Admission - Undergraduate Student Download to print

Students desiring admission to an undergraduate division of the university should submit the appropriate application materials to the Office of Admissions. Students should arrange to have all necessary high school and college transcripts sent directly to the Office of Admissions from each institution previously attended. All credentials submitted for admission become the property of the university and are not returnable or transferable. The university reserves the right to change, without notice, any admissions procedures described in this Catalog.

Freshmen Students: Students who have not attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school should apply to be admitted as freshmen.

Application Procedures: Prospective freshman students can apply by submitting an electronic application, application fee and required academic credentials to the Office of Admissions. Students can submit an electronic application on the Office of Admissions website.

The Office of Admissions must receive a non-refundable application fee and a high school transcript before processing the application. A personal interview is not required for admission; however, applicants are encouraged to arrange both an interview with an admissions counselor and a campus visit by contacting the Office of Admissions.

Required Credentials: Freshmen entering Kent State must submit a high school transcript and American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) scores. Kent State requires that students take the writing section of the ACT. Students are excused from this test score requirement only if they have been graduated from high school for three or more years or if they are 21 years or older at the time of their first enrollment. These test scores are essential in determining students’ admission status and academic aptitudes; assisting in academic advising; and helping to determine scholarship eligibility.

ACT or SAT scores should be reported to Kent State University directly from the testing agency. Students should use the following ACT codes based on the campus to which they plan to be admitted: Ashtabula (3773), East Liverpool (3225), Geauga (3224), Kent (3284/SAT 1367), Salem (3354), Stark (3226), Trumbull (3343), Tuscarawas (3361).

A final high school transcript verifying graduation or a GED certificate/score report is required for both enrollment and financial aid at Kent State University.

Admission Requirements at the Kent Campus: Kent State University’s freshman admission policy differentiates among students with varying degrees of preparation for college studies. The students most likely to be admitted and succeed at the Kent Campus are those who will have graduated with at least 16 units of the recommended college preparatory curriculum in high school, who have achieved a minimum high school 2.500 grade point average, and whose composite ACT score is 21 or better (combined SAT score of 980 in critical reading and math).

Students who do not meet the above criteria but who have graduated with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.200 (on a scale of 4.000) at a chartered or accredited high school or have passed the GED may be admitted. High school course selection, class rank, recommendations and ACT/SAT scores will be closely examined for such students in making admissions decisions.

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Ohio residents and other applicants not offered admission at the Kent Campus may request that the Admissions Office forward their application for consideration at one of the seven Regional Campuses of Kent State University.

Admission Requirements at the Regional Campuses: Admission to the Regional Campuses is handled through the Office of Admissions at any of the seven regional campuses. Admission is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. Part-time early admission opportunities are available for qualified high school students in consultation with an advisor. In programs with special admission requirements, admission decisions and judgments are made by the director of the program following normal faculty consultative procedures, and take into account factors such as life experience, level of motivation and concern for under-represented groups in the program, as well as such indicators as GPA or ACT score. Each regional campus has staff members available to discuss admissions, financial aid opportunities and programs with prospective students.

Registration dates, times, procedures and access methods are similar to those of the Kent Campus. Registration information at a particular campus can be obtained from that campus. Because the seven regional campuses and the Kent Campus comprise one university system, access and mobility among the campuses is encouraged and facilitated. Even so, there are some differences between the Kent Campus and the regional campuses in freshman and transfer admission requirements.

Kent Campus Referrals: Freshman admission eligibility at the Kent Campus is based upon an applicant’s cumulative high school GPA and, in some cases, standardized test scores and the college preparatory curriculum. Students not meeting the freshman admission criteria for the Kent Campus who wish to enter the Kent State University system must enroll for at least one semester at a regional campus. Enrollment at the regional campuses permits students to take advantage of smaller class sizes, more individualized advising services and a wider range of developmental programs.

For the deferred freshman or transfer student who enrolls at a regional campus to obtain the best possible foundation for academic success, it is recommended that the student complete the following minimum academic achievements before enrolling at the Kent Campus:

1. Successfully complete any remedial/developmental coursework as prescribed by an academic advisor.
2. Successfully complete 12 semester hours of coursework.
3. Achieve a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA.

Students are strongly encouraged to work closely with their academic advisor in planning for the transition to the Kent Campus.

Selective Admissions: Freshmen must meet specific requirements to enter several academic programs and academic units at Kent State. Individual requirements for these programs are listed under the respective departments in this Catalog. Students interested in these special admission areas should apply one year prior to the date of anticipated enrollment. Even though some of these programs do not have an early application deadline for fall semester, students who apply early will receive priority consideration. Specific questions about these areas can be directed to the Office of Admissions or the individual departments/schools.

Admission to Kent State University is valid only for the specific term to which students are first admitted. Students who do not enroll in the term to which they were admitted must submit a new application. The Office of Admissions will then determine the students’ admissibility for that term.

Destination Kent State: Advising and Registration: For six weeks, beginning in June, admitted Kent Campus freshmen for the fall semester and their parents are invited to campus for a one-and-a-half day orientation to Kent State. The primary goals of Destination Kent State: Advising and Registration are to acquaint students and parents with university programs and services; provide an individual advising session for each student; and register students for fall classes. New fall-semester freshmen are invited to campus to participate in this program. New spring-semester freshmen are invited for academic advising and registration for spring classes in November and January.