Financial Aid FAQs

Q. What is financial aid?

Financial aid is funding to assist paying for your college education that comes from sources outside of your family. Gift aid and self-help aid are two categories of financial aid. Gift aid comes in the form of grants and scholarships and does not have to be repaid. Self-help comes in the form of loans and employment. Financial aid at Kent State University is awarded to students based on financial need and/or merit. A student may have a combination of grants, loans, scholarships and employment for a financial aid award. There is some type of financial aid available regardless of your income.

Q. Who is eligible to receive financial aid?

A person must be officially admitted and enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program to receive federal aid funds. A regular student is someone who is officially accepted for enrollment for the purpose of obtaining a degree or approved certificate. If the student is merely allowed to take some courses before being officially admitted to the program (for example, a Guest student), the student is not considered to be a regular student and will not be eligible to receive federal financial aid until they are officially admitted to a degree or certificate program.

Q. How do I apply?

File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after October 1 each year.  

To ensure maximum financial aid eligibility, complete the FAFSA no later than February 1.  The FAFSA now uses income from an earlier, already completed tax year.  Therefore, you do not have to wait until you complete your current year tax return! Please visit our Applying for Aid page for more details on specific award years.

Students may apply for financial aid at StudentAid.gov. In addition, visit the Federal and State Aid page. 

Q. What do i need in order to complete the fafsa?

Visit the StudentAid.gov website to see what documents you need to gather to complete your FAFSA.

Q. Am I considered dependent or independent on the fafsa?

The FAFSA form asks a series of questions that determine whether you are a dependent or independent student for purposes of applying for federal student aid.

Q. What happens after I apply?

Once the University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid receives your FAFSA results, we determine your eligibility based on your financial need. At that point your FAFSA runs through our automated processing programs and an Initial Financial Aid Offer is mailed (incoming Freshmen only). Continuing students will receive a financial aid offer email.  As subsequent adjustments are made to your financial aid, an email will be sent notifying you of any changes. FlashLine always has the most up-to-date information about your student aid and we encourage you to view that often. Follow the steps below to view your financial aid offer.

1. Log in to  FlashLine and select "Student" from the main menu.
2. Under Finances, click on "Scholarships & Financial Aid".
3. Click on "Financial Aid Awards", select the current aid year from the drop down and Submit.
4. Click on the "Award Overview" tab.

If you need assistance with your username and password, please call the KSU Help Desk at: (330) 672-HELP

Q. How is my financial aid award determined?

The federal government has established a formula which determines your expected family contribution, or EFC, and can be found on the top-right corner of your Student Aid Report (SAR). This formula, which is used by colleges and universities throughout the country, estimates your family’s financial strength in order to determine the amount your family should be able to contribute to the cost of education for the academic year. Family income, assets, size of the family, as well as an allowance for retirement are among a few of the items evaluated by this formula. The expected family contribution (EFC) is subtracted from the cost of attendance to determine your financial need. Once this is determined, the University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid is able to determine the types and amounts of federal, state, local and institutional aid you are entitled to receive. These include both need and non-need based aid. Once eligibility been determined the student is sent an official financial aid notification, often called a "Financial Aid Offer".

Cost of Attendance Example

 Cost of Attendance $12,000 - Expected Family Contribution $3,500 = Financial Need $8,500

Q. When will I receive my financial aid?

Financial aid cannot be disbursed to your student account until you complete all processing requirements, including promissory notes, Verification, etc. Provided all steps have been completed, financial aid will disburse 10 days prior to the start of each semester. Refunds are processed for students who have financial aid awards that exceed their bill for the semester. 

Q. Can I use my financial aid in the summer?

Yes!  Please view information on summer financial aid while taking classes during the summer semester.

Q.  How do I view my financial aid on my e-bill and current account balance?

Any awarded financial aid will be listed on your e-bill under "Get My Account Balance" by clicking on the Student tab in FlashLine under Student Account Balance. See the link to the document below provided by the Bursar's Office for further details on how to view your e-bill and current account balance online. You may also contact the One Stop for Student Services office at (330) 672-6000 or your Regional Campus representative if you have difficulty understanding your e-bill or online account summary.

FAQs Regarding Electronic Billing (PDF)

Q. what is the deadline for the fafsa?

2022-2023: Students are encouraged to file the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1, 2021 for the 2022-2023 academic year. To ensure maximum financial aid eligibility, complete the FAFSA no later than February 1, 2022. Some State Aid has deadlines to apply.

2023-2024: Students are encouraged to file the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1, 2022 for the 2023-2024 academic year. To ensure maximum financial aid eligibility, complete the FAFSA no later than February 1, 2023. Some State Aid has deadlines to apply.

The priority processing date is required to be considered for certain need based financial aid programs such as Federal Work Study and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG).

At the very latest it is recommended that students complete the FAFSA 3 weeks prior to the semester you plan to enroll. Students must complete the FAFSA before the end of the semester in which they are enrolled, but it is not recommend to wait until the last minute.  

Q. What is a Student Aid Report (SAR)?

A Student Aid Report is the analysis of the data you reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Student Aid Report has your calculated Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on it, and that number is used to determine your eligibility for financial aid.

You should receive your Student Aid Report from the federal processor four to six weeks after filing the FAFSA. Around the same time, Kent State University will receive an electronic version of this report from the federal processor which we use to determine your financial aid award. If you do not receive your SAR within six weeks after filing the FAFSA, you should contact the Federal Student Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 to check the status.

Q.  I received my Student Aid Report (SAR) from the Federal Processor. What do I do now?

Review all the information on the SAR to make sure it is correct. In order to be considered for aid from Kent State, be sure you list your campus Federal School Code. If your information is correct, keep the SAR for your records. If it is incorrect, you can make corrections on-line.

Visit the FAFSA Website

Q. If I receive my Student Aid Report and it says I am selected for verification, what do I need to do?

Verification is a process that confirms, or verifies, data reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If your Student Aid Report indicates you were selected for verification and you plan to attend Kent State University, you will be contacted and told what appropriate documentation will be needed. 

Participation in the Verification process is not optional. If the student does not submit the requested documentation, the student will not be eligible to receive federal financial aid as a Kent State University student and parents of dependent students will not be eligible to receive a PLUS loan.

Q. I was notified I have been cited for not meeting Satisfactory academic progress (SAP). Does this mean I cannot receive financial aid?

If you have been cited for SAP, you cannot receive federal aid.

First, check your "Active Messages" on FlashLine. To do this, follow these steps

1. Log into FlashLine and select the "Student" tab from the main menu
2. Under Financial Aid click on "Financial Aid Status"
3. Select the current aid year and click "Submit"
4. Review any unsatisfied "Student Requirements" and click the "Instructions" box for further information, if applicable.
5. Review any "Active Messages"

Complete the form indicated in the active message and submit any required documentation to support your appeal. Within 4-weeks of receiving the appeal, the SAP committee will review the appeal and you will be notified of the decision via FlashLine, under "Active Messages". If you attend a regional campus, please send your appeal form to that campus.

If the financial aid was awarded prior to the citation, the aid will not be applied unless the SAP appeal is approved. If the financial aid was not awarded prior to citation and the SAP appeal is approved, the financial aid will be awarded when the approval is complete.

SAP Forms

Q. What if my family has a special circumstance that will affect how much we can pay?

Students who have special circumstances (i.e. loss of income, high medical expenses, etc.) should contact the One Stop for Student Services or your Regional Campus representative. Each inquiry at Kent State University will be reviewed for any allowable changes that may help you and your family afford the cost of education.  

Q. What if I never attended?

Students are required to engage in at least one academically related activity in order to be eligible for financial aid. For more information on this policy, view our Academic Engagement Verification Roster information. Kent State University is required by federal law to review the enrollment activity of its federal (Title IV) financial aid recipients. A student is considered a Title IV financial aid recipient if he/she has received any of the following federal awards: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and Federal PLUS (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students) loans.

If you never attend the courses registered for in a given semester, you are considered to not have academically engaged. In this case, all Title IV, state and institutional aid will be returned to the appropriate programs. Students are notified within 30 days of the end of each semester as to their appeal process and date at which aid will be returned to the federal programs.

If a student is a recipient of federal financial aid, never attending classes at the University may result in the student having to repay programs from which financial assistance was received. A student is not eligible for a refund until all Federal Title IV programs and other grants and scholarships are reimbursed as required and all outstanding balances with the University has been cleared.

Q. What if I need to exit in the middle of a semester?

Kent State University is required by federal law to review the enrollment activity of its federal (Title IV) financial aid recipients. A student is considered a Title IV financial aid recipient if he/she has received any of the following federal awards: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and Federal PLUS (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students) loans. 

Federal financial aid eligibility is based upon student attendance. Therefore, if you stop attending the University and do not complete the official withdrawal process through the Registrar’s Office, you are considered to have unofficially withdrawn from the University and are subject to the Title IV refund policies based upon the last date of attendance at an academically-related event. If the last date of attendance is not known, then the midpoint of the semester will be used as the withdrawal date. 

The student and the school are both responsible for returning unearned federal financial aid to the federal government.  Kent State University will return funds on the student's behalf to the appropriate federal programs and subsequently will bill the student for any balances owed back to Kent State University as a result of the return of Title IV funds. An email reflecting the adjustment(s) to the student’s Title IV funds and the remaining student account balance will be sent to the student within 30 days.

Q.  I have a grade level change. After the fall semester, I will be a sophomore. Can I receive additional loans?

The University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid will evaluate your eligibility for both subsidized and unsubsidized loans based on your grade level and degree program. This also applies for changing grade level from sophomore to junior level.

If you have a grade level change mid-year, you must complete the Federal Direct Loan Change Request Form - Increase in order to be evaluated again. This must be your official grade level in FlashLine.

Q.  If I drop a course, how will this affect my financial aid?

Students who add or drop courses during the 100% refund period for that term will see their tuition charges and aid adjust based on their registered classes.

Students who drop courses during another refund period (80% -60%) may be subject to still pay for a portion of a dropped course based on the date the drop was processed. Your financial aid (including scholarships) may be reduced or cancelled depending on your new enrollment status. 

Withdrawing from a class can also adversely affect your financial aid status. Grades of W can affect your aid for future terms or years. Carefully review the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress to ensure you are staying on track to retain aid eligibility. Students who become eligible to receive financial aid or accept aid after withdrawing from a course will have their aid adjusted based on their remaining course enrollment. 

You can also visit the How to Withdraw page.

Before dropping a course, contact the One Stop for Student Services or your Regional Campus representative.

Visit Aid Recalculation Due to Enrollment Activities

Q.  I am transferring to Kent State in the Spring. How much is my Financial Aid?

Be sure to use one of the Kent State school codes on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Allow 2-3 weeks for us to upload your results, assess your eligibility and award your aid. We will not award any aid until you have been admitted to Kent State and completed all necessary requirements.

Q.  I am leaving Kent state for another school. What do I need to do about financial aid?

Contact the One Stop for Student Services or your Regional Campus representative.

Q. What is a Federal Parent PLUS loan and how can I get one?

A Federal PLUS loan is a federally regulated loan that a parent/stepparent listed on the FAFSA may borrow to help cover the cost of their child's education. A FAFSA must be completed and on file at Kent State University. The borrower needs to log in to studentaid.gov and fill out the Parent PLUS loan application. A credit check will be processed by the Loan Origination Center (LOC). Kent State University (and the parent) will receive notification of the credit decision. If the borrower (the parent or stepparent) passes the credit check, a PLUS loan promissory note needs to be completed. Visit StudentAid.gov to complete your PLUS master promissory note.

If the student has maintained the eligibility requirements, the net amount of the loan (loan amount borrowed minus an origination fee) will be applied to the student's account. If the loan amount exceeds the amount due to the University, a refund will be issued, which may then be used to aid in the cost of the student's educational expenses. Repayment on PLUS loans begin immediately unless deferment is requested.

If the parents are denied a PLUS loan after the credit check, the family has the option to resolve the credit problems, obtain a co-signer (endorser) or the student may be able to receive additional federal unsubsidized loan funds.

Learn more about Loans

Q.  why has the amount of my federal pell grant changed?

Students who are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant are awarded based on enrollment.  If your enrollment has changed prior to the start of classes, that will affect the amount of Pell grant in which you are eligible for.  After the first week of class, at the time of the Census date, the Federal Pell Grant amount will no longer update due to the addition of classes.  Students will be notified of the Census date and process via email each semester.

Learn more about Grants

Q. I have questions about scholarships.  Where can I find answers?

Visit the Scholarship FAQs page for answers to common questions.

Learn more about Scholarships