Kent State students painting the rock on campus.

Kent State students cheering on the football team during homecoming.

Students dressed in Kent State attire walking down the street.

First-Year Students

Admission to the Kent Campus is selective. We take a holistic approach to the application review process and consider a variety of factors in the admission decision. 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.

To apply to the Kent State University Kent Campus as a first-year applicant, you should currently be in your senior year of high school, have earned a GED or equivalent or have earned a high school diploma but have never been admitted and enrolled at a prior college or university.

Your admission application can be submitted through the Common Application or the Kent State Application. The application fee is $50.

We’re looking for students who are committed to succeed, inspired to lead and are ready to make an impact on the world!

FIRST-YEAR APPLICATION STEPS

Submit an Application

Complete and submit the Common Application or the Kent State Application. The application requires a non-refundable application of $50 for students. Be sure to pay attention to application priority deadlines, such as the ones below.

Please note: Kent State Admissions cannot begin your application review until we receive all required application materials.

When to Apply

Application for the fall semester opens AUG. 1.
Applications completed by NOV. 1 receive priority admissions consideration and automatic scholarship review by NOV. 30.
Applications completed by FEB. 1 receive full admission consideration and automatic scholarship review by FEB. 28.
After FEB. 1, fall admission and scholarship consideration are offered on a space-available basis.

Send Official Transcripts

Applicants must submit official transcript copies representative of their entire secondary school curriculum. Transcripts are required from each secondary school you have attended.

Your school counselor or another school official may submit your transcript through their electronic provider or mailed in. For your transcript to be considered official, it must be sent directly from your school.

Transcripts can also be mailed to our office to the address below:

   Admissions Office
   Kent State University
   P.O. Box 5190
   Kent, OH 44242-0001

Transcripts provided through an electronic provider can be sent to transcripts@kent.edu.

Send Optional Test Scores

Kent State University is test-optional, meaning students applying for first-year or transfer admission are not required to submit standardized test scores (SAT and/or ACT).

If applying through the Common App, you will be asked whether you would like test scores to be considered as part of your application. If you have previously submitted test scores to our office but indicated on the application that you do not want your scores considered, test scores will not be viewed during application review.

If applying through the Kent State Application, there will be a simple checkbox on our application that asks if you wish to be considered for admission without test scores. It is important that you check this box if you plan to participate. Otherwise, we will assume that you wish to provide scores and may not review your application until they are submitted.

Please note: Once an applicant indicates whether or not test scores will be submitted, this decision cannot be changed by the applicant online. If you wish to change your test score preference, please contact our office as soon as possible to indicate if you would or would not like your test scores to be considered for admission.

Should you submit SAT or ACT scores, please be mindful of Kent State’s test score codes:

SAT Code: 1367
ACT Code: 3284

Additional Academic Program Requirements

After review for admission to the Kent Campus, additional academic program requirements are needed for the following academic areas to be admitted.

Aerospace Engineering

To be considered for the Aerospace Engineering major, first-year applicants must have at least a 3.0 cumulative high school grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and demonstrate competency in Math to be placed into Calculus I or beyond.

Students who do not meet admission requirements for Aerospace Engineering may be accepted into Aeronautical Systems Engineering Technology and request to change their program to the Aerospace Engineering major after their first year.

ARCHITECTURE

To be considered for the Architecture major, first-year applicants must have at least a 3.0 cumulative high school grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and demonstrate competency in Math to be placed into Calculus I or beyond.

If a student does not meet admission requirements to Architecture, students will be reviewed holistically and if admissible to KSU, the student will be placed into the pre-major of Architecture General.

Cybersecurity Engineering

To be considered for the Cybersecurity Engineering major, first-year applicants must have at least a 3.0 cumulative high school grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and demonstrate competency in Math to be placed into Calculus I or beyond.

Students who do not meet admission requirements for Cybersecurity Engineering may be accepted into Computer Engineering Technology and request to change their program to the Cybersecurity Engineering major after their first year.

Dance Performance/Dance Studies

Students must audition before being admitted to the Dance program. Detailed audition information and dates can be found here. Inquiries can be directed to the School of Theatre and Dance Director at:

Phone: 330-672-2069
Email: dance@kent.edu

Fashion design

To qualify for the Fashion Design major, first-year applicants must have at least a 3.0 cumulative high school grade point average (on a 4.0 scale).

If a student does not meet admission requirements to Fashion Design, students will be reviewed holistically and if admissible to KSU, the student will be placed into the Pre-Fashion major.

FASHION MERCHANDISING

To qualify for the Fashion Merchandising major, first-year applicants must have at least a 3.0 cumulative high school grade point average (on a 4.0 scale).

If a student does not meet admission requirements to Fashion Merchandising, students will be reviewed holistically and if admissible to KSU, the student will be placed into the Pre-Fashion major.

Interior Design

To be considered for the Interior Design major, first-year applicants must have at least a 2.75 cumulative high school grade point average (on a 4.0 scale).

If a student does not meet admission requirements to Interior Design, students will be reviewed holistically and if admissible to KSU, the student will be placed into the pre-major of Architecture General.

Mechatronics Engineering

To be considered for the Mechatronics Engineering major, first-year applicants must have at least a 3.0 cumulative high school grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and demonstrate competency in Math to be placed into Calculus I or beyond.

Students who do not meet admission requirements for Mechatronics Engineering may be accepted into Mechatronics Engineering Technology and request to change their program to the Mechatronics Engineering major after their first year.

Music

Students must audition before being admitted to the School of Music. Detailed audition information and dates can be found here. Inquiries can be directed to:

Coordinator of Admissions and Scholarships
School of Music, E-101 Music and Speech
Kent State University, P.O. Box 5190
Kent, OH 44242-0001
Phone: 330-672-2172

Musical Theatre

Students must audition before being admitted to the B.F.A degree program in Musical Theatre. Detailed audition information and dates can be found here. Inquiries can be directed to the School of Theatre and Dance at:

Phone: 330-672-2082
Email: theatre@kent.edu

NURSING

To be considered for the nursing major, first-year applicants must have a minimum 2.70 cumulative high school grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and completion of high school math, biology, and chemistry.

Students who are not accepted into the Nursing major may be accepted into Public Health.

Check Your Application Status

After submitting your application, please allow 2-3 days for Kent State to receive it. Upon receipt, we’ll send you an acknowledgment email with next steps and reminders for any missing items.

If you have any questions about the application process, contact our office at 800-988-5638 or admissions@kent.edu. You may also contact your admissions counselor.

Deferred Admission Policy

The Admissions Office at the Kent Campus may defer the admission of students who do not meet admissions criteria but who demonstrate areas of promise for successful college study. Deferred applicants may begin their college coursework at one of seven regional campuses of Kent State University. The Admissions Office at the Kent Campus will forward a student's application materials to a regional campus upon his/her request.

Home School/Alternative Education Policy

Kent State welcomes applications from home-schooled students. Students who are home-schooled must submit a transcript and proof of graduation as well as written verification from the appropriate school district that the student has been excused from compulsory attendance for home education.

A student’s transcript should reflect 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.

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