Keene State College
Keene, NH, USA

Reviews

Keene State College

Sam from Londonderry, NH

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The professors here are great. They really strive to not only get you to learn the material, but make you like learning it. There are so many options when picking classes. You are destined to find something you like.
Am enjoying being here
I love going here. Dorm life is fun, even though it's an adjustment. There are a ton of extra-curricular activities and sports to choose from. Something here for everybody!
Bang for the buck
Tuition and housing isn't too expensive for in-state or out-of-state students. Many students say the out-of-state tuition is the same as the in-state price in their home state. It is definitely worth the money!
Tips for prospective students
Keene State is a great place to go for education majors. I'm an education major and the department is excellent. Also, there are a ton on majors to pick from as well as an individualized major if you're just not sure what you want to do yet!
Great for these types of students
Keene is a great place for students who want a small-scale school. There is a lot of individual attention in classes and professors are always willing to help during office hours or appointments.

Danielle from Londonderry, NH

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Everyone says that Keene State is just an easy school that holds a lot of parties, but i don't see it that way. I feel as if I'm a good student, and i am challenged here. I learn new things everyday and have to work to get the grades i want. I also learn things that I can apply to my everyday life and that excites me.
Am enjoying being here
The campus and people employed here are very friendly. I always feel at home no matter what kind of day I'm having. Though I find it nice to go home for winter and summer break I'm always anxious to come back.
Bang for the buck
Keene State is not a very pricey school, but for some families it is. I feel that for what I pay to attend, I am very welcome and receive a variety of good resources. I would encourage anyone who is interested to come to Keene.
Tips for prospective students
If you're not sure about what college you want to go to it's okay, because you can always transfer. I feel that Keene State is a great starter school for anyone who doesn't know what they want their major to be. There are so many resources you can use to figure it out, and there's no pressure.

Kelley from Springfield, VT

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
There are very interesting and challenging classes offered at Keene State.
Am enjoying being here
The teachers are very helpful. They make a good effort to get to know their students on a personal first name basis. They make the classes enjoyable.
Tips for prospective students
Join a club or organization to get to know students like yourself.
Great for these types of students
All types of people attend Keene State College.

Alicia from Dunstable, MA

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Keene State College is expanding opportunities for current and future students with the new nursing program. The program is half way through its second year and making great progress! The classes are exceptional and the teachers are all involved, dedicated, and professional.
Tips for prospective students
Come visit! You'll see what a great campus Keene State has and the active town its surrounded by. The campus is clean, lively, and always full of students.
Academic Rigor
Great variety of classes offered in many levels. Class buildings are all in great shape with up to date materials.
Dorm Life
Plenty of options all which are great. All living environments are clean, spacious, accessible to campus, safe, and bursting with group activities.
Food and Dining
Exceptional food. Dining staff is friendly and always there to help. There's a large range of options for every meal and allergies and food preferences are greatly taken into consideration.
What to do for fun
Athletic games, activities held by students and school officials. The campus is surrounded by life. Places to visit, explore, ride bikes, take a bus trip, and ski!
Bang for the buck
A little pricey for out of state but the quality of the colleges resources are worth it.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Pumpkin Fest!
Great for these types of students
All students who don't mind New England type weather.
Clubs and Activities
Large variety! And if by slight chance we don't have it, start it yourself! The school is more than helpful with starting new clubs and associations.
Greek Life
Only a few sororities on campus, but their all very involved.
Campus Safety
Exceptional. Always on campus with the students safety in mind. Very friendly and accessible whenever needed.

Jennifer from East Bridgewater, MA

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I've been learning alot and the teachers are really nice and helpful
Am enjoying being here
I love it here, I love being in the mountains, I love the people, I love the independance. Its such a nice town I'm thinking of moving here. As soon as I stepped on campus I knew I belonged here.
Bang for the buck
Its kind of expensive, but thats because I'm an out-of-state student and I've been taking out loans.
Tips for prospective students
Keep up good grades in High School, Get a good score on your SATs and write a good college essay. Try your hardest and don't slack when you get here because you will get thrown out if you dont keep up your grades. Try to have all your payments on time because the late fees suck. Have fun and enjoy your life. :)
Great for these types of students
any type of student, im a hands on person and this school was the right fit for me.

Mikayla from Mansfield Center, CT

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
It makes the transition from high school to college easier. It gives you a family away from home. Everyone is welcoming and wants to help you succeed.
Tips for prospective students
When applying to this school and other schools do everything you can to get more money. I wrote letters to the school personally and got an extra scholarship for my need. It is known for being a party school, but if you don't like to party no one will force you to. It's a great place to meet a ton of great people who have the same interests as you and the college does a great job of creating a close community.
Academic Rigor
Depending on the courses you take, it isn't too bad. Some majors require more work outside of class than others, such as art majors, but it's doable. The classes themselves have different levels of difficulty. If you're taking an honors class its going to be a lot more difficult than a regular class.
Dorm Life
It depends on what dorm you're staying at. There are plenty of options to fit everyone. There is going to be a new freshman dorm on campus next year. The RA's make sure that the transition is smooth and welcoming. They bring dogs in sometimes to help relieve stress and have activities such as a night where you can paint and they brought in popping bubbles to get out stress. They try to match you up with a roommate that you get along with. In general it is a great environment to live in and can seem like a second home.
Food and Dining
There are omelets every morning made form organic ingredients. They also have stir fry and a salad bar as well as an area to make sandwiches. The staff is friendly and helpful. There is always pizza and burgers. The fries are amazing. Sometimes they have special events at the dining hall. The food is really good on those days. There is also the Hoot and Scoot, where you can get a personal pizza fast as well as other options. This is good when you don't have a lot of time and need something in between classes. The Night Owl Cafe (NOC) is also a good place to go for free pop corn and soda. The NOC also has the famous sizzlers certain hours of the day.
What to do for fun
They bring in a lot of speakers, comedians, and other entertainment for students. Like many campuses there are plenty of parties to go to, but if you aren't the sort of person who likes to party they have events to keep you entertained. There are outdoor movies and events where you can get free stuff. There is also a lot of shopping around. Main Street has a lot of shops if you're fortunate enough to have extra money. Walmart is within walking distance if you need anything and a bus can take you to Target and Michael's.
Bang for the buck
Overall, Keene isn't very expensive compared to other schools. Don't let the sticker price scare you away. They often give out scholarships to help you lower the price. The classes are rewarding and worth the price. It's a small school where teachers will email you personally and know you by name, which is something a lot of larger schools can't offer.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Pumpkin fest used to be here, but they had to move it after the riots. The campus itself though is unusual in the fact that you can walk to any place on campus within 15 minutes. It is confined to one area but isn't isolated.
Great for these types of students
Keene is great for all sorts of students. They have so many programs and opportunities that anyone could be successful here as long as they put in the work.
Clubs and Activities
There is a club for everyone. They have a student involvement fair where you can explore the different clubs offered and get involved easily. There are sport teams as well.
Greek Life
There is many Sororities and Fraternities, but I don't know much about them.
Campus Safety
There are blue lights everywhere to keep you safe. Campus Safety is close and although I have not needed to use them, I feel a lot safer on campus knowing that they are there.

Mariah from Nashua, NH

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Beautiful campus, accessible (and free!) printers, wonderful library. The staff is attentive and caring, and very passionate about what they teach. There's so many ways to get involved on campus, and the Integrative Studies program gives a chance to meet many people and professors, and generate new interests!
Academic Rigor
Classes are what you make of them. There will be some easy courses, some difficult ones, obviously. The Honors Program is available with harder courses if you're worried they'll be too easy.
Dorm Life
Dorms are lovely, some more spacious than others. If you're looking for late night activities and social events, the dorms host events all the time, some sponsored by Panera, some with therapy dogs, and they're all free and free to all students.
Food and Dining
Food is better than most college campuses I've been to, the Vegan section is great! Fresh and local ingredients, and healthy recipes all the time! On campus, there's a small grocery store and late night food place, Lloyds, which has great mozzarella sticks and are open later than the Dining commons. Hoot n Scoot is on campus too, and great if you have late night rehearsals, meetings, practices, etc. Bean and Bagel is great for cheap and nearby coffee too, and the smoothie bar in Lloyds is my kryptonite.
What to do for fun
There's tons of clubs, sports teams, frats and sororities, and it's so easy to make friends here. Downtown is small but eclectic and has great local diners and cafes.
Bang for the buck
Say what you will about state schools, but they're wallet friendly. KSC has great financial aid and tons of scholarships and grants, and is so affordable, especially for in state students.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Coffee dates at Brewbakers and Prime Roast are a must. It's tons of fun attending the mainstage and student run theatre group's shows. There's tons of comedy nights and performances on campus, and the party scene is definitely there if you want it.
Great for these types of students
Self-motivated, creative, and open-minded.
Clubs and Activities
There's so many clubs! Theatre, history, dance, knitting, ecology, volunteerism, democracy, almost every department has their own student run club! Plus we have a yoga club, cheerleading, soccer, frisbee, and sororities and fraternities.
Greek Life
Not for me, but there's plenty to choose from here! For some, greek life IS their life, if you're not interested though, there's still plenty to do and no real pressure to join.
Campus Safety
Campus safety vehicles and officers are on campus 24/7 and they're super nice. We have emergency blue lights all over campus, an app for getting home safely, and MVP, Mentors in Violence prevention, which is a student run group dedicated to ending sexual violence, which has events on campus.

Christina

researching this school
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Keene, NH is a great place to be. Everything is pretty close together, shopping, food, library... and it is a safe area. I go into Keene very often since I live in the next town over and I definitely would recommend Keene State College.
Tips for prospective students
Research A LOT about the college and make sure that it offers class that you would be interested in. Also make sure that the college fits your preferences in location, cost, and size.
Academic Rigor
I am still researching myself
Dorm Life
I am still researching myself
Food and Dining
I enjoy the food. I have been there for many school college trips.

Ellen from Bartlett, IL

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Home to the Redfern Arts Center and a really good theatre and dance department.
Nestled in a quaint New England town the campus is really beautiful at night.
With a dedicated student involvement committee there is always something fun going on, did I mention Sizzlers?
Tips for prospective students
Take advantage of admitted students day and campus visits and open houses.
Visit your top two college choices more than once and at different times during the year to really get a feel for what it would be like to live there.
Make time to poke around the local community so you know what surrounds the campus.
Academic Rigor
As a freshman my first month at Keene, I find the classes challenging yet not overwhelming.
I really liberal arts studies more than I thought, my English Gen Ed class, The ecology of food; Hmmmm, Everything I never wanted to know about tomatoes!
Seriously though they spread your Gen Eds over your four years so that you are able to dig right into your major.
Dorm Life
I am living the suite life here on campus in the freshman parliments. A concept where students who share the same likes or majors are not only roommates but share the same floor/wing of the house. You are guaranteed to meet someone you have things in common with.
Food and Dining
Breakfast is just ok, but the rest of the meals are restaurant quality, I even tried new foods that I like. The Dining Commons is open, inviting, and plenty of room to spread out or be along if you wish.
What to do for fun
Festivals galore in this town and area of New England, it seems like there is always something going on for all tastes. The Saturday of Labor Day weekend is a huge music festival with all genre of music and over 70 bands throughout the town and the day. You may have heard of the legendary Keene Pumpkin Festival, well do to last year's mishaps it is no longer in Keene but the neighboring fairgrounds.
Bang for the buck
Cobblestone Ale House has a good menu at prices the average college kid can afford and the staff if fun and welcoming.
Did I mention sizzlers? The Night Owl Cafe on campus has these awsome wraps to incredible to even describe, not to mention the free popcorn and soda.
The great outdoors, hiking up Mt. Monadnock, fresh air, beautiful scenery, and exercise, FREE!
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The local community and staff clap in the new freshman class, kind of different.
The bridge to Walmart, a foot path which includes a bridge over what I believe is the Ashuelot River leads to the local Walmart, at any given time you are bound to see a shopping cart at the end of the embankment in the water, shopping cart rides gone astray? Let's not forget the Llamas, and that's all I'm going to say about that.
Great for these types of students
I feel any type of student would fit in here. Easy to meet people, especially with the parliment living. There is always a party somewhere on the weekends if you so desire. If you are into the arts there is plenty of that in town and on campus.
Clubs and Activities
There are a lot of them for sure, I havn't ventured out to join any as yet. Being a theatre major I am full swing into our fall performance and havn't had time to get involved.
Campus Safety
Always a presence, always a blue light nearby. I feel very safe walking around day or night on campus and in town. In town every few blocks you are bound to see a patrol car circle around somewhere.

Crystal from Sutton, MA

a past student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Quaint
Underrated
Negative reviews are from lazy picky drunks that are angry with their lack of success

Tips for prospective students
My four years at Keene State have been the most influential years of my life. My professors cared a lot about me and guided me every second of the way. They are there for you in class as well as when you are going through a rough time. They push you to better yourself, but in the end it is your own decision on how you want your future to be. No matter how high or low the rank of your school is you make your own future by the effort you put in. After Keene I went to an Ivy League for graduate school. I was able to excel in graduate school because of everything I learned in Keene inside and outside the classroom. To be honest I actually felt as tho I received a better education from Keene than my Ivy League. I learned more at Keene because I put forth effort. I was willing push myself because I knew my teachers cared about me and were there to help me succeed. The time the teachers spend planning a class and altering to the specific students learning methods is what makes this school unique. The community of students at Keene is also special. Everyone gets along from the jocks, to the frat bros, to the hippies. It�s impossible to not make friends here and the ones you make will be your friends for the rest of your life. Overall this school has a huge impact on you as a person and you don�t realize it until you are gone. Anyone that goes here will have very fond memories for the rest of their life.
Academic Rigor
The assignments given are rigorous. Whether or not you take them seriously is your own decision. There are a couple stupid intro classes that a monkey could pass and those are the classes with the lazy idiots that only go to college to drink.
Dorm Life
Yes they have a lot of rules. So does every college.
Food and Dining
For the size of the school the selection is alot better than most state schools. If you are picky than that's your own problem go eat ramen.
What to do for fun
I would be amazed if you don't have fun.
Bang for the buck
This school is very cheap compared to other schools in the U.S. Teachers have same education levels as elite schools if not higher.
Clubs and Activities
Almost too many clubs
Campus Safety
They may be a pain in the next but they keep you safe. You will probably get in trouble at some point with them (everyone does) but it always is our own fault.