Kean University
80%
Acceptance rate
$24,017
Tuition/yr
13,000
Enrollment
About Kean University
Kean University is a public university in Union, Elizabeth, and Hillside, New Jersey. It is part of New Jersey's public system of higher education and is a state-designated research university.
Kean University is a public university founded in 1855 in Union, New Jersey, making it one of the oldest public post-secondary institutions in the state. It is the third largest public university in New Jersey, enrolling nearly 19,000 students across campuses in Union, Toms River, and Jefferson (NJ), a campus in Wenzhou, China, and online programs. The university holds Professional/Doctoral University status from the Carnegie Commission and offers more than 50 undergraduate and 70 graduate degree programs.
Kean is particularly recognized for the Michael Graves College of Architecture and Design, established in 2014 and named after the world-renowned architect who helped shape its curriculum, architecture students spend a semester studying in Rome. The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics, and Technology houses strong STEM programs including Computational Science and Engineering and Molecular Biology (5-year B.S./M.S. combined tracks). Kean also runs a Freshman Research Initiative that places first-year students in faculty-mentored lab research within weeks of arriving on campus.
Kean has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report in the top 50 nationally for social mobility among all 439 classified national universities, reflecting its mission to serve first-generation and economically diverse students. The university is recognized as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse national universities in the United States, and it carries the distinction of being designated New Jersey's first Urban Research University.
World University Rankings
Campus & Location
NJ
Suburban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates qualify for 12-month OPT. STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- From Fall 2026 onward, Kean is eliminating out-of-state tuition for all international students worldwide, meaning F-1 visa holders will pay the same in-state rate as New Jersey residents, approximately USD 15,300 per year for undergraduates, making it one of the most affordable accredited national universities for Nepali students in the US.
- Kean's strong STEM and design programs qualify graduates for the 24-month OPT STEM extension, giving eligible Nepali students up to 3 years of US work authorization after graduation, significantly improving post-study employment prospects.
- Merit-based scholarships at Kean are automatically considered at admission with no separate application required, lowering the barrier for incoming international applicants including Nepalis who meet GPA and academic criteria.
- The university's high ethnic diversity and social-mobility focus mean Nepali and South Asian students are entering an environment accustomed to supporting first-generation and international learners, with structured orientation and F-1/J-1 advising through the Center for International Studies.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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