Loading listings
Kennesaw State University is a large, fast-growing public school with about 41,181 students split between its Kennesaw and Marietta campuses in Atlanta's northwest suburbs. The vibe is spread-out suburb more than dense college town: campus sits near Chastain Road and George Busbee Parkway, with the Town Center area just south and the historic Marietta Square a short drive away for festivals and a walkable old downtown. Green space is close, with Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park rising right by campus for hiking and big views, plus Lake Acworth for warm weekends. Owl pride shows on game days with football at Fifth Third Stadium. This is metro Atlanta, so most students drive, though a shuttle links the campuses. Downtown is about 30 minutes south.
Kennesaw State's housing rules depend on your campus. There is no live-on requirement for most students, since housing is optional and the school enrolls a lot of commuters. The exception is the Marietta campus, where traditional, full-time, first-year students under 21 enrolling in a Marietta-based major generally have a first-year live-on requirement.
Everyone else is free to live off campus from day one, and the area is built for students. Large by-the-bed complexes cluster along Chastain Road and George Busbee Parkway near the Kennesaw campus, plus apartments and houses across nearby Kennesaw, Acworth, and Marietta. In a by-the-bed market you sign for one bed with individual liability and usually get matched with roommates if needed.
Read leases for parking fees, full 12-month terms, and furnished pricing before you commit. Confirm whether utilities are bundled or capped, since those swing the real monthly number.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Kennesaw State University before signing a lease.
Kennesaw runs on a suburban-Atlanta version of the student leasing cycle, less frantic than a downtown campus but still front-loaded. The big by-the-bed complexes near campus open renewals and preleasing in the fall for the next August. If you want a specific complex or a short walk to class, sign by late winter or early spring.
The closest, most popular buildings along Chastain Road and George Busbee Parkway fill through winter and into spring. Regular apartments and houses across Kennesaw, Acworth, and Marietta turn over year-round, so being flexible on building buys you more time. Classes start in mid-August, and most student leases line up with that.
If you are late, the metro Atlanta rental market is deep, so traditional units stay available, and the student complexes sometimes free up beds over summer. Subleases are common near campus for off-cycle arrivals. Widening to Acworth or Marietta gives you more to choose from on short notice.
The closest student zone, with by-the-bed complexes near the Kennesaw campus.
More student complexes and amenities a quick hop from campus.
Near the Marietta campus, with a walkable historic downtown, good for students based there.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
A private bedroom in a by-the-bed student complex near KSU usually runs $600-$950/month per person, often with amenities included. Sharing a regular apartment or house in Kennesaw, Acworth, or Marietta can land around $550-$850/month per person, while a one-bedroom on your own runs higher. Parking and furnished units can add to it.