Financial Aid Checklist

 

For Current Students in Undergraduate or Graduate Programs


As a returning undergraduate or graduate student, we encourage you to explore your financial aid options, including loans, grants, scholarships and other tuition assistance.

Follow our step-by-step checklist to get started.

New students (Freshmen, Transfer and Graduate students) should view their customized checklist.

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Applying for financial aid can get complicated. If you have questions, please ask. We are happy to assist!
Step 1: Apply/Renew Scholarships
  • If you are a new or transfer undergraduate student, apply for admission to Kent State by Feb. 1 to receive your best financial aid offer.
    • First-year freshman who apply by Feb. 1 will automatically be considered for first-year merit scholarships. 
    • If you're a transfer student, check your deadlines for merit scholarships. 
    • Remember to submit your final high school, dual credit or college transcripts.
  • All students can conduct a scholarship search. 
  • If you are a returning student, you may be eligible to renew your current Kent State scholarships:
    • If your current scholarship is a renewable scholarship, it will be renewed automatically if you meet the renewal criteria. Renewal criteria can be viewed in FlashLine > Student > Scholarships and Financial Aid > Financial Aid Dashboard > Offer Tab> Click on the name of each scholarship to view renewal criteria.
    • If your current scholarship is a non-renewable scholarship, you will have to reapply to be considered for the scholarship during the upcoming year. 
  • If you are a graduate student, check with the Graduate College and your College to find major specific scholarship opportunities and explore Graduate Assistantship opportunities. 
Step 2: Apply for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Semester you plan to attendYou will submit this FAFSAYou can submit the FAFSAUsing income and tax information
Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 20262025-2026Now2023
Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Spring 20272026-2027Now2024
Step 3: View and Accept Financial Aid Awards
  • You will be notified when you can view and accept/decline/reduce your financial aid awards (including federal aid, state aid and university scholarships) in FlashLine.
    • First-time federal loan borrowers: Sign the Master Promissory Note and complete Entrance Counseling. You must complete these to receive federal aid. As a part of Entrance Counseling, you will receive information regarding Direct Loans, budgeting your expenses, repayment options and your rights and responsibilities as a borrower. To use your federal student aid for non-institutional charges, students must acknowledge Title IV authorization upon registration. 
    • Returning federal loan borrowers: Monitor federal loan borrowing, view loan history and find servicer information on StudentAid.gov. 
  • Report outside scholarships, awards and other tuition assistance you are bringing to Kent State on the Offer tab of your Financial Aid Dashboard in FlashLine.
  • If you are a transfer student, contact your current school's financial aid office and cancel any undisbursed financial aid, including loans and grants. Students cannot receive federal aid at more than one school at a time. 
Step 4: Updates, Gap Funding and Payments
  • Check your Kent State University email address regularly for important information and updates from the university. 
  • Review information about authorization of Title IV aid (federal aid) in your Financial Aid Dashboard on FlashLine. 
  • Explore Federal Tuition Assistance for military-connected students. 
  • If you still need help covering your college expenses, explore some of our videos including gap funding. 
  • Notification of your invoice will be sent to you by email in July for fall semester, December for spring semester and April for summer semester. 
  • To share your student account or financial aid information with a parent, guardian or advocate, grant FERPA authorization.
  • Visit the Billing and Payments website for detailed billing, payment, due date and refund information. 
  • Consider Tuition Insurance.
Step 5: Exit Counseling and Repayment
  • If you received a federal loan, you are required to complete Exit Counseling upon exiting the university, dropping to less than half-time enrollment status or graduating. 
  • View your current loan amounts and find your loan servicer at StudentAid.gov.
  • Create an online account with your loan servicer (the company that handles the repayment process of your loans for the Department of Education).
  • Work with your loan servicer to determine your repayment plan. Repayment will begin six months after you graduate, withdraw or fall below half-time enrollment. 

 

Other Financial Scenarios

 

If you have unique circumstance related to your financial aid eligibility or award, — such as a Verification or Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirement, summer financial aid or transferring — you can find answers to those questions and more below. 

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