Whether you’re a first-time student or a returning financial aid recipient, we’ve compiled answers to commonly asked questions to help guide you through the financial aid process.
If you don’t find what you’re looking for here, visit the Scholarships and Financial Aid website or reach out to the Kent State support team.
Financial aid refers to monetary support, such as grants, scholarships, loans (require repayment) or employment, provided to students to help pay for their education. At Kent State, financial aid is awarded based on financial need and/or merit. You may receive a combination of the different forms of aid.
To receive federal aid funds, you must be officially admitted and enrolled in an eligible program with the goal of obtaining a degree or approved certificate. If you take courses before official admission (such as a guest student), you won’t be eligible for federal financial aid until you are officially admitted to a degree or certificate program.
To review a list of actions that may change your financial aid eligibility, including not attending classes, exiting in the middle of the semester or dropping a course, visit the Aid Recalculation Due to Enrollment Activities page.
To begin the process of transferring your federal financial aid, please contact the Kent State support team.
The College Board provides information about planning and paying for college. It has separate sections of content for students and parents.
The College Bound section on Petersons.com helps students and parents gather information regarding their college search, test preparation, admission essays and financial aid. Additionally, the financial aid section includes a scholarship search.
The American Council on Education (ACE) is committed to helping first generation and minority students succeed in college. ACE provides helpful information on subjects like college readiness and paying for college.
The U.S. Department of Education can provide you with a College Education Checklist, from elementary school through high school, and videos to help you prepare for the future. Whether you’re a student, parent or adult thinking about going back to school, the Federal Student Aid website will guide you in the right direction.
FinAid is a comprehensive website that provides links to information about student financial aid. It is maintained by Mark Kantrowitz, author of The Prentice Hall Guide to Scholarships and Fellowships.
If you are a military-connected student, visit the federal government's Department of Veterans Affairs Education Service website and Kent State’s Center for Adult and Veteran Services to familiarize yourself with the programs and services that may be available to you.
The Office of Postsecondary Education, from the U.S. Department of Education, provides a comprehensive overview of applying for and receiving financial aid. There are many links to other Department of Education publications and resources, including "Education Planning" and "Student Resources."
The Ohio Department of Higher Education website provides information on the state’s grants and scholarships.
After receiving your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) results, we assess your eligibility based on financial need.
If you’re an incoming freshman, an Initial Financial Aid Offer will be mailed to you. Continuing students will receive a financial aid offer via email.
Any subsequent adjustments to your aid will be communicated through email. Remember to check FlashLine for the latest updates on your student aid.
Kent Campus: 003051
Ashtabula Campus: 003052
East Liverpool Campus: 003056
Geauga Campus and Twinsburg Academic Center: 003059
Salem Campus: 003061
Stark Campus: 003054
Trumbull Campus: 003064
Starting in 2024-2025, a new formula called the Student Aid Index (SAI) replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on the FAFSA. The SAI assesses your family’s financial strength, considering income, assets, family size and retirement allowances. It’s subtracted from the cost of attendance to determine your financial need. Based on this, Kent State determines the types and amounts of aid you’re eligible for, including both need-based and non-need-based assistance.
Example: Cost of Attendance $12,000 – Student Aid Index $3,500 = Financial Need $8,500
Financial aid cannot be disbursed to your student account until you’ve completed all processing requirements, such as your MPN or Verification. Provided all steps have been completed, financial aid will disburse 10 days prior to the start of each semester. Refunds are processed for students who have financial aid awards that exceed their bill for the semester.
Students who are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant are awarded based on enrollment. If your enrollment changed prior to the start of classes, it will affect the amount of Pell Grant you are eligible for.
After the first week of class, at the time of the census date, the Federal Pell Grant amount will no longer update due to the addition of classes. Students will be notified of the census date and process via email each semester.
Kent State will evaluate your eligibility for both subsidized and unsubsidized loans based on your grade level and degree program.
If you have a mid-year grade level change, you must complete the Federal Direct Loan Change Request Form - Increase to be evaluated again. This must be your official grade level in FlashLine.
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