Important Information for Future Students Interested in a Career as a Pilot
Prospective B.S., Professional Pilot Majors
Thank you for your interest in Kent State University’s B.S. Professional Pilot program. We are excited to welcome a new cohort of 90 students to the Fall 2024 Bachelor of Science in Professional Pilot program.
The foundation of the Professional Pilot program is the 1:1 instruction with a Certified Flight Instructor in an aircraft. This individualized instruction is imperative to the student’s academic, personal, and professional success. Given our growth and the demand it places on our resources, the Fall 2024 cohort of students should expect to begin flying in the program's second year. As part of the Kent State welcome package, admitted students will be given the necessary information to make the best decision regarding their acceptance of admission into Kent State University’s B.S. Professional Pilot. Once admitted, Fall 2024 PROP students will work in partnership with their academic advisor to determine a plan for success to ensure their most timely graduation.
SELECTIVE ADMISSION
The B.S. in Professional Pilot program (PROP) at Kent State University requires students complete a pre-admission evaluation to be considered for admission.
Students applying for the PROP program and receiving admission to Kent State University will be placed into the B.S. in Aeronautical Studies (AEST) program allowing students to begin any scholarship or financial aid applications while waiting for the final decision regarding the PROP program.
Once admitted to AEST, students will receive an email directing them to take an external assessment called Casper, offered by Acuity Insights. Casper is a timed, proctored, situational-judgement test that supports the holistic review of applicants beyond their GPA, ACT/SAT, letters of recommendation or college essays, and other traditional admissions criteria. Backed by over 15 years of extensive research, Casper consistently predicts future performance by evaluating an applicant’s social intelligence and professionalism and will be used to determine admission into the PROP program. The exam cost is $50 and the Casper assessment may be taken once. The assessment fee includes preparation for the assessment.
SCHEDULING THE CASPER ASSESSMENT
The Casper assessment will be scheduled directly with Acuity Insights. Two weeks after the assessment is complete, the scores will be sent to student and to the College of Aeronautics and Engineering. If the student's score meets the cut-off score for the assessment, they will be offered a slot in the PROP program. To secure that spot, an admissions deposit is required, and these will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.
Please note that for Fall 2024 admissions, there are ninety (90) PROP slots available.
Students will be admitted to PROP according to the following timeline:
- 30 slots during December 2023
- 30 slots during February 2024
- 30 slots during April 2024
Ten (10) of the overall slots are reserved for transfer students, and ten (10) of the overall slots are reserved for students applying from one of Kent State’s existing partner programs or pathways. Any slots not used for transfer and/or partner pathway programs will be used with the general population of applicants.
To support the Admissions timeline, the Casper assessment will be offered on the following dates. These dates and times are firm as they are offered by Acuity Insights, not Kent State University. To continue with a PROP application, students must take the Casper exam on one of the following three dates. The exam lasts 2 hours.
- Tuesday, November 14th, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan 20th, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, March 12th, 2024, at 8:00 p.m
Students that are not offered direct admission to PROP or are unable to declare the PROP degree before the cohort limit is reached are invited to explore the B.S. Aeronautical Studies program with Pilot Career Focus.
While we hope that additional Professional Pilot spots may open in the future, there is no guarantee that any student who chooses to pursue a degree in Aeronautical Studies or Pilot Career Focus will be able to transfer into the Professional Pilot major at a later date.
Learn more about the B.S., Aeronautical Studies, Pilot Career Focus program