Kent State vs Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (SIU)
Kent State University at Kent and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, both public research universities, offer distinct educational experiences. Kent State, located in Kent, Ohio, boasts a higher acceptance rate (86%) compared to SIU-Carbondale's 79%. Kent State's student body is more diverse, with a larger international student population. SIU-Carbondale, situated in Carbondale, Illinois, has a higher graduation rate (62%) and a greater emphasis on research, reflected in its higher research expenditure. Both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with popular majors including business, education, and engineering. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Kent State University at Kent |
![]() Southern Illinois University-Carbondale |
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Overview |
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Location | Kent, Ohio | Carbondale, Illinois |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 81.0% | 75.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 87.3% | 95.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$45
|
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$65
|
SAT range | 1000 - 1210 | 930 - 1160 |
ACT range | 19 - 25 | 20 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 18.0% | 43.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 66.0% | 18.0% |
Total number of applicants | 19,881 | 6,987 |
Total number of admissions given out | 17,359 | 6,648 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 4,050 | 1,422 |
Yield rate | 23.3% | 21.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$27,954
Out of state:
$36,830
|
$29,903 |
Average net price | $18,947 | $15,976 |
Tuition |
In state:
$11,774
Out of state:
$20,650
|
$9,638 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,417
Meal plan:
$5,666
|
Room/dormitory:
$6,292
Meal plan:
$4,330
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
91.0%
Average amount $8,401 |
91.0%
Average amount $13,301 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
56.0%
Average amount $5,405 |
55.0%
Average amount $5,362 |
Students taking out private loans |
10.0%
Average amount $13,210 |
8.0%
Average amount $12,619 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
21,133
Men 37.7% Women 62.3% |
8,147
Men 51.4% Women 48.6% |
Graduate students |
5,464
Men 33.3% Women 66.7% |
3,119
Men 46.3% Women 53.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 19.7% | 17.5% |
International students | 5.2% | 7.7% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 5,674 | 4,492 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Ohio Pennsylvania New York Illinois Michigan | Illinois Missouri Indiana Tennessee Wisconsin |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 19:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 67.7% | 45.3% |
Dropout rate | 9.4% | 53.2% |
Transferred out | 21.3% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Computer Systems Analysis (Bachelor's Degrees)
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
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Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Architecture (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
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