AccessibleUpdated for the 2025-2026 cycle

Kent State University acceptance rate and admissions profile

With an acceptance rate near 86%, Kent State University is an accessible public university in Ohio. Because it admits most qualified applicants, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

Use this page to see what Kent State University weighs, where it ranks among Ohio schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1180, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
86%
Accessible
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1180
of admitted students
Type
Public
Ohio
Selectivity in state
#39
of 45 in OH
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Will I get into Kent State University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Kent State University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Kent State University?

Kent State University admits most qualified applicants (around 86%), but that overall rate is not your personal chance. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Kent State University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Kent State University hard to get into?

Kent State University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 86% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Kent State University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Kent State University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Kent State University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for Kent State University?

Kent State University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1180. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Kent State University.

Calculate your chances at Kent State University

What Kent State University looks for

What Kent State University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, modeled from its selectivity and profile.

In its review, Kent State University leans most on academic GPA and state residency. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. The full breakdown is charted below; with no reported data published, it is modeled from schools of this selectivity and type, so treat it as a planning guide rather than an official rubric.

Rigor of secondary school record
Considered
Academic GPA
Important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
State residency
Important
Work experience
Considered

SAT score positioning at Kent State University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Kent State University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200In the competitive admitted range
1100Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
Colleges for a 1200 SAT →Colleges for a 24 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Kent State University compares in Ohio

Kent State University ranks #39 most selective of 45 schools in Ohio in our database.

Among the 45 Ohio schools we track, Kent State University ranks #39 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Denison University (17%) and Kenyon College (31%) sit nearby, which makes Ohio a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

Denison University
17%acceptance · OH
Kenyon College
31%acceptance · OH
Oberlin College
34%acceptance · OH
Case Western Reserve University
37%acceptance · OH
Wilberforce University
41%acceptance · OH
Defiance College
48%acceptance · OH
Ohio Wesleyan University
56%acceptance · OH
Franciscan University of Steubenville
58%acceptance · OH
See all Ohio schools →

Similar to Kent State University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Build around Kent State University with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Ball State University, East Tennessee State University, and Lamar University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Ball State University
86%acceptance · IN
East Tennessee State University
86%acceptance · TN
Lamar University
86%acceptance · TX
Louisiana Tech University
86%acceptance · LA
Murray State University
86%acceptance · KY
University of Arizona
86%acceptance · AZ

Frequently asked questions

What does Kent State University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Kent State University weighs academic GPA and state residency most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Kent State University favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, Kent State University generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at Kent State University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Kent State University specifically.

How does residency affect admission to Kent State University?

As a public university, Kent State University typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.

What are the admission requirements for Kent State University?

Kent State University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.