Kettering University
58%
Acceptance rate
$50,650
Tuition/yr
2,200
Enrollment
11:1
Student:Faculty
About Kettering University
Private engineering university in Michigan. Top engineering and technology programs with co-op focus.
Kettering University is a private university located in Flint, Michigan, founded in 1919 and named after inventor and General Motors leader Charles F. Kettering. It specializes in STEM and business disciplines, with a total enrollment of approximately 1,466 students (fall 2024), making it a small, focused institution.
The university's defining feature is its mandatory cooperative education (co-op) program, which alternates 11-week academic terms with paid industry work terms throughout the degree. This structure gives graduates over two years of professional experience before they finish their degree. Mechanical Engineering is the largest program by enrollment, followed by Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Kettering is ranked No. 18 nationally for Undergraduate Engineering Programs at non-doctorate-granting schools and No. 20 nationally in Co-ops/Internships by U.S. News & World Report 2025.
The campus sits in Flint, a mid-sized city in Michigan's industrial heartland. Kettering is accredited and maintains close partnerships with major manufacturers and technology firms, particularly in the automotive and advanced manufacturing sectors. Graduates report a No. 1 starting salary among Michigan universities at approximately $75,000 per year, according to SmartAsset data cited by the university.
World University Rankings
Campus & Location
MI
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
- Kettering's co-op program is legally structured as Curricular Practical Training (CPT), meaning Nepali students on F-1 visas earn paid work experience during their studies without consuming their post-graduation OPT allowance, this is a concrete advantage over universities without integrated co-op programs.
- Engineering graduates at Kettering are eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of the standard 12-month OPT, giving Nepali students up to 3 years of authorized post-study work in the United States to gain experience and pursue H-1B sponsorship.
- The estimated annual cost of attendance for international undergraduates is approximately $66,700 (tuition ~$50,650 plus living expenses), which is high, but co-op earnings during work terms can substantially offset living costs, the university explicitly notes this on its international students page.
- Kettering's small size (11:1 student-to-faculty ratio) and industry-connected programs in Mechanical, Electrical, and Computer Engineering suit Nepali students targeting careers in U.S. manufacturing and technology sectors; however, prospective applicants should note the university's own statement that financial assistance for international students is limited, so personal funding or family sponsorship is essential.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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