The following information is provided for your convenience. Neither Kennesaw State University
nor its employees are able to recommend or directly promote any of these options.
KSU IEP accepts no responsibility or liability for housing choices students make.
On-Campus Housing
On-campus housing is not available for IEP students at this time. See below for off-campus options.
Off-Campus Housing & Homestay
There are several apartments and dorm-style housing options within walking distance of the University.
Please keep in mind the following factors when you are considering this type of housing:
- Most apartments or dorm-style housing must be rented for at least 6 months.
- Utilities are not included in the monthly cost.
- Apartments are not furnished.
-
You must show proof of income to rent an apartment or have a co-signer who can show proof of income.
- A deposit or advance payment of rent may also be required.
For more information about off-campus apartments or dorm-style housing, please visit the
KSU Off-Campus Housing website
.
The apartments available through the site above are not affiliated with nor endorsed by Kennesaw State
University. KSU does offer shuttle bus services to KSU students, and this does not constitute an
endorsement of any specific community.
Extended stay hotels are also an option if you are not able to move into your planned housing right away.
If you need a short-term place to stay, you can use an extended stay hotel.
There are two extended stay hotels within walking distance from the school:
Meal Plans for The Commons (KSU Dining Hall)
IEP students have the option of purchasing the same dining plan that is offered to KSU faculty and staff.
By purchasing a plan, you will save money on your entry fee.
Current pricing to get into The Commons:
- Breakfast: $10.00 plus tax
- Lunch & Dinner: $14.00 plus tax
For more information on The Commons, please visit the
KSU Dining website
.
View commuter meal plan options
to learn more about available meal plans.
Meal plans are valid only for the semester in which they are purchased, and any unused meals will be
canceled at the close of the semester and will not carry forward.
Dining Dollars
Dining Dollars is a prepaid amount that is loaded onto your KSU ID Card. You can determine how much money
you want to add to the card.
Dining Dollars can only be used to make purchases at KSU retail dining facilities (excluding The Market)
and can be used to get a discounted door rate at The Commons.
Use the
MyCard portal
to add Dining Dollars to your account and check your Dining Dollars balance.
Unused Dining Dollars will carry forward from fall to spring semester only, and any unused Dining Dollars
will expire on the last day of spring finals. Summer Dining Dollars are valid during the summer semester
only and will not roll forward to future semesters.
On-Campus Options
KSU offers a variety of different dining options outside of the two dining hall locations. For example,
students can get a sandwich from Stacks, eat a biscuit from Chick-fil-A, or get sushi from Hissho Sushi.
Please visit the
On-Campus Dining Locations and Hours page
to find a list of all the eating places located on the Kennesaw and Marietta campuses.
Off-Campus Options
There are several fast-food and sit-down restaurants near the Kennesaw Campus. Many are within walking
distance of the school.
Additionally, there are several grocery stores within a 5-mile radius of campus. The Big Owl Bus makes
trips to some of the local businesses in the area. Please visit the
Big Owl Bus shopping route page
for more information and to view the hours of operation.
Parking at KSU
IEP students can purchase a parking permit for $46
per session. To purchase a parking permit, please go to the Talon One Service Center on
the first floor of the Student Center.
After you have made your $46 payment, your car is registered. You will not receive a physical parking tag.
Once you pay for your parking permit, you will be able to park in Central Parking (the green area) shown on
this map:
Central Parking map (PDF)
.
KSU Shuttle Bus: Big Owl Bus
Kennesaw State University’s Big Owl Buses transport KSU students, faculty, and staff to various locations
on-campus and off-campus. Important bus stops include Town Point (Admissions), local apartments, and
Town Center Mall.
There is no exact schedule for Big Owl Buses. They run continuously Monday through Friday, with some
service on Saturday. Plan enough time in your schedule in case you just miss the bus and have to wait
for the next one.
For the latest real-time arrival information, consider downloading the PassioGo! app or visit the
PassioGo real-time bus tracker for KSU
.
Off-Campus Transportation
The easiest way to get around town is to have a car and a driver’s license. If you do not have these,
you have a few options:
County Buses
KSU’s Kennesaw Campus is conveniently located near several CobbLinc bus routes that serve the local area
and Downtown Atlanta.
Please visit the
CobbLinc at KSU page
to learn more about services and routes available to students coming to the Kennesaw Campus.
For more information about routes that are available to and from Atlanta, please visit the
Cobb County Government transit page
.
If you are considering riding the bus, please keep in mind the following:
-
There is no service available on Sunday, New Year’s Day holiday (observed), Memorial Day, July 4th,
Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Renting a Car
If you have a valid driver’s license, you can rent a car. Rental cars can cost on average around $100 per
day.
You must be at least 25 years old to rent a car.
Taxi and Ride-Share Services
Taxi services and app-based ride-shares are also available in this area.
When using these services, please remember that you are responsible for your own safety.
Here are some precautions that can help you get home safely:
- Verify the identity of the driver and the car before you get into the vehicle.
- Wait inside a building for your ride to arrive.
-
Keep in touch with family and friends. If something doesn’t feel right, call someone and let them
know your location.
-
Take note of the driver’s rating in the app. Drivers with a good rating are typically liked by
customers for their quality service.
How to Get a Driver’s License
Students may drive cars in the U.S. with their international driver’s license. However, if you plan to be
in the U.S. more than one year, you are required to get a Georgia state driver’s license. Since all F-1
visa students’ I-20s are set for a specific amount of time, we suggest that all F-1 students get Georgia
state driver’s licenses if they will be driving a car.
For the State of Georgia, if your international driver’s license is not in English you will need to get an
International Driving Permit (IDP) from your home country. An IDP is a translation of your home-country
driver’s license into multiple languages, including English.
Learn more about International Driving Permits (IDP)
.
Please also visit the ISSSO’s
driver’s license resource page
for more information.
To make this process as simple as possible, please review the
Steps to Obtain a Driver’s License handout (PDF)
.
