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Kennesaw State University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Public · Kennesaw, GA · 41,254 students

The verdict

Kennesaw State University charges a net price of $15,048/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $60,192. Graduates earn a median $57,552 ten years after entry, $9,192/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 6.5 years — a 20-year net return of $123,648, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Kennesaw State University's 6.5-year payback ranks #569 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 56% of them, and #6 of 100 in Georgia.

Better ROI than 56% of US colleges#569 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$15,048
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$57,552
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
6.5 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
69%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Kennesaw State University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$15,048/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$60,192our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$57,552Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$9,192/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$23,833Scorecard, 2026
Payback6.5 yrsour math
20-year net return$123,648our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Kennesaw State University's own numbers. Net price $15,048 × 4 years = $60,192 total. Median earnings $57,552 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $9,192 a year of premium. $60,192 ÷ $9,192 = 6.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $123,648. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do Kennesaw State University students graduate with?

A median $23,833 in federal loans among completers, or 41% of the $57,552 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Kennesaw State University students graduate?

52% finish their degree — 48% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $60,192 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $115,754 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Kennesaw State University expensive compared with other Georgia colleges?

Its $15,048 net price runs $627 below the $15,675 median across the 100 Georgia colleges we profile, and $2,508 less across the full degree.

Kennesaw State University: frequently asked questions

Is Kennesaw State University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Kennesaw State University charges $15,048/yr after aid ($60,192 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $57,552 ten years out — $9,192/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 6.5 years and returns $123,648 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a Kennesaw State University degree take to pay off?
About 6.5 years. We divide the $60,192 four-year net cost by the $9,192/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Kennesaw State University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $15,048/yr — about $60,192 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Kennesaw State University compare to other Georgia colleges?
It ranks #6 of 100 Georgia colleges we track by payback. Its $57,552 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $15,048 net price is below the national median of $16,902.