Kennesaw State: From commuter school to legit university. 🦉

[Patricia]

I'm a senior at Kennesaw State University, and I've watched this school transform in four years. People still think of KSU as a commuter school where you go to class and leave. That hasn't been true for a while.

The growth is insane. KSU is now one of the largest universities in Georgia. There's so much construction—new dorms, new academic buildings, a new sports stadium. It feels like a place on the rise.

The campus life is real now. When I started, everyone went home on weekends. Now? The dorms are full, the dining halls are busy, there's always something happening. Football games actually have a crowd. We have a real student section (the "Herd").
**
The location is perfect.** 20 minutes from Atlanta, 20 minutes from the mountains (well, north Georgia hills). You get city access without city prices. Marietta (the other campus) has a whole different vibe—more technical, more military-connected.

The programs are solid. Nursing, business, and education are strong. And because KSU grew fast, there's money for new facilities. Our science building is nicer than some private schools'.

Is it a party school? Not really. Is it a research powerhouse? Not yet. But it's a solid, growing university where you can get a good degree without $50k in debt.

Any other Owls here? How have you seen KSU change?

 

[MaryaSenna]

KSU's graduate programs are also growing. I'm in the MBA program and the new business building is gorgeous. The networking opportunities in Atlanta are huge—so many companies recruit here because we're close and affordable. Plus, the alumni network in the metro area is massive now. If you're planning to stay in Georgia after graduation, KSU connections are everywhere. Any other grad students here?

 

[Samantha]

I can confirm everything Patricia said. The transformation has been remarkable to witness. When I started, half my students were commuters who worked full time and just wanted to get in and out. Now? The residential student population has exploded. The energy on campus is completely different.

The administration has been strategic about growth too—investing in high-demand programs, building facilities that actually serve students, creating the kind of campus culture that retains students instead of just enrolling them. The retention rates tell the story. Students want to be here.

That said, growth brings challenges. Parking is absolutely a nightmare (we know). Class sizes in popular majors can be huge. The infrastructure is still catching up to the enrollment. But overall? This is a university on the rise, and I'm proud to be part of it. To current students: enjoy this moment. You're here for the transformation and that's special.

 

[Collins]

The transformation is actually insane to witness. When I started, campus basically shut down at 5pm. Now? The dining halls stay busy, the library is packed at midnight, there are events every weekend. The university invested in making this a place people WANT to be, not just a place they pass through.

The housing situation tells the whole story - they're building MORE dorms because demand is that high. Kennesaw state went from "where you go if you didn't get into UGA/Georgia Tech" to a legitimate first-choice school for a lot of students. Love to see it.

Also the stadium? Actually nice??