Students desiring admission to an undergraduate program should submit the appropriate application materials to the Admissions Office. Students should arrange to have all necessary high school and college transcripts sent directly to the Admissions Office from each institution previously attended. All credentials submitted for admission become the property of the university and are not returnable or transferable. The university reserves the right to change, without notice, any admissions procedures described in the University Catalog.
Appealing an Admission Decision
Students not admitted to the Kent Campus may appeal the admission decision by contacting their personal admission counselor. To appeal an admission decision a student should be prepared to submit new information (e.g., improved GPA, test scores, letters of recommendation, personal essay outlining extenuating circumstances).
Change of Admit Term
Admission to Kent State University is valid only for the specific term to which students are admitted. Students who want to begin their enrollment in a different term than they were admitted must contact the Admissions Office to request a change of admit term.
Destination Kent State: New Student Orientation
Admitted Kent Campus first-year students and their parents are invited to campus for a one-and-a-half day orientation to Kent State. The primary goals of Destination Kent State: New Student Orientation are to acquaint students and parents with university programs and services, provide an individual advising session for each student and register students for classes. New summer and fall semester first-year students are invited to campus to participate in this program over the summer. New spring semester first-year students are invited for academic advising and registration for spring classes in November and January.
First-Year Students
Students who have not attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school should apply to be admitted as first-year students. Students who have taken college credit while in high school, but have not attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school, should apply to be admitted as first-year students.
Admission Requirements at the Kent Campus
First-year admission to the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon the following: cumulative grade point average (GPA), strength of high school college preparatory curriculum, and grade trends.
The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents, and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.
Application requirements
Application
First-year students can apply by submitting an application online through the Admissions Office website. Students may submit either the Kent State application or the Common Application.
Application Fee
The Admissions Office must receive a non-refundable application fee, or fee waiver, before processing the application.
Transcripts
First-year students applying for admission to Kent State must submit an official high school transcript. Applicants must contact their high school to request an official transcript of their entire curriculum. If an applicant has attended multiple secondary schools, transcripts are required from each school attended (or the results from a diploma equivalency examination) to be considered for admission.
For a transcript to be considered official, it must be sent directly from the school to the Kent State Admissions Office. The school counselor or other school official may submit the transcript through a secure electronic provider, email (transcripts@kent.edu) or mail.
A final high school transcript verifying graduation, or a diploma equivalency score report, is required for both enrollment and for dispersing financial aid at Kent State University. Admitted students must submit a final high school transcript, bearing diploma conferral, prior to the start of the term to which they were admitted.
Optional - Test Scores
Kent State University offers test optional admissions. A test optional policy means applicants are not required to submit a standardized test score (ACT/SAT) to be considered for admission. The absence of test scores will not hinder an applicant’s potential to be admitted.
Applicants are welcome to submit test scores if they choose. If test scores are submitted the scores will be considered as one of many factors in a holistic review of the application.
ACT or SAT scores should be reported to Kent State University directly from the testing agency. Students should use the following ACT codes based on the campus to which they plan to be admitted:
- Ashtabula Campus (3773)
- East Liverpool Campus (3225)
- Geauga Campus (3224)
- Kent Campus (3284/SAT 1367)
- Salem Campus (3354)
- Stark Campus (3226),
- Trumbull Campus (3343),
- Tuscarawas Campus (3361)
Admission Requirements at Regional Campuses
Admission to the Regional Campuses is handled through the Admissions Office at any of the seven regional campuses. Admission is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. In some instances, selective programs may require applicants to submit additional materials to meet certain criteria. Each regional campus has staff members available to discuss admissions, financial aid opportunities and programs with prospective students.
Registration dates, times, procedures and access methods mirror those of the Kent Campus. Registration information at a particular campus can be obtained from that campus. Because the seven regional campuses and the Kent Campus comprise one university system, access and mobility among the campuses is encouraged and facilitated. Even so, there are some differences between the Kent Campus and the regional campuses in first-year and transfer admission requirements.
Holistic Review
Kent State reviews applications holistically. Rather than disproportionally focusing on one factor, the Admissions Office carefully reviews each applicant based on multiple factors, including cumulative grade point average (GPA), strength of high school preparatory curriculum, grade trends, and special talents or passions.
Students applying for admission are not required to submit standardized test scores (ACT or SAT). This policy aligns with our admissions philosophy of holistic review, supports the university's strategic plan on access, and reflects the most current data analysis regarding the use of testing in admission. The best indication of whether a student will be successful at Kent State University is their academic performance in high school—the grades they earn and the rigor of their coursework.
Home-Schooled Student
Kent State welcomes applications from home-schooled students. Students who are home-schooled may submit an equivalent diploma through a successful General Educational Development (GED) examination or submit the following information for admission consideration:
- Written verification from the appropriate school district that the student has been excused from compulsory attendance for home education. Students applying from states that do not require school districts to issue a verifying statement may have this requirement waived.
- A portfolio of the student’s work reflecting all secondary coursework completed.
Students should complete a program of study that covers the material in the full college preparatory program recommended by the Ohio State Board of Education. Non-Ohio students should submit appropriate supporting documents as required by their home state. Please contact the Admissions Office for further details.
Major and Program Specific Requirements
Some academic programs may have additional application requirements. Individual requirements for these programs are listed under the respective departments in the University Catalog. Students interested in these special admission programs should apply one year prior to the date of anticipated enrollment. Even though some of these programs do not have an early application deadline for fall semester, students who apply early will receive priority consideration. Specific questions about these programs can be directed to the Admissions Office, colleges or the individual departments or schools.
Pre-Admissions Review
Kent State is committed to ensuring a safe and secure learning environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests of the university. Applicants are required to answer questions related to pending felony charges, felony convictions, and dismissal or suspension from previous educational institutions for non-academic reasons. Answering 'Yes' does not automatically preclude admission to Kent State but will require applicants to complete a Personal Explanation Statement and provide supporting documentation for review by the pre-admissions committee to determine eligibility for admission.
Referred to Regional Campus
Students not admissible to the Kent campus may be administratively referred to a regional campus to which they are eligible for admission. When completing an application students should select a secondary campus for which they would like to be considered for admission.
Students not meeting the first-year admission criteria for the Kent Campus who wish to enter the Kent State University system must enroll for at least one semester at a regional campus. Enrollment at the regional campuses permits students to take advantage of smaller class sizes, more individualized advising services, and a wider range of developmental programs.
For the referred first-year or transfer student who enrolls at a regional campus to obtain the best possible foundation for academic success, the student must complete the following minimum academic achievements before becoming eligible to enroll at the Kent Campus:
- Successfully complete all developmental coursework as prescribed by placement testing and an academic advisor.
- Successfully complete 12 credit hours of college-level coursework (not including any coursework considered developmental).
- Achieve a minimum 2.000 overall GPA.
Students are strongly encouraged to work closely with their academic advisor in planning for the transition to the Kent Campus.
Transfer Students
Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students.
Admission Requirements
Generally, transfer applicants who have taken at least 12 credit hours of non-remedial/developmental coursework with a minimum 2.000 overall GPA as computed by Kent State University (on a scale of 4.000) may be admitted to the university. Applicants who have taken fewer than 12 credit hours will be evaluated on both their collegiate and high school records. Applicants who have been dismissed from another college or university will not be considered for admission unless the applicant is eligible to return to that previous institution, has been out of college at least 12 consecutive months since the dismissal, or has completed at least 12 credit hours of credit at another institution with a minimum 2.000 overall GPA (on a scale of 4.000).
Application Requirements
Prospective transfer students are encouraged to apply before their junior year in college. Students applying just prior to, or after, the junior year must declare a major and a minor (if required) and should consult with the appropriate academic division concerning the suitability of their preparation for their major.
Application
Transfer students can apply by submitting an application online through the Admissions Office website. Students may submit either the Kent State application or the Common Application.
Application Fee
The Admissions Office must receive a non-refundable application fee, or fee waiver, before processing the application.
Transcripts
Transfer students are required to list on the application each post-secondary institution attended, whether or not credit was earned, and submit official transcripts from each institution. Questions regarding transcript requirements should be directed to the Admissions Office prior to application. Failure to comply with transcript requirements represents falsification of the application and will result in appropriate disciplinary action.
For a transcript to be considered official, the transcript must be sent directly from the originating institution to the Kent State Admissions Office through a secure electronic provider, email (transcripts@kent.edu) or mail.
A final high school transcript verifying graduation, or a diploma equivalency score report, is required for transfer students with fewer than 12 credit hours of non-remedial/developmental coursework earned at other colleges or universities after graduating from high school. The Admissions Office reserves the right to require submission of a high school transcript, or a diploma equivalency report, for a variety of reasons prior to enrollment or dispersing financial aid.
Application Deadlines
Transfer applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Early application helps ensure early consideration for course registration, residence hall preference and financial aid. Therefore, the best time to apply is at least six months prior to anticipated enrollment, although some selective programs may have different deadlines.
Refer to the policy on Transfer of Undergraduate Credit in the University Catalog.