Beginning next fall, Kean University will offer in-state tuition rates for students worldwide.

Kean’s board of trustees voted Sept.15 to approve the action. The move applies in-state tuition rates to all undergraduate and graduate students from around the world. That means the school will eliminate out-of-state tuition rates for new and current students, beginning in fall 2026.

The university’s current annual in-state tuition and fees for full-time undergraduate students total $15,299. For full-time graduate students who are taking nine credits per semester, the annual in-state tuition and fees total $18,351.

The move to eliminate out-of-state tuition rates follows a June action by the board of trustees. In establishing tuition costs then, it expanded in-state rates to undergraduate students from surrounding regional states, including:

• New York
• Delaware
• Pennsylvania
• Maryland
• Virginia
• Washington, D.C.

Kean University President Lamont Repollet said this decision reflects a university on the rise and underscores Kean’s mission to provide affordable, high-quality education, as well as strengthens its recruitment efforts as an R2 research university.

“We are expanding our reach to students from across the country and around the globe, opening doors to transformative opportunities that will provide them with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive,” said Repollet.

On the horizon

As NJBIZ reported, Kean continues to grow and see record enrollment. The university boasts nearly 19,000 students enrolled worldwide for this fall semester. The total marks the largest student body in its history.

Repollet laid out a vision for the next era. Looking ahead, Kean has a goal of continued growth; a heavy focus on AI, innovation and technology; and, of course, a pending merger with New Jersey City University.

Given that, Michael Salvatore, executive vice president for academic and administrative operations, said broadening Kean’s reach is crucial to strengthening its position in higher education. He pointed to Kean’s academics, its proximity to New York and growing research programs as appealing to students outside the Garden State.

“This will enable us to tap into expanded markets while bringing students into the state,” said Salvatore. “Other local institutions, including NJCU, have had success with this strategy, and we see it as way to attract new students, while advancing Kean’s role as New Jersey’s urban research university.”

This will enable us to tap into expanded markets while bringing students into the state.
– Michael Salvatore, Kean University

La Toro Yates, vice president for enrollment services, said Kean is expanding access and opening pathways for more students to pursue their goals.

“This new tuition structure enhances our admissions strategy by connecting us with students who may not have previously considered Kean,” said Yates.