Financial Aid Checklist

Kent State University Student Financial Aid provides information to help facilitate the financial aid process, in order to make it as simple as possible.

Discover the Financial Aid Checklists

Financial Aid Checklists include the following information:

  • Explore and apply to Kent State University
  • Apply for financial aid
  • View your financial aid awards
  • Take action on your financial aid awards
  • Review your final steps

Select Your Financial Aid Checklist

Choose one of the following three checklists, based on your current enrollment status.

FINANCIAL AID CHECKLISTS

New First Year Student Financial Aid Checklist

EXPLORE AND APPLY TO KENT STATE UNIVERSITY

APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID

  • File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for federal and state financial aid programs.  Students are encouraged to file as soon as possible beginning Oct. 1, for early FAFSA processing and awarding.  To ensure maximum eligibility, complete the FAFSA no later than Feb. 1.
  • View a collection of helpful videos on the FAFSA and financial aid.
  • View any outstanding financial aid requirements on FlashLine.
  • If requested, complete the verification process prior to receiving federal financial aid.
  • If your information submitted on the FAFSA is no longer an accurate representation of your family's current financial situation, consider completing a special circumstance application.

VIEW YOUR FINANCIAL AID AWARDS

  • Review your checklist in FlashLine.  Keep track of the steps you need to complete to be ready for the academic year.
    • Your checklist can be found by selecting "My Lists" on the top menu bar.
  • Review Terms and Conditions of receiving financial aid on FlashLine.
  • View and accept any scholarships on FlashLine.
  • Report outside scholarships, awards and other tuition assistance you are bringing to Kent State University on the Resources/Additional Information tab in FlashLine.  Click the link for instructions.
  • Begin viewing your financial aid awarded as a result of the FAFSA beginning mid-February in FlashLine.
  • Check your Kent State email address regularly for important information from the One Stop for Student Services.
  • New first-year students: register for Destination Kent State orientation.
  • New first-year students that plan to attend in the summer:
    • Contact the Admissions Office to update your Kent State University start term to summer.
    • Review enrollment plan information and complete enrollment plans on the "Resource/Additional Information" tab in FlashLine.
    • If you plan to enroll at Kent State University for summer semester and would like to use your financial aid, view more information.

TAKE ACTION ON YOUR FINANCIAL AID AWARDS

DISCOVER ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPTIONS

  • If you still need help covering your college expenses, please explore the options below:
    • OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIPS – Investigate whether there are any local scholarships you can apply for on ScholarshipUniverse. 
    • DIRECT PLUS LOAN (FOR PARENTS ONLY) – Parents can apply for a Direct PLUS Loan, which is credit based, at StudentAid.gov. Additional loan funding is available for the student if the parent’s credit application is denied.
    • MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN – Kent State offers students and their families the ability to spread their costs over a monthly payment plan for the fall or spring semesters.
    • EDUCATION SAVINGS PLAN – If you have an established education savings plan (529 Plan), please request that payment be sent to Kent State from your provider at least two weeks before the billing due date. We recommend requesting payment by July 22 for the fall semester.
    • PRIVATE LOANS – Students may apply for a private loan with a credit-worthy co-signer, if necessary. Kent State University does not endorse any lender or lending institution. We will process a private education loan from ANY lending institution. To assist you in your search, we do recommend using ELM Select.
    • SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES APPLICATION – If the information submitted on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is no longer an accurate representation of your family’s current financial situation, please consider completing a Special Circumstance Application.

REVIEW YOUR FINAL STEPS

  •  Attend Destination Kent State orientation.
  •  Notification of your invoice will be sent to you by email in July for fall semester and in December for spring semester.  The invoice will list your actual expenses as of that day.
  • Consider GradGuard Tuition Insurance - A tuition protection plan that provides confidence by reimbursing tuition costs if a student withdraws at any time during the semester for a covered reason. 
  •  Visit the One Stop website for detailed billing, payment and due date information.
  •  Review information about authorization of Title IV aid under the Financial Aid section of FlashLine.
  • Choose your student refund selection after receiving instructions from BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc.
Current Student Financial Aid Checklist

STAY ON TRACK AT KENT STATE UNIVERSITY

  • Prepare for the next academic year by reviewing the Summer/Fall Checklist (PDF).
  • Verify you meet all criteria for your renewable Kent State University scholarships.
  • Begin a comprehensive scholarship search using these tools:
    • Scholarship Search
    • Student Financial Aid Scholarship Application
    • Outside scholarship search engine
  • Review your checklist in FlashLine.  Keep track of the steps you need to complete to be ready for the academic year.
    • Your checklist can be found by selecting "My Lists" on the top menu bar.
  • Check your Kent State email address regularly for important information from the One Stop for Student Services.
  • Review the Student Financial Aid website for detailed financial aid information.
  • Find information regarding Federal Tuition Assistance for military-connected students.
  • Ensure you are meeting the Standards of Academic Progress to receive federal financial aid.
  • View current direct costs to attend Kent State University, which include:
  • Consider attending a financial aid workshop with the One Stop for Student Services.
  • Learn more about budgeting and how to stay on track with your finances.
  • If this is your first time completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), create an FSA ID (Federal Student Aid ID). If the student is dependent, at least one parent must also apply. The FSA ID will serve as an electronic signature on the FAFSA.
    • If you have completed a FAFSA in the past, you do not need to create a new FSA ID.  Visit the FSA ID website to confirm your FSA ID and password.

APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID

  •  File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for federal and state financial aid programs.  Students are encouraged to file as soon as possible beginning Oct. 1, for early FAFSA processing and awarding.  To ensure maximum eligibility, complete the FAFSA no later than Feb. 1.
  • View a collection of helpful videos on the FAFSA and financial aid.
  •  View any outstanding financial aid requirements via FlashLine.
  • If requested, complete the verification process prior to receiving federal financial aid.
  • If your information submitted on the FAFSA is no longer an accurate representation of your family's current financial situation, consider completing a special circumstance application.
  • Complete enrollment plans on the Resources/Additional Information tab in FlashLine to receive your financial aid award.
  • If you plan to enroll at Kent State University for the summer semester and would like to use your financial aid, view how it may be adjusted for the academic year.

VIEW YOUR FINANCIAL AID AWARDS

  • Begin viewing your financial aid awards beginning mid-to-late April in FlashLine.
  • Review Terms and Conditions of receiving financial aid on FlashLine.

TAKE ACTION ON YOUR FINANCIAL AID AWARDS

  • Accept any awarded institutional scholarships in offered status from Kent State University on FlashLine.
  • Report outside scholarships, awards and other tuition assistance you are bringing to Kent State University on the Resources/Additional Information tab in FlashLine.  Click the link for instructions.
  • Loans are funds that must be repaid; only borrow what you need after careful consideration.  If borrowing federal student loans:

DISCOVER ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPTIONS

  • If you still need help covering your college expenses, please explore the options below:
    • OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIPS – Investigate whether there are any local scholarships you can apply for on ScholarshipUniverse. 
    • DIRECT PLUS LOAN (FOR PARENTS ONLY) – Parents can apply for a Direct PLUS Loan, which is credit based, at StudentAid.gov. Additional loan funding is available for the student if the parent’s credit application is denied.
    • MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN – Kent State offers students and their families the ability to spread their costs over a monthly payment plan for the fall or spring semesters.
    • EDUCATION SAVINGS PLAN – If you have an established education savings plan (529 Plan), please request that payment be sent to Kent State from your provider at least two weeks before the billing due date. We recommend requesting payment by July 22 for the fall semester.
    • PRIVATE LOANS – Students may apply for a private loan with a credit-worthy co-signer, if necessary. Kent State University does not endorse any lender or lending institution. We will process a private education loan from ANY lending institution. To assist you in your search, we do recommend using ELM Select.
    • SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES APPLICATION – If the information submitted on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is no longer an accurate representation of your family’s current financial situation, please consider completing a Special Circumstance Application.

REVIEW YOUR FINAL STEPS

  •  Notification of your invoice will be sent to you by email in July for fall semester and in December for spring semester.  If you are attending summer, invoices will be sent to you by email in April. The invoice will list your actual expenses as of that day.
  •  Visit the One Stop website for detailed billing, payment and due date information.
  • Consider GradGuard Tuition Insurance - A tuition protection plan that provides confidence by reimbursing tuition costs if a student withdraws at any time during the semester for a covered reason. 
  •  Review information about authorization of Title IV aid under the Financial Aid section of FlashLine.
  •  Information on student refunds.
Graduate Student Financial Aid Checklist

ADVANCE AT KENT STATE UNIVERSITY

  •  Begin a comprehensive scholarship search using these tools:
    • Scholarship Search
    • Student Financial Aid Scholarship Application
    • Outside scholarship search engines
  • Check with Graduate Studies and your College to find major specific scholarship opportunities.
  • Explore Graduate Assistantship opportunities.
  • Check your Kent State email address regularly for important information from the One Stop for Student Services.
  • Review the Student Financial Aid website for detailed financial aid information.
  • Find information regarding Federal Tuition Assistance for military-connected students.
  • Ensure you are meeting the Standards of Academic Progress to receive federal financial aid.
  • View current direct costs to attend Kent State University, which include:
  •  Consider attending a financial aid workshop with the One Stop for Student Services.
  • Learn more about budgeting and how to stay on track with your finances.
  •  If this is your first time completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), create an FSA ID (Federal Student Aid ID). If the student is dependent, at least one parent must also apply. The FSA ID will serve as an electronic signature on the FAFSA.
    • If you have completed a FAFSA in the past, you do not need to create a new FSA ID.  Visit the FSA ID website to confirm your FSA ID and password.

APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID

  • File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for federal and state financial aid programs.  Students are encouraged to file as soon as possible beginning Oct. 1, for early FAFSA processing and awarding.  To ensure maximum eligibility, complete the FAFSA no later than Feb. 1.
  • View a collection of helpful videos on the FAFSA and financial aid.
  • View any outstanding financial aid requirements on FlashLine.
  • If requested, complete the verification process prior to receiving federal financial aid.
  • If your information submitted on the FAFSA is no longer an accurate representation of your family's current financial situation, consider completing a special circumstance application.
  • Complete enrollment plans on the Resources/Additional Information tab in FlashLine to receive your financial aid award.
  • If you plan to enroll at Kent State University for the summer semester and would like to use your financial aid, view how it may be adjusted for the academic year.

VIEW YOUR FINANCIAL AID AWARDS

  • Begin viewing your financial aid awards beginning mid-to-late April in FlashLine.
  • Review Terms and Conditions of receiving financial aid on FlashLine.

TAKE ACTION ON YOUR FINANCIAL AID AWARDS

  • Accept any awarded institutional scholarships in offered status from Kent State University on FlashLine.
  • Report outside scholarships, awards and other tuition assistance you are bringing to Kent State University on the Resources/Additional Information tab in FlashLine.  Click the link for instructions.
  • Loans are funds that must be repaid; only borrow what you need after careful consideration.  If borrowing federal student loans:

DISCOVER ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPTIONS

  • If you still need help covering your college expenses, please explore the options below:
    • OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIPS – Investigate whether there are any local scholarships you can apply for on ScholarshipUniverse. 
    • DIRECT GRADUATE PLUS LOAN (FOR GRAD STUDENTS ONLY) – Graduate students can apply for a Direct PLUS Loan, which is credit based, at StudentAid.gov. 
    • MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN – Kent State offers students and their families the ability to spread their costs over a monthly payment plan for the fall or spring semesters.
    • EDUCATION SAVINGS PLAN – If you have an established education savings plan (529 Plan), please request that payment be sent to Kent State from your provider at least two weeks before the billing due date. We recommend requesting payment by July 22 for the fall semester.
    • PRIVATE LOANS – Students may apply for a private loan with a credit-worthy co-signer, if necessary. Kent State University does not endorse any lender or lending institution. We will process a private education loan from ANY lending institution. To assist you in your search, we do recommend using ELM Select.
    • SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES APPLICATION – If the information submitted on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is no longer an accurate representation of your family’s current financial situation, please consider completing a Special Circumstance Application.

REVIEW YOUR FINAL STEPS

  •  Notification of your invoice will be sent to you by email in July for fall semester and in December for spring semester.  If you are attending summer, invoices will be sent to you by email in April.  The invoice will list your actual expenses as of that day.
  •  Visit the One Stop website for detailed billing, payment and due date information.
  • Consider GradGuard Tuition Insurance - A tuition protection plan that provides confidence by reimbursing tuition costs if a student withdraws at any time during the semester for a covered reason. 
  •  Review information about authorization of Title IV aid under the Financial Aid section of FlashLine.
  • Information on student refunds.
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