to research regarding human rights, education and the reduction of prejudice, Kean claims a commitment to diversity and inquiry. As a student, you will have access to the Kean lecture series - including scholars like Elie Wiesel and Deborah Dwork - as well as an extensive collection of primary sources relating to genocide studies. </p> <p>According to The National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), 60% of students at Kean University are female. The majority of degree-seekers at Kean attend full-time, and though a variety of campus housing options is available, most students choose to live off-campus. Kean's close proximity to New York City offers students the additional resources that this large city has to offer in the form of libraries, museums, theater, shopping, music, sports and 3 nearby international airports. On campus, you can participate any of their almost 100 clubs and organizations, pledge one of the 32 fraternities or sororities or try out for one of the 13 Division III varsity teams. Kean has 3 fitness centers and 5 theaters on its 185.4-acre campus. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> <b>Student Life Info</b> </th><th /></tr> <tr><td><i>Campus Setting</i></td><td> Large suburb**</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Student Population (2013)</i></td><td> 15,939*</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Male-to-Female Student Ratio (2011)</i></td><td> 40% to 60%**</td></tr> <tr><td><i>% of Full-Time Students (2011)</i></td><td> 78%**</td></tr> <tr><td><i>% of In-State Students (2011)</i></td><td> 98%***</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Retention Rate (2011)</i></td><td> 80%**</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Campus Housing Available</i></td><td> Yes***</td></tr> <tr><td><i>% of Students Living On-Campus (2011)</i></td><td> 15%**</td></tr> <tr><td><i>% of Students Living Off-Campus (2011)</i></td><td> 85%**</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Number of Libraries</i></td><td> 1*</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Extracurricular Activities</i></td><td> 13 Div. III varsity teams, more than 130 student groups*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Sources: *Kean University, **NCES, ***College Board.</i> </p> <h3 id="section---ContactInformation">Contact Information</h3> <ul><li><i>Address:</i> 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, New Jersey 07083 </li><li><i>Phone:</i> 908-737-7100</li></ul>