Financial Aid and Scholarships

It is possible to use your federal financial aid and most Kent State scholarships on approved education abroad programs. You can find specific information below or on the Student Financial Aid website

Financial Aid Steps for Education Abroad

1. Review your program's estimated cost sheet. 

Search for your program on the program database. Once you find your program, click on it access the program brochure. Look for the "Estimated Costs" tab. This is where you will find your program's estimated costs. 

2. Complete the FAFSA for the year you will be going abroad. 

For more information on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you can visit the Student Financial Aid website

3. Review your financial aid eligibility.

If you have questions about your financial aid, we recommend reaching out to the One Stop.

4. Start planning a budget for your time abroad.

It is important to create a budget to help you know how much you plan to spend while abroad. We recommend creating a weekly or monthly budget to help you manage your expenses. To help you keep track of your savings in advance of your time abroad, you can use the Education Abroad Savings Plan spreadsheet.

5. Apply for scholarships.

There are many Education Abroad scholarships! Be sure to start the application process early, and consult the Writing Commons if you need advice for writing scholarship essays.

6. Meet with a Financial Aid Counselor for Education Abroad.

If you have questions about using your financial aid or scholarships for your program, you can contact them at finaideducationabroad@kent.edu. They are also available to meet with via appointment through KSU Advising

7. Review Important dates. 

Be sure to review the bill due date and financial aid disbursement date for your time abroad. 

Education Abroad and Student Financial Aid Booklet

The Student Financial Aid Office has provided the Education Abroad & Student Financial Aid booklet to help inform you about using financial aid abroad.

Education Abroad Scholarships

There are many opportunities to apply for education abroad scholarships. The listing provided is not a comprehensive list; so, students are encouraged to search for additional scholarships. It is important to start researching scholarships early, as many have early deadlines of up to one year in advance.

You can also search and apply for a variety of education abroad scholarships on ScholarshipUniverse

Additionally, some education abroad programs include scholarships that help pay for things such as tuition or flights. These programs can be found by going to the Program Search page and selecting ‘Yes’ in the parameter box that says Program Specific Scholarship.

You can use the Scholarship Application Tracker to keep track of what scholarships you are planning to apply for as well as their due dates, requirements, and application websites.

Saving for Your Education Abroad Program

You can use the Education Abroad Savings Tracker to help you create an estimated monthly savings plan for your program. Input the requested information in the yellow cells to calculate your costs, and the savings plan will tell you the estimated amount you need to save each month. You can also use the Monthly Tracker to keep track of how much you have saved.

Tuition Waivers and Education Abroad

If you receive a tuition waiver, it can be applied to eligible education abroad programs. Please contact your Education Abroad Advisor to let them know you receive a tuition waiver so that it can be appropriately applied.

The GI Bill and Education Abroad

If you receive Post 9/11 GI Bill funds, you may be able to use that money to help pay for your education abroad program. Please contact cavs@kent.edu if you have any questions about using VA benefits for education abroad programs.

Meet with a Financial Aid Counselor for Education Abroad

Financial Aid Counselors for education abroad are available to assist you. If you have questions about using your financial aid or scholarships for your program, you can contact them at finaideducationabroad@kent.edu. They are also available to meet with via appointment through KSU Advising