New Jersey's urban research university founded in 1855, preparing diverse leaders in business, sciences, education, and the arts.
Kean University is a comprehensive public research institution offering undergraduate and graduate programs across five colleges and the Nathan Weiss Graduate College. The university emphasizes teacher education (its historical mission), business, sciences, health professions, and liberal arts. As an R2 research university, Kean is committed to conducting research addressing urban community issues. The institution maintains accreditation through MSCHE and is designated as a state research university by New Jersey.
The main campus spans 121.5 acres in Union, New Jersey, built on the historic Livingston-Kean Estate, which includes Liberty Hall (built 1760 by Governor William Livingston). Additional campuses include East Campus (35.4 acres) and Liberty Hall Campus (28.5 acres) in Union, plus satellite locations in Toms River and the Skylands region. The university hosts performing arts venues (Premiere Stages, The Galleries at Kean University), athletic facilities including Kean Alumni Stadium and Harwood Arena, and research centers including the New Jersey Center for Science, Technology and Mathematics, Human Rights Institute, and Holocaust Resource Center. Over 42% of students are first-generation college students.
Kean accepts freshman, transfer, graduate, and international applicants through an online application portal. The university is recognized for supporting transfer and veteran students. Admissions requirements and application instructions are available through the Office of Admissions (908-737-7100). The institution prioritizes access and affordability, with students graduating with lower debt than the national average.
Kean operates Wenzhou-Kean University, a joint-venture campus in Wenzhou, China—the only public American university with a campus in China. The university offers study abroad programs and maintains partnerships supporting international education. Research institutions on campus focus on science, technology, mathematics, human rights, and ethnic studies, addressing real-world solutions for urban communities.