Scholarships: Questions and Answers

How do I apply for scholarships at Kent State University?

Incoming First-Year Students

Students who will attend the Kent Campus should complete the Undergraduate Application for Admission and apply to the Kent Campus of Kent State University no later than February 1, to ensure that you are considered for the automatic new first year scholarships awarded by the Admissions Office and the Student Financial Aid Office. Qualified students admitted by December 1 will be invited to apply to the Honors College. If you are admitted to the Honors College, you will be considered for an Honors Distinction Award. 

You must be admitted in order to be considered for scholarships but you do not have to commit to Kent State.  Committing to Kent State by paying your matriculation fee does not increase your chances of receiving a scholarship.

Incoming first-year student scholarship awards are based on academic credentials (cumulative high school GPA, and test scores if applicable).

In addition to scholarships awarded by the Admissions Office, Honors College and Student Financial Aid Office,  admitted students can also apply for scholarships awarded by Colleges and other departments at Kent State University. ScholarshipUniverse is a great resource that will help make sure you are not missing any scholarship opportunities at Kent State.  Scholarship application deadlines vary and the timing of the announcement of the students selected varies as well.  Most departments will determine recipients no later than June.

Continuing student scholarships

Scholarship awards are based on academic performance (cumulative Kent State University GPA) and in some cases the student’s academic major, talent, financial need, extracurricular activities and demonstrated leadership.

In addition to scholarships awarded by the Student Financial Aid Office, students can also apply for scholarships awarded by various departments at Kent State University. ScholarshipUniverse is a great resource that will help make sure you are not missing any scholarship opportunities at Kent State.  Scholarship application deadlines vary and the timing of the announcement of the students selected varies as well.  Most departments will determine recipients no later than June.

Students who will attend a Regional Campus should contact that campus for more information regarding scholarship opportunities and deadline dates.

Incoming transfer student scholarships

Students who will attend the Kent Campus should apply and be admitted to Kent State University no later than July 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester, in order to be considered for incoming transfer student scholarships awarded by the Admissions Office and the Student Financial Aid Office.

Scholarship awards are based on academic cumulative GPA from all prior colleges attended and the number of credit hours earned.

In addition to scholarships awarded by the Admissions Office, Honors College and Student Financial Aid Office, students can also apply for scholarships awarded by Colleges and other departments at Kent State University. ScholarshipUniverse is a great resource that will help make sure you are not missing any scholarship opportunities at Kent State.  Scholarship application deadlines vary and the timing of the announcement of the students selected varies as well.  Most departments will determine recipients no later than June.

Visit ScholarshipUniverse

What if I missed the deadline for applying for scholarships?

If your scholarship application is received late, you will be placed on a waiting list. If additional awards become available, on-time applicants will be reviewed first. If awards are still available, we will then look at all scholarship applicants.

Do I have to apply for scholarships every year?

If the scholarship is a non-renewable scholarship, you will have to reapply to be considered for the scholarship during the upcoming year. If your scholarship is a renewable scholarship, then the scholarship will be renewed automatically, if you meet the renewal criteria.

You should never stop looking for scholarships  Visit ScholarshipUniverse often to make sure you don't miss a new scholarship opportunity.

Can I bring an external scholarship to Kent?

You are welcome to bring any scholarship you receive from an external source (such as your high school, church, employers) to Kent State University, provided the donor will allow the use of the scholarship at Kent State.  Scholarship checks should be mailed to:

Kent State University
Bursar's Office
P.O. Box 5190
Kent, Ohio 44242

Make sure that the student's name and Kent State ID number are included.

Once the external scholarship funds are received, the scholarship will be added to the student’s financial aid offer and will appear as a credit on the student’s account for that semester.  The actual funds will not be released any sooner than 10 days before your classes start.  You cannot receive the scholarship funds early.   If you owe a balance for any reason on your student account, your scholarship will be applied to that outstanding balance.  If you do not owe a balance for that semester, the scholarship will be issued to you as a financial aid refund for that semester. 

All external scholarships must be reported to the Student Financial Aid Office, even if the organization gave the student a check made out to them personally.  Students can self-report external scholarships in FlashLine by following these steps:

• Login to your FlashLine Account at www.kent.edu
• Select Student
• Under Finances, choose Financial Aid
• Select Financial Aid Resource & Additional Information
• Choose the current Award Year from the drop-down menu and click the Submit button
• Click on Resources/Additional Information tab
• Fill out the External Resource Reporting Information and click Submit information

I am an international sponsored student. who do i contact at kent State for help?

We offer special support for students who are financially supported by ‎governments (U.S. or foreign), international organizations, public or private companies and other third-party entities.

If you are a sponsored student or a sponsoring organization, please visit our dedicated webpage or contact Sponsored Student Services intlspon@kent.edu for more information.

Will an external scholarship affect scholarship or other financial aid that I am receiving from Kent State?

Your Kent State University scholarship may be adjusted if you receive another scholarship and/or benefit that covers the same fees. For example, if the student will have a University Tuition Fee Waiver, then they will not be permitted to receive a tuition scholarship.

Kent State University scholarships are limited to direct University costs. A combination of Kent State University scholarships, grants, and outside scholarships cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance Budget established for each student by Kent State University.

How Can I Find Scholarships Outside of Kent State University?

A list of helpful scholarship search tips and many scholarships are available at ScholarshipUniverse.

What are the eligibility and renewal criteria for my scholarships?

For scholarship awards made by the Student Financial Aid Office, Admissions Office, and Honors College the renewal and eligibility criteria are available on your FlashLine account. Please follow the directions below to review the details. For scholarships awarded by Colleges and other departments, please contact the appropriate office for more information.

• Login to your FlashLine Account at www.kent.edu
• Select Student
• Under Finances, choose Financial Aid
• Select Financial Aid Awards
• Select Aid for Award Year
• Choose the current Award Year from the drop-down menu and click the Submit button
• Click on the Award Overview tab
• Click on the name of each scholarship and carefully read the Eligibility and Renewal Criteria for that award

Do I have to submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to be considered for scholarships?

Newly admitted students do not have submit a FAFSA to be considered for the Academic Achievement Award, President’s Achievement Award, Oscar Ritchie Memorial Scholarship, Founders Scholarship, Honors Distinction Award, or incoming transfer student scholarships. These scholarships are strictly merit based. 

If a scholarship program indicates that “demonstrating financial need” is required, then the student must have a FAFSA on file for the academic year to be considered for that award.  The FAFSA allows the Student Financial Aid Office to determine whether the student is demonstrating financial need. 

How do I accept my scholarships?

View step-by-step instructions on how to accept your Kent State scholarships.

Accepting a scholarship does not commit you to attending Kent State University, but we ask that you only accept your scholarship if you are planning to attend.  Accepting a scholarship will not eliminate you from consideration for additional scholarship awards. 

How will I receive my scholarship award?

All Kent State University scholarships (except for a limited number of scholarships awarded specifically for research or conference travel) will be applied to your student account for the semester.  Scholarships will show as credit on your student account, but the actual funds will not be released any sooner than 10 days before your classes start.  You cannot receive the scholarship funds early.   If you owe a balance for any reason on your student account, your scholarship will be applied to that outstanding balance.  If you do not owe a balance for that semester, the scholarship will be issued to you as a financial aid refund for that semester. 

Will my other financial aid be revised if I receive a scholarship?

The addition of a scholarship, from any source, could result in the revision of your other financial aid awards.  The most common revision is a reduction in a Federal Parent PLUS Loan, a private alternation loan, or the reduction/cancellation of student’s federal Direct Loans.  This typically happens only when the student is receiving a very large amount of financial aid that already equals their Cost of Attendance budget.  Based on a student’s FAFSA results, the student’s Federal Direct Subsidized Loan may have to be reduced or cancelled.  Whenever possible, that funding is replaced with a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan.

Scholarship awards that can only to be applied to certain expenses, such as tuition, may have to be reduced if the student’s total scholarships exceed that expense.

If I did not meet the renewal criteria in order to receive my scholarships next year, is there anything I can do?

Students who did not meet their scholarship renewal criteria for the awards listed below can request an appeal if they have extenuating circumstances.  

• Academic Achievement Award
• President's Achievement Award
• Oscar Richie Memorial Scholarship
• Trustee Scholarship
• Founders Scholarship
• University Award
• President's Scholarship
• President's Award
• Academic Transfer Award
• President's Transfer Award
• Transfer2Kent Scholarship
• Flash Transfer Northeast Ohio Scholarship

Extenuating circumstances include illness, death in family, family crisis, etc.  The appeal must include supporting documentation.  Students cannot request a scholarship appeal form until after they have been notified that the scholarship was cancelled for the upcoming year or semester.

Can I request an extra semester of my scholarship because I will be here for a 9th semester? 

Yes, but you must submit a Scholarship Appeal Form to request the additional semester.

 I am graduating early – can I double up on my scholarship in my last semester? 

No, your Kent State scholarship cannot be increased from the original offer amount per semester.  For example, an $1,000 annual scholarship will be awarded $500 per semester.  You cannot receive all $1,000 in one semester.  

Can I receive my scholarship if I register for regional campus courses? 

You will not be eligible for your Kent Campus scholarship if you register for regional campus courses unless you are also enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours in Kent Campus designated courses that same semester. 

I only need 2 courses this semester to graduate and I have one semester of scholarship eligibility remaining. Am I eligible for my Kent Campus scholarship? 

You may appeal to use your scholarship, for less than full-time enrollment, if it is your last semester of enrollment prior to graduation.  Scholarship appeal forms are available at https://www.kent.edu/financialaid/student-financial-aid-scholarship-appeal-forms.  Please note, your scholarship may be prorated if you are not enrolled full-time.    

Will I be eligible for Kent State scholarships if i will have a faculty/staff/dependent tuition waiver benefit?

Many Kent State scholarships can be applied only to tuition instructional and general fees.  Therefore, if the student will use a Tuition Waiver Benefit, these types of scholarships will be cancelled.  Affected scholarships include, but are not limited to, the following incoming freshman and incoming transfer student scholarships awarded by Admissions, Student Financial Aid and the Honors College:

• Academic Achievement Award
• Founders Scholarship
• Honors Distinction Award
• Oscar Richie Memorial Scholarship
• President Achievement Award
• Transfer2Kent Scholarship
• Transfer in a Flash Scholarship

If cancelled due to a Tuition Waiver Benefit, these awards will NOT be replaced with funding to be used towards living expenses, books, or other educational-related expenses.