Kennesaw State University

Founded in 1963, Kennesaw State University (KSU) is the third-largest university in Georgia with more than 24,100 undergraduate and graduate students representing more than 130 countries.

KSU is located just northwest of Atlanta in Cobb County near historic Kennesaw Mountain, allowing students to experience the best of Atlanta while enjoying the serenity of a 384-acre, beautifully landscaped pedestrian-friendly campus.

Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), KSU offers 80 bachelor's, master's and doctorate degree programs including undergraduate degrees in education, health, business, the humanities, the arts, science and math. The university’s graduate degree programs include nursing, business, information systems, conflict management, public administration, education and professional writing. KSU’s expanding Ph.D. program currently offers a Doctorate of Education in Leadership for Learning, Doctorate of Business Administration and Doctorate of Nursing.

Kennesaw State’s nursing program is the largest nursing program in Georgia, and also one of the best. KSU’s nursing students have one of the highest passing rates on the statewide licensing exam and are highly sought-after in the medical community. The College of Education is the second-largest preparer of teachers in the state. And the Executive MBA program, housed in the Coles College of Business, is the second-largest program of its kind in the country and was recognized among the best in the world by CEO Magazine in 2009.

KSU’s national reputation has gained steam and was recognized by U.S. News & World Report's America’s Best Colleges issue in 2010 as one of the top universities in the region. KSU’s first-year experience program has also been named an “Academic Program to Look For” by U.S. News for nine consecutive years. For the second consecutive year, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni listed KSU among only 19 universities in the country that scored an A in the group’s “What Will They Learn?” guide.

The university has committed itself to expanding the global experience of students, faculty and staff through its Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), known as the "Get Global" initiative, which began in 2007. This program focuses on increasing opportunities for international learning experiences. In spring 2009, KSU awarded its first Global Engagement Certification to graduate and undergraduate students. This certification recognizes students’ achievements in learning global perspectives and developing intercultural skills.

As a destination campus, KSU offers students plenty of opportunities to experience campus life by participating in more than 150 student groups and organizations, including student government, sororities and fraternities, club and intramural sports, social and special-interest organizations, student publications and honor societies.

In 2009, the Kennesaw State Owls completed a reclassification from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I, competing in the Atlantic Sun Conference. During the transition from 2005-2009, KSU teams won six Atlantic Sun Conference crowns in five sports, including men’s indoor and outdoor track, women’s soccer, softball and cross-country.

Kennesaw State was originally established by the University System of Georgia in 1963 as Kennesaw Junior College serving 1,000 students. The college became a four-year institution in 1976 and was named Kennesaw College in 1977. In 1988, it was named Kennesaw State College and in 1996 became Kennesaw State University.