Keene State College
Keene State College is a small, public, liberal arts college located in Keene, New Hampshire. The campus sits on charming and walkable Main Street. This quaint college town is filled with small shops, restaurants and bars. Students are an integral part of the community and can be seen patronizing and working in local businesses as well as socializing on Main Street.
Keene State has about 3,000 undergraduates, offers over 40 majors, and is best known for its Teacher Education program. Other top majors include Communications, Psychology, Safety Studies and Business Administration. Keene State boasts the first four-year BA degree in Holocaust and Genocide Studies in the United States. Classes are typically small; about 50% have fewer than twenty students. Small classes promote positive relationships between professors and students. Faculty members are known to be accessible and supportive. The Student Academic Support Services office includes academic advising, career services, disability services, global education, tutoring and more. The majority of students at Keene State are from New England, but the college welcomes students from all over. More than one third are first generation college students.
Applications are free and rolling admission allows students to hear back quickly once they’ve submitted. Standardized test scores are optional, but considered if submitted. Keene State offers several merit scholarships, but be sure to research which ones require additional applications.
The entrance to campus is through a large archway. Main Street is tree lined, walkable and welcoming. Most of Keene’s first-year and sophomore students live on campus which has made the community close-knit and vibrant. Keene offers Living Learning Communities for Honors and Nursing students, as well as the Beloved Community, which is rooted in social justice and inspired by Dr. King’s vision of a just society. Housing is available all four years for students who want it, and upperclass students have the option of living in campus apartments. In addition to the traditional dining hall, Lloyd’s is a popular cafe in the student center, home of the popular Sizzler sandwich.
One of Keene State’s traditions is the “Freshman Clap In”; signifying the beginning of their life as an Owl, each first-year is welcomed to campus on move-in day by faculty and staff. Family and friends line Appian Way, the main thoroughfare, clapping and cheering them on! At commencement, the “Graduation Clap Out” signifies the end of students’ time at Keene State College.
Who would thrive at Keene State?
Keene State College is a great fit for students who aren’t seeking a highly competitive environment but want an affordable education, a tight-knit community, accessible professors and strong academic support. It especially appeals to outdoorsy students and those looking for a balanced college experience that includes academics, clubs, and a social scene.
Fun Facts:
Jumanji (1995) starring Robin Williams was filmed in Keene and on the Keene State Campus
The Keene State Owls play Division III NCAA sports
The school was founded in 1909 to educate women and has always specialized in education fields
Eligible New Hampshire residents can use the “Granite Guarantee” for free tuition at Keene State
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