Kennesaw State University, better known as KSU, is a large public research university in Georgia with two busy campuses northwest of Atlanta: one in Kennesaw and one in Marietta. Together they cover more than 580 acres and enroll more than 51,000 students, which makes KSU one of the biggest players in the state’s higher education scene.
It is part of the University System of Georgia and classified as an R2 doctoral institution, meaning it combines a broad mix of undergraduate and graduate programs with high research activity. In simple terms, this means plenty of majors, plenty of labs, and a lot of owls on sweatshirts.
From Junior College To Full-Fledged University
Kennesaw State did not start out as a huge university with packed parking decks and a football stadium. In 1963, the Georgia Board of Regents approved a junior college for Cobb County. The new institution opened its doors in 1966 as Kennesaw Junior College with around 1,000 students and Horace Sturgis as its first president.
Over time the school kept leveling up:
- In 1976 it became a four-year institution and took the name Kennesaw College.
- In 1981, Betty Siegel became president, making history as the first woman to lead a university in the University System of Georgia.
- By the mid-1980s the college had launched its first graduate programs in business and education and started to add campus housing.
- In 1988 it adopted yet another name: Kennesaw State College.
- Finally, in 1996, the word “College” gave way to “University,” reflecting its size, academic range, and growing list of graduate and professional programs.
From a small junior college to a sprawling university in just a few decades, KSU essentially speed-ran the higher education growth ladder.
The Southern Poly Merger And The Two-Campus Setup
A major turning point came in 2015, when KSU consolidated with Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta. The combined institution kept the Kennesaw State University name, while the former Southern Poly campus became today’s Marietta campus, with a strong emphasis on engineering, technology, and computing.
That merger did a few important things:
- It expanded KSU’s footprint and student body.
- It strengthened engineering, construction, architecture, and computing programs.
- It gave the university the two-campus structure it has now, with the Kennesaw campus leaning more toward business, education, arts, health, humanities, and many core classes, and the Marietta campus leaning toward the technical side.
Students now commute between the two via shuttles, and many end up spending time on both campuses. The result feels a bit like a small university system under one name, complete with different “personalities” on each side of I-75.
Leadership And Direction
KSU’s current president, Dr. Kathy Schwaig, took on the role in 2022 after serving as interim president. Under her leadership the university has focused on student success initiatives, enrollment growth, fundraising, and strengthening its reputation as a research institution.
The university’s stated mission emphasizes academic quality, impactful research, and preparing students for careers and civic life. In practice that shows up through:
- New academic programs tied to workforce needs
- Expanded tutoring, advising, and support services
- Partnerships with regional employers and organizations
The tone is pragmatic: students are encouraged to leave with a degree that actually helps pay the bills, not just decorate the office wall.
Academics: What Students Can Study
Kennesaw State is divided into 11 colleges and offers more than 190 degrees and programs at the undergraduate and graduate level. Those colleges include:
- Michael J. Coles College of Business
- Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
- College of Computing and Software Engineering
- Bagwell College of Education
- Wellstar College of Health and Human Services
- Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- College of Science and Mathematics
- Robert S. Geer Family College of the Arts
- College of Architecture and Construction Management
- KSU Journey Honors College
- Graduate College
Some of the strongest draws include business, engineering, education, health, computing, and construction management. The university is also a major producer of teachers and nurses in Georgia.
In addition to traditional degrees, KSU’s Community and Professional Education programs offer professional certificates, short courses, and test prep at the KSU Center, which is especially popular with working adults who want new skills without diving back into a full-time degree program.
Research With An R2 Label
KSU’s R2 status reflects a growing portfolio of research, much of it tied to practical challenges. The university groups its research into four broad themes:
- Biomedical and health
- Computing and technology
- Human development and well-being
- Sustainable and safe communities
Faculty secure grants, run labs, advise graduate students, and often involve undergraduates in their projects. For students, that can mean opportunities to help with experiments, data analysis, design work, or field studies before graduation.
The research profile is still growing, which gives the place a slightly entrepreneurial feel: lots of work underway, and plenty of room for more.
Campus Life: Housing, Food, And Everyday Stuff
Life at KSU looks different for a first-year student in a residence hall compared with a commuter who swoops in for evening classes, but the core ingredients are similar: big campuses, lots of people, and plenty of activity.
Highlights include:
- Housing for thousands of students across multiple residential communities on both the Kennesaw and Marietta campuses.
- A large main dining hall in Kennesaw, along with various food spots scattered around both campuses, from quick bites to coffee runs between classes.
- Around 300 registered student organizations, including academic clubs, cultural groups, recreational activities, performance groups, and special-interest clubs.
Greek life exists, though only a relatively small percentage of undergraduates are involved, so fraternities and sororities are one option among many.
KSU’s student body is notably mixed in terms of race, ethnicity, background, and age. Traditional undergraduates share classrooms and projects with transfer students and older students returning to school, which leads to some interesting team projects and group chats.
And yes, like many large universities, there are parking decks. Students learn the fine art of timing: arrive early for easy parking, or arrive late and polish those power-walking skills.
Athletics: Meet The Owls
Kennesaw State’s athletic teams are called the Owls, and they compete in NCAA Division I with black and gold as the official colors.
KSU fields 18 varsity teams, most of them playing in Conference USA. The athletics program has roots in earlier levels of competition, where the Owls collected national titles in several sports at the Division II level before moving fully into Division I.
A few key details about athletics:
- Football plays its home games at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw. Check the KSU football schedule here.
- KSU transitioned its football program from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), joining the same classification as many of the big names seen on national broadcasts.
- The mascot, Scrappy the Owl, handles the on-field energy, while a live owl named Sturgis occasionally puts in appearances and silently judges everyone’s snack choices.
For students, athletics provides game days, tailgates, and a reason to own more than one KSU shirt.
Who KSU Tends To Attract
Kennesaw State tends to draw students who like a large-campus atmosphere and want a wide selection of majors, but still appreciate being in the suburbs instead of a dense downtown. It has particular appeal for:
- Future engineers, computing professionals, business majors, and health professionals
- Students seeking strong education and nursing programs
- Transfer students looking for a place that can absorb previous credits and offer many upper-division options
- Working adults in the Atlanta region who need flexible course offerings and professional education
With its size, two-campus structure, and expanding research profile, KSU feels like a university that started small, hit fast-forward, and kept building. For someone who likes energy, options, and an owl mascot with attitude, it is a great place to land.
Address:
1000 Chastain Rd NW
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone:
(470) 578-6000
Online:
Kennesaw.edu/About