Kean Named to ‘Transfer Honor Roll’ for Eighth Year

Kean University has been selected for the eighth consecutive year to the Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Honor Roll, placing the University among the country’s top “Transfer-Friendly” institutions of higher education.

The Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) named 208 colleges and universities to the 2023 Transfer Honor Roll in recognition of the “dynamic pathways” they create to support community college transfer students.

“At Kean University, we welcome transfer students and have a number of programs to smooth their transition to Kean,” said Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. “We do all we can to ensure that they climb higher to earn their Kean bachelor’s degrees.”  

One of Kean’s transfer programs is Pathway to Kean, which offers students the most affordable tuition/fee rates in the state among four-year colleges. Students benefit from lower tuition rates at the county college level, combined with Kean’s status as the state’s most affordable research university.

Kean has forged numerous admission agreements with community colleges in counties throughout the state, including Union, Middlesex, Essex, Hudson, Bergen and others. 

In addition, Ocean County College students have the opportunity to continue on the same campus and earn a degree at Kean Ocean; and in Kean’s newest partnership, the University will offer classes at Brookdale Community College in Monmouth County. 

“At Kean, we have a strong record of supporting students from all backgrounds,” Repollet said. “We believe Kean’s diversity is our strength.”

Selection for the PTK Transfer Honor Roll is determined by 40 key metrics related to the support and success of transfer students, including college cost and financial aid, campus life, admission practices and bachelor’s degree completion. 

Also weighed are the institutions’ welcoming of veteran students, immigrant students, non-traditional students, LGBTQIA+ students and members of other populations. 

PTK uses analysis from the National Student Clearinghouse and data submitted through the four-year institution’s profile on PTK Connect, Phi Theta Kappa’s online tool designed to assist students with the transfer process. 

Colleges completing the PTK Connect profile receive a Transfer Friendliness Rating; the Honor Roll is chosen from among the top 25 percent highest-rated colleges. 

The Transfer Honor Roll recognizes the importance of creating strong transfer pathways that lead to success among community college transfer students.

“The goal of most students attending community college is a bachelor’s degree, but few do because of financial barriers and the complexities of the transfer process,” says Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. 

“We are proud to recognize the exceptional colleges and universities that go above and beyond to create accessible pathways to bachelor’s degree completion for community college transfer students,” Tincher-Ladner said.