About Kenyon College

Founded in 1824, Kenyon College. is a Private college. Located in Ohio, which is a city setting in Ohio, the campus itself is Town. The campus is home to 1,708 full time undergraduate students, and 0 full time graduate students.

The Kenyon College Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 9:1. There are 199 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Kenyon College include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate26%
Application Deadline15-Nov
Application Fee0
SAT Range1230-1440
ACT Range29-33

Admissions at are considered More Selective, with ,22% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 8 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

98% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 86% were in the top quarter, and 52% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE Reviews

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Kenyon College.

6%
“We”re apathetic”
23%
“We know about current events and vote”
59%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
11%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
5%
“We save it for the classroom”
4%
“Sometimes, but not often”
45%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
47%
“All the time, including weekends”
1%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
13%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
85%
“I feel extremely safe”
16%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
81%
“We bought the gear”
3%
“We live for the big game”
4%
“It”s not really our thing”
10%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
60%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
27%
“We”re a very artistic group”
1%
“Haven”t met them”
4%
“Available in class”
30%
“They keep regular office hours”
65%
“They”re always available”
4%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
48%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
45%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
4%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
0%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
63%
“We only party on weekends”
37%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
4%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
39%
“There might be people who do”
52%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
5%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
6%
“We”re apathetic”
23%
“We know about current events and vote”
59%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
11%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
5%
“We save it for the classroom”
4%
“Sometimes, but not often”
45%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
47%
“All the time, including weekends”
1%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
13%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
85%
“I feel extremely safe”
16%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
81%
“We bought the gear”
3%
“We live for the big game”
4%
“It”s not really our thing”
10%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
60%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
27%
“We”re a very artistic group”
1%
“Haven”t met them”
4%
“Available in class”
30%
“They keep regular office hours”
65%
“They”re always available”
4%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
48%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
45%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
4%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
0%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
63%
“We only party on weekends”
37%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
4%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
39%
“There might be people who do”
52%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
5%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
Write a review, Enter to win $1,000 Scholarship

  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    49 Students rated on-campus housing 3.4 stars. 2 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    40 Students rated off-campus housing 1.8 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    49 Students rated campus food 2.9 stars. 8 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    49 Students rated campus facilities 4.2 stars. 45 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    49 Students rated class size 4.7 stars. 80 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    49 Students rated school activities 4.1 stars. 45 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    49 Students rated local services 3.3 stars. 16 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    49 Students rated academics 4.3 stars. 59 % gave the school a 5.0.

Kenyon College REVIEWS

What's your overall opinion of Kenyon College?

12 Students rated Kenyon College

Martin - 05/01/2021

Unless you want to go to a Covid-19 POW camp, I would avoid this college like the plague. They put kids into 2 week quarantines who don't have Covid. They encourage students to rat each other out. They scare the hell out of everyone letting them think we live in a world where the Covid boogey man is around every corner. The only thing they haven't done yet is issue a covid version of the Scarlet Letter signifying how nuts the place really is.

Hnnah - 06/08/2020

Incredible. If you are looking for a life-changing educational experience, Kenyon is it. The small classes sizes mean your education is more personalized and tailored to your skills and interests. The professors really get to know you, and you develop meaningful and lasting relationships with them, not just while you're a student in their class. You get invited to professor's houses for dinners and sometimes class, and you get life advice and hilarious anecdotes about their fascinating lives. The students can be competitive academically, because it's a very rigorous curriculum, but most students are dedicated to their own education and supportive of others. There isn't anything Kenyon can't offer, if you just ask.

Tara - 12/30/2019

When I visited, I was extremely impressed. I’m a prospective student and I’ve never felt more at home when I’m away from home. The students were so polite (opening doors for the tour and things) and they seemed very happy. The sports facilities were the best I’ve seen so far and the coach was very humorous. It seemed easy to get around and to find your niche.

Michelle - 02/14/2019

As with any college, Kenyon has a wide variety of students with many different personalities and interests. That being said, most Kenyon students are fairly liberal, ranging from (on the extreme end) students who are extremely active in politics and protests, to (on the less extreme end) students who want nothing to do with politics but who are respectful of LGBT+ students, racial minorities, etc. It is a beautiful campus, but sometimes Middle Path (the main path that runs through the campus and connects all of the buildings) can get muddy or icy in bad weather. Most of the students that I interact with are very intelligent, thoughtful, and creative, and we regularly engage in academic conversations outside of class. Many students come from fairly wealthy families, but there are a number of students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds as well, and there are many resources in place to support these students. Overall, my only complaint about Kenyon is that it is slightly isolated; Gambier, OH only has one market, one coffee store, one sandwich shop, two restaurants, a post office, a tiny bank, and almost nothing else other than the academic and residential buildings themselves. While there is a shuttle service to the nearby town (which has more normal restaurants, stores, etc), it is a little inconvenient, and I wish Kenyon were located less in the middle of nowhere. (That being said, I love it here.)

Kenyon College FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Kenyon College?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Kenyon College is 26%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    It's nice to not be at a huge school but I definitely could do without seeing every single person I know when I go to breakfast in sweats and no make up on on Sunday morning. If people have heard of it, they're impressed. Otherwise they think you're in Africa. The worst things are the isolation, drinking culture, and weird social vibes. Best are the professors.

    Read all 69 answers

  3. What is the stereotype of students at your school?

    Outside of our circle of elite/semi-elite liberal arts colleges, I don't think there is any. Nobody's heard of us. Inside it, we like to characterize ourselves as quirky friendly community-oriented intellectuals.

    Read all 68 answers

  4. Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

    Yes, mostly. It's hard to define Kenyon students. Most of us are too apathetic to really get involved in politics or student environmental groups or the like, so we're not like Oberlin students. Our main form of activism is through allstu emails. Now that it's become a better-known school, the students have to be pretty smart to get in, but some have an edge in admissions because they're "legacies." There's a lot of drinking, but we work really hard, too. Most of us are individuals. We get along pretty well as a student body, despite our differences.

    Read all 67 answers

  5. What are the academics like at your school?

    Great! If they have your major you're set.

    Read all 64 answers

  6. Describe the students at your school.

    Mostly eager to learn, with some only interested in partying and being irresponsible.

    Read all 57 answers

  7. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    Shout out to the swim team! The lords swim team is pretty famous for winning 34 NCAA championships and having the longest winning streak in NCAA history. A lot of students are on sports teams, though, and all the teams seem to be close-knit. There are a variety of frats and sororities that are also very close. The sports teams and greek life organizations throw great parties, often held in the Old Kenyon basement, that the whole school is invited to and encouraged to attend, and no one cares whether you're drinking or not drinking, which is great. Our a cappella scene is absolutely stunning, and there are a variety of other musical groups you can participate in, too. There are lots of clubs and committees, so whatever you're in to, I'm sure you can find a club/sport/committee/organization to be part of at Kenyon.

    Read all 52 answers

  8. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    I would tell the high school version of myself to stop wasting time trying to be cool by hiding your intelligence. The pursuit of knowledge and the curiosity that results in learning new things are beautiful instincts that should not be suppressed. In high school I had an irrational fear of being branded with the dreaded label of “nerd”. In college and beyond I now am liberated by the freedom to express my inner nerd and let it flourish. I want to look my high school self in the eye and let him know what he is missing. I want to let him know how it is exponentially more exhilarating to discuss the impact Edouard Manet had on the Impressionism movement than it is to argue over the impact Adam Sandler had on comedy movies. As a teenager it is easy to allow peer pressure and the fear of embarrassment squelch intellectual curiosity. As an adult you begin to realize that fear, especially the fear of embarrassment, only prevents you from experiencing what is truly enjoyable.

    Read all 35 answers

  9. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    Everyone knows everyone. That can be good and it can be bad; it's certainly very intense--but we're a school that's very into community, into our collective history, into keeping Kenyon "Kenyon" and being active within the community as well as in the outside world. There's a hell of a lot of activism, political and otherwise, and it's an enormous inspiration. There are negative things about any environment, and believe me, Kenyon drives me bat-shit insane sometimes...but one thing you can't say about this school is that we don't care.

    Read all 29 answers

  10. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    Cold and isolated in the winter and only decent in social life, but incredibly satisfying and inspiring in terms of intellectual growth and achievement.

    Read all 14 answers

  11. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    The creative writing classes require a writing sample.

    Read all 10 answers

  12. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    The community is comprised of nice, friendly people, who balance school with other activities.

    Read all 8 answers

  13. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    rural location, not a whole lot to do off campus

    Read all 8 answers

  14. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    My schools i best known for two things. It has an amazing English department and the swim team has won over 35 national championships.

    Read all 8 answers

  15. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    Anyone who can get in

    Read all 6 answers

  16. Why did you decide to go to this school?

    Interview with a Kenyon student

    Read all 5 answers

  17. What kind of person should attend this school?

    An Ecclectic person. You have to be diverse in your likes and ideas.

    Read all 5 answers

  18. What's unique about your campus?

    The professors are the best thing about Kenyon; they are caring, knowledgable, and genuinly interested in your passions and growth as both a person and an individual.

    Read all 4 answers

  19. Describe the dorms.

    Short video of Caples Residence Hall

    Read all 4 answers

  20. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    When it comes to tolerance, Kenyon is all talk. Theoretically, it's cool to discuss different ways of thinking--as long as you can back it up with the name of a prestigious philosopher. You can even make some intellectually outgoing statements--as long as popular opinion supports you. But when it counts, students don't want to view other ideas or lifestyles with anything resembling open-mindedness. There's a tendency to over-intellectualize in compensation for the inability to understand differences without judging. If you do something truly controversial, prepare to be the character-assassination of the week.

    Read all 4 answers

  21. Where is the best place to get work done on campus?

    Last year I always worked in the common room. It was loud but a nice atmosphere with friends nearby. The library is fine too, with lots of study spaces. But the best place to work, in my opinion, is to sit outside on a nice day or to go down to the Kokosing Gap Trail to sit on a bench.

    Read all 3 answers

Student Body

Students

55%

female

45%

male

1,708

Total Undergrad Enrollment

N/A

Total Grad Students

82%

Out-Of-State

13%

In-State

5%

International

Organizations

123

Student Organizations

7

Fraternities

4

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

100%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
4%
% Black or African-American
4%
% Hispanic/Latino
5%
% White or Caucasian
73%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

62% of students attending Kenyon College receive some sort of financial aid. 10% were awarded federal grants. While 30% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$51,200

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,900

Books and Supplies

$12,130

Room and Board

65,230

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$11,730
$30 - $48K
$9,896
$48 - $75K
$15,911
$75 - $110K
$22,870
$110K & UP
$41,962

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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