Scholarships & Aid

The CCI Dean's Scholarship is a need-based scholarship open to admitted Kent State undergraduates in:

• School of Communication Studies
• School of Emerging Media and Technology
• School of Media and Journalism
• School of Visual Communication Design

To be considered for the CCI Dean’s Scholarships, students must apply through ScholarshipUniverse and must have a completed FAFSA on file.

The Kent State University Honors College awards several merit scholarships of varying amounts designated specifically for students in the School of Media and Journalism who apply for and are admitted to the Honors College. 

Learn more about the Honors College

The School of Media and Journalism offers a $1,000 scholarship to an outstanding high school senior from an Ohio Scholastic Media Association member school who will be attending Kent State. 

Learn more about the Scholastic Media Scholarship

SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA:

Graduate of a Portage County, Ohio, high school pursuing a BA or BFA in Design or a BFA in photography or fine art, in good academic standing (3.0 GPA or higher), with a portfolio of photography, design or sculpture work.  

Award Amount: $920

*Demonstrate financial need based on FAFSA form in Financial Aid. 

The School of Media and Journalism and the School of Visual Communication Design award up to $200,000 to photography students annually through the Wallace J. Hagedorn Photography Scholarship. In addition to the monies available to offset tuition costs for the most talented visual storytellers, this program-enhancing gift will also provide additional resources to enrich the student experience. To apply for this scholarship, visit ScholarshipUniverse.

Learn more about the Hagedorn Scholarship

The Alan Canfora Activism Scholarship celebrates the life of this noted May 4 activist, his Kent State experience and the importance of social justice and advocacy to society. The scholarship will provide up to two years of renewable  support for an undergraduate, first-year or transfer student of any major on the Kent campus who has demonstrated financial need, as well as an interest in social justice and advocacy and a commitment to care and compassion toward others.

The College of Communication and Information administers this scholarship, but it is open to any college major in the university including exploratory students.

To apply you must:

• Be an entering first-year or transfer student with demonstrated financial need
• Be a full-time student enrolled at the Kent campus beginning in the fall semester
• Accept admission to Kent State by no later than May 1
• Show a demonstrated interest in advocacy and social justice, as well as a demonstrated commitment of care and compassion toward others

To apply for this scholarship, visit ScholarshipUniverse.

Michael John Gallagher II had a passion for global communication — and his love for the discipline was central to who he was. Active within the Kent community, he flourished as a leader, ambassador, mentor and humanitarian. Michael spread kindness wherever he went, with a smile, wave or small talk. He made everyone feel like a friend. Michael graduated, magna cum laude, May 2019.

After graduating, Michael joined the Peace Corps. He dedicated himself to teaching English to the French speaking children at CEG Yebessi in Benin, West Africa.

Just two days after Michael’s 24th birthday, his life tragically came to an end. Michael’s short time on this earth left an indelible impression on so many people. The impact he made was felt around the world — in Chicago, Illinois; Kent, Ohio; Chengdu, China; Florence, Italy; Benin, West Africa; and Paris, France. 

His legacy lives on

The College of Communication and Information is honored to offer this scholarship in memory of Michael.

To apply you must:

• Be a junior or senior enrolled as a CCI major 
• Have a GPA of 2.5 or greater
• Have a global mindset and interests
• Show a demonstrated passion for community and social issues and change

The Michael John Gallagher II Scholarship application can be found in ScholarshipUniverse.

(Banner photo credit: Shannon Clark)