KENNESAW, Ga. | May 7, 2020

KSU president praises students for resilience and resolve during unique semester

Their official ceremony may be postponed, but more than 3,500 Kennesaw State University students are graduating this week.

The May 2020 class of 3,512 graduate candidates – 2,893 undergraduate and 619 graduate students – marks an increase from last spring’s 3,400 graduates. The students are earning their degrees and receiving their diplomas after KSU transitioned to fully remote learning midway through the semester because of the coronavirus outbreak, which also caused the May Commencement ceremonies to be postponed.

“I don’t know that I’ve ever been so proud of a group of students for such resilience and engagement as our students have shown this semester, especially the graduating seniors,” said Kennesaw State President Pamela Whitten. “Their final semester turned out much differently than anticipated, but they demonstrated great resolve in completing their degrees. The 2020 graduates embody the determination and sincere passion for learning that our students have demonstrated during this unique time.”

Facts about KSU’s spring 2020 graduates:

• The class of 2020 took their academics seriously, with a mean grade point average of 3.27 for undergraduate candidates and 3.79 for graduate candidates. That includes 271 graduate students and 75 undergraduates completing their degrees with a 4.0 GPA.
• The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is conferring the most undergraduate degrees (734) this spring, while the Bagwell College of Education has the most graduate candidates with (207).
• The number of men and women in the graduating class is nearly even, with 1,461 female and 1,432 male undergraduate candidates. Among graduate students, the numbers are 398 female and 221 male.

Kennesaw State spring graduates are invited and encouraged to walk during the next official Commencement ceremony.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.