Ohio family earning $75,000 or less? Kent’s Flashes Go Further Scholarship fills whatever tuition is left after grants and merit. For a lot of families that means tuition drops to zero for four years.
Your price is locked. Kent’s Golden Guarantee freezes the Ohio tuition rate, fees, and housing and meal plan rates for your student’s entering class, so the number you plan with in year one is the number you pay in year four.
Pennsylvania families get their own award. The PA Scholar of Distinction Award runs $10,200 to $15,000 a year, which is more than the general out-of-state award.
🏆 Tuition-free for qualifying Ohio families (Flashes Go Further)
Average Net Price
$21,278/year (in-state estimate)
Average paid for residents.
Automatic Merit
$2,000–$15,000/yr (varies by residency)
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
18 opportunities
4 automatic · 10 hidden gem · 4 honors
Typical Qualifiers
Test-optional, holistic review; no published cutoffs
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Test-optional
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Dec 1 • FAFSA: Jan 15
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Flashes Go Further (Ohio, income up to $75K) & Founders Scholarship (4.0 GPA, up to full tuition)
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Kent State (Read This First)
“Automatic” does not mean “guaranteed.” Kent reviews every admitted student for merit without a separate application, but its own pages say the awards are competitive and not guaranteed. There is no published GPA or test-score grid.
December 1 is the date that really matters. The merit cutoff is being admitted by August 1, but only students admitted by December 1 can be invited to the Honors College. Honors admits get the extra $2,000 a year and priority for the Founders Scholarship.
Tests after December don’t count for money. Scores from tests taken after December of senior year are not used in the scholarship review. And Kent does not superscore; it uses the best single sitting.
Merit is tied to the Kent Campus. Awards require at least 12 Kent Campus credit hours each semester. A semester of only regional campus classes can cost your student the scholarship.
U.S. citizenship is required for the first-year merit awards. Flashes Go Further also accepts permanent residents.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Kent State University is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 18-25; SAT: 1010-1240.
Average net price? About $21,278/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No broad regional reciprocity path.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Kent State University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in September 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Kent State University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly
$600 to $1,400 more than the in-state total below.$800 to $1,900 more than the out-of-state total below.
In-State: billed cost per year
$28,230
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$13,850
Housing & meals (typical)
$14,380
Total billed cost
$28,230
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$38,680
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$24,300
Housing & meals (typical)
$14,380
Total billed cost
$38,680
That is $10,450 more per year than Ohio residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $21,278 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.
🔒 The Golden Guarantee: Why Kent’s Price Is Easier to Plan Around
Most schools raise tuition a little every year. Kent State’s Golden Guarantee freezes the Ohio resident tuition rate, the career services fee, and the room and board plan charges for each entering class. Plan with year-one numbers and they should hold. One heads-up: Kent’s cost page lists the 2026-2027 housing and meal rates as proposed and subject to Board of Trustees approval, so confirm the final figures there.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Kent State University
Will Kent State tuition go up while my student is enrolled?
Not for Ohio residents in the same entering class. Under the Golden Guarantee, the Ohio tuition rate, career services fee, and room and board plan charges are frozen for your student’s cohort. New cohorts get new rates each fall, which is why you’ll see different numbers for different class years.
Can an Ohio family really get tuition-free at Kent State?
Yes, if the family income on the FAFSA is $75,000 or less and your student enrolls full-time at the Kent Campus. The Flashes Go Further Scholarship covers whatever tuition is left after grants and scholarships. Families between $75,001 and $100,000 may get up to $2,000 a year. You have to file the FAFSA every year to keep it, and it does not touch housing or meals.
Why does out-of-state cost about $10,450 more, and is there a waiver?
Nonresidents pay a surcharge because they aren’t covered by Ohio’s state subsidy. Kent has no regional reciprocity deal for the Kent Campus. The real offset is merit: the President’s Achievement Award ($7,500 to $13,000 a year) for most out-of-state students, and the larger PA Scholar of Distinction Award ($10,200 to $15,000) for Pennsylvania residents.
What is Kent’s full “official” cost of attendance?
For 2026-2027, Kent puts the full-year total at $34,420 in-state and $44,870 out-of-state for a student living on campus. That adds books ($800), a student health fee ($180), personal expenses ($2,334), transportation ($2,620), loan fees ($68), and the career services fee ($188) on top of tuition, housing and food. Only tuition, fees, housing and the meal plan are actually billed by Kent.
Is the average net price really around $21,300?
That’s the federal average for 2023-2024 ($21,278) for full-time, first-year Ohio students after grants and scholarships. Families who qualify for Flashes Go Further or a larger merit award can land well below it. Families with no need-based aid will land closer to the full cost.
Does the aviation program cost more?
Yes. Flight training carries special course fees, including flight fees, on top of tuition. Flashes Go Further cannot be used for flight fees, lab fees, or program fees, so budget for them separately if your student is looking at the pilot degree.
Is a regional campus cheaper?
Much cheaper. Lower-division Ohio tuition at a Kent State regional campus is $7,834 for 2026-2027. The trade-off is that Kent Campus merit scholarships and Flashes Go Further require full-time enrollment in Kent Campus courses, so the scholarship math is different.
📅 Kent State Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)
By December of senior year: Last test date that counts for scholarships (if your student is submitting scores).
December 1: Be admitted to Kent State to be invited to the Honors College. This is also the path to Founders Scholarship priority.
January 15: Honors College application due, and Kent’s FAFSA priority date for 2027-2028.
August 1: Final date to be admitted and still be considered for first-year merit.
Parent rule of thumb: treat December 1 as your real deadline. August 1 keeps you in the running, but December 1 opens every door.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Kent State University
Every admitted first-year student is reviewed for merit. There’s no separate application. Which award your student is considered for depends on residency: Ohio residents get the Academic Achievement Award, Pennsylvania residents get the PA Scholar of Distinction Award, and everyone else gets the President’s Achievement Award. Kent is test-optional and says it will give your student its best offer whether or not scores are used.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidApp Requiredstate residency
Ohio Governor's Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: School nomination by Oct 1; student must accept by May 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Top 5% of the graduating class at an Ohio public or chartered nonpublic high school, ranked by GPA at the end of junior year; nominated by the school by Oct 1; must accept in the state portal by May 15 or it is rescinded; Ohio colleges only
✚
Stacking & Combining
Up to $5,000 a year for four years, and it can be applied to any cost up to the college's cost of attendance, not just tuition. Stacks with every college award. Renews automatically at a 3.0 GPA with 20 credits a year. Enrolling out of state forfeits it for good.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Kent State University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent OH page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Top-5% seniors whose school submitted the nomination and who then logged into the portal and clicked accept by May 15. The May 15 step is where awards die: it is a separate action from the college deposit, and students who are still deciding between schools sometimes let it lapse.
State AidAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Ohio College Opportunity Grant
📅 Deadline: FAFSA by the college's priority date; state cutoff Oct 1 ✓ Renews (5 yrs)
$4,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Ohio resident; FAFSA Student Aid Index of 3,750 or less AND household income of $96,000 or less; main campus of a public university; tuition and general fees only
✚
Stacking & Combining
$4,000 a year at a public main campus for low-income Ohio families, prorated for part time. Pays tuition and general fees only, and a student whose tuition is already fully covered by other tuition-specific aid gets nothing. Stacks with Pell and with college awards that cover housing or other costs. Ten-semester lifetime cap.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Kent State University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent OH page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Families under $96,000 with a low Student Aid Index. The one that surprises people is the tuition-only rule: a student with a full-tuition merit award from the college loses OCOG entirely, because there is no tuition left for it to pay.
State AidApp Requiredstate residencyservice
Ohio War Orphans and Severely Disabled Veterans' Children Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Application by May 15 for the following year ✓ Renews (5 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Child of an Ohio veteran who died in service or has a service-connected disability rating of 60% or more; apply between ages 16 and 24; Ohio public colleges
✚
Stacking & Combining
For 2026-27 the board set it at 77% of tuition and general fees at an Ohio public college. Stacks with Pell and college aid; cannot be combined with Choose Ohio First or the Second Chance Grant.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Kent State University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent OH page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children of veterans with a 60%-plus VA rating who apply during the May-to-May window before the age cutoff. The age limit is the trap: it is an application-age limit, not an enrollment-age limit, so a 24-year-old who waits loses it.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
Founders Scholarship
📅 Deadline: December 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 4.0+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Kent's page does not spell out exactly how Founders combines with the residency-based merit award, so read the award letter closely. Kent's general rule is that no two scholarships can cover the same expense in full, or add up to more than that expense.
💡
Strategic Detail
Requires a minimum 4.0 cumulative high school GPA. Annual awards range from $300 up to full tuition, which Kent defines as the general and instructional tuition fees; out-of-state families should confirm whether it reaches the nonresident surcharge. Funding is limited, and students admitted to the Honors College get priority consideration. Open to Ohio and non-Ohio residents.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 4.0 cumulative GPA, and Honors College admits go to the front of the line. Funding is limited and the range starts at $300, so treat the top end as a best case, not a plan.
Automatic
PA Scholar of Distinction Award
📅 Deadline: December 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$10,200–$15,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with the $2,000 Honors Distinction Award for Honors College admits. Kent's general rule is that combined scholarships cannot exceed the expense they cover.
💡
Strategic Detail
Pennsylvania residents are not eligible for the President's Achievement Award and are reviewed for this award instead. Annual awards range from $10,200 to $15,000, higher than the general nonresident award. Renewable for up to four years with full-time enrollment (12 or more Kent Campus credit hours). U.S. citizenship required.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Pennsylvania residents admitted to the Kent Campus. Kent does not publish a GPA grid, so the full academic record drives where a student lands in the range. PA families should know this exists before assuming Kent is out of reach.
Automatic
President's Achievement Award (Nonresidents)
📅 Deadline: December 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$7,500–$13,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with the $2,000 Honors Distinction Award for Honors College admits. Kent's general rule is that combined scholarships cannot exceed the expense they cover.
💡
Strategic Detail
Annual awards range from $7,500 to $13,000 for non-Ohio residents. Not available to Pennsylvania residents, who are reviewed for the PA Scholar of Distinction Award instead. Students admitted to an online bachelor's program are considered at Ohio resident (Academic Achievement Award) amounts. Renewable for up to four years with full-time Kent Campus enrollment. U.S. citizenship required.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state students with strong academic records. Kent's review is test-optional and holistic with no published cutoffs, so the whole transcript drives the award level.
Automatic
Academic Achievement Award (Ohio Residents)
📅 Deadline: December 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,000–$7,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with the $2,000 Honors Distinction Award for Honors College admits. For Ohio families at or under $75,000 in income, Flashes Go Further then fills whatever tuition is left.
💡
Strategic Detail
Annual awards range from $2,000 to $7,000 for Ohio residents. Kent does not publish GPA or test-score cutoff grids, so awards are set through a holistic, test-optional review. Renewable for up to four years with full-time enrollment (12 or more Kent Campus credit hours). U.S. citizenship required.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Ohio residents with solid grades in challenging classes. There is no magic number because Kent does not publish cutoffs, so the whole transcript does the talking.
Data last verified Jun 12, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: Kent does not publish GPA or test-score cutoffs for these awards, and it does not superscore. If scores are used, it takes the best single sitting. The residency-based award, the Honors Distinction Award and the Founders Scholarship can all show up on the same award letter.
Automatic Merit: FAQs (Kent State University)
Which merit award will my student be considered for?
It depends on where you live. Ohio residents are reviewed for the Academic Achievement Award ($2,000 to $7,000 a year). Pennsylvania residents are reviewed for the PA Scholar of Distinction Award ($10,200 to $15,000). All other out-of-state students are reviewed for the President’s Achievement Award ($7,500 to $13,000). Students admitted to an online bachelor’s program are considered at the Ohio amounts.
Are these scholarships guaranteed?
No. There’s no application, but Kent describes the awards as competitive, and the amount inside each range depends on the whole academic record. Two students with the same GPA can get different offers.
Do test scores help?
They can, but they aren’t required. Kent says it gives the best offer with or without scores. If you do send them, only tests taken by December of senior year count for scholarships, and Kent uses the best single sitting rather than a superscore.
What is the Founders Scholarship?
It’s Kent’s top merit award for students with a 4.0 cumulative high school GPA. It ranges from $300 up to full tuition (the general and instructional fees), funding is limited, and Honors College admits get priority. Kent defines full tuition here as the general and instructional fees, so out-of-state families should confirm whether it reaches the nonresident surcharge.
Can a Pennsylvania student get the President’s Achievement Award?
No. Pennsylvania residents are routed to the PA Scholar of Distinction Award instead, and that range is actually higher.
Can these awards stack?
Your student gets one residency-based award. On top of that, Honors College admits get the $2,000 Honors Distinction Award, and a 4.0 student may also get Founders. For Ohio families under $75,000, Flashes Go Further then fills whatever tuition is left. Kent’s rule is that scholarships can’t add up to more than the expense they cover.
How does my student keep the scholarship?
Awards renew for up to four years with full-time enrollment of at least 12 Kent Campus credit hours each semester. Kent lists each award’s exact renewal rules in the student’s FlashLine account, so check them there. Students who miss renewal because of illness or a family crisis can appeal with documentation.
Is U.S. citizenship required?
Yes, for the first-year merit awards. Flashes Go Further is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
Kent State does not run a separate, essay-and-interview flagship scholarship competition for incoming first-year students. The biggest awards come out of two things your student is already doing: getting admitted early and applying to the Honors College. That’s where the Founders Scholarship and the extra Honors scholarships come from.
Here’s how that plays out. Kent uses the Honors College application itself to pick students for additional Honors scholarships based on grades, financial need, major, leadership and activities. There’s no extra application, and students are notified by email and mail by April 1. So for a strong student, the “competitive” application at Kent is really the Honors application. Two short-answer questions, due January 15.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Kent State?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
Kent State Parent Translation
Residency Merit Award
N/A
Your student gets one: Academic Achievement (Ohio), President’s Achievement (out-of-state) or PA Scholar of Distinction (Pennsylvania).
Honors Distinction Award
Yes
Kent says it’s awarded in addition to the residency award. $2,000 a year for Honors admits.
Founders Scholarship
Check the letter
Kent doesn’t spell out exactly how Founders combines, and it can’t push total tuition aid past the tuition bill. Read the award letter line by line.
Flashes Go Further
Yes, last
This one is calculated after everything else. It fills the tuition gap for Ohio families at or under $75,000.
Department & Donor Awards
Usually
The gap fillers from ScholarshipUniverse. If they push total aid past your cost, Kent typically trims loans first.
ROTC Tuition Scholarships
Limited
Kent’s rule: two scholarships can’t both cover the same expense in full. If ROTC pays tuition, tuition-only merit gets squeezed.
Bottom line: if your student is hoping for a full-ride competition with finalist weekends, Kent isn’t that kind of school. Kent’s model is predictable merit for most admitted students, a meaningful Honors bump, and a strong tuition safety net for Ohio families.
This institution does not offer designated Competitive scholarships at this time.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
Does Kent State offer a full-ride scholarship for incoming freshmen?
Not as a published competition. The closest things are the Founders Scholarship, which can reach full tuition for 4.0 students, and Flashes Go Further, which can bring tuition to zero for qualifying Ohio families. Neither one covers housing and meals.
How does my student get considered for the extra Honors scholarships?
By applying to the Honors College. Kent uses that application to select students for additional Honors scholarships based on grades, need, major, leadership and activities. There’s nothing else to fill out, and decisions arrive by April 1.
What’s the deadline that matters for the biggest awards?
Be admitted by December 1 so your student can be invited to Honors, then submit the Honors application by January 15. Missing December 1 doesn’t knock your student out of merit, but it closes the Honors door for that cycle.
What if my student applies to Honors late?
Kent says late scholarship applicants go on a waiting list. On-time applicants are reviewed first, and late applicants are only considered if money is left.
What should my student prepare?
Two short-answer responses for the Honors application and a clean activity list. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder help organize both.
Kent’s merit review happens on its own, but a lot of the smaller money only shows up if your student goes looking. Once admitted, your student can log into ScholarshipUniverse with FlashLine credentials.
File the FAFSA by January 15. It’s the key to Flashes Go Further, and a lot of donor awards consider need.
Fill out the ScholarshipUniverse profile and every embedded questionnaire. That’s how the matching works.
Watch the inbox in November for a Choose Ohio First invitation if your student is an Ohio STEM major.
Log in weekly from October through March. That’s Kent’s peak scholarship season.
Parent translation: the merit award happens automatically, but the gap fillers only find students who fill out the profile.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These awards aren’t the headline merit money, but they’re the ones that turn a good Kent State offer into a great one. Some are automatic once your student qualifies. Others need a quick application in ScholarshipUniverse or with a department.
Full TuitionAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Flashes Go Further Scholarship
📅 Deadline: File the FAFSA as early as possible each year; no separate scholarship deadline. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
This is a last-dollar award, so it sits on top of everything else. If your other tuition aid already covers full tuition, you will not receive it.
💡
Strategic Detail
One of the most underappreciated awards in Ohio. It covers whatever tuition remains after federal and state grants, Kent State merit scholarships, waivers and tuition-designated outside scholarships are applied. For qualifying families that means a tuition-free degree. Minimum award is $200 when the remaining balance is $1 to $199. Up to eight semesters. FAFSA required every year. Cannot be used for housing, meal plans, flight fees, lab fees, program fees or study abroad. U.S. citizen or permanent resident required.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Ohio families with total income of $75,000 or less who file the FAFSA and enroll full-time at the Kent Campus. Families between $75,001 and $100,000 may qualify for a reduced award of up to $2,000.
App Required
Choose Ohio First Scholarship
📅 Deadline: January 5 · 📢 Results: February (first round) ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Kent's general rule is that combined scholarships cannot exceed the expense they cover. Because it is a state scholarship, it counts before Flashes Go Further is calculated.
📄
How to Apply
Eligible admitted students get an invitation email around November 1 that links to the applicant portal. Priority deadline is around January 5, first-round awards go out in early February, and the application closes around March 2. Dates can shift slightly each year.
State-funded STEMM scholarship run through two Kent State Choose Ohio First programs: the 21st Century Computer Science Workplace for Ohio and the broader Kent State Choose Ohio First Program. Dollar amounts are not published; awards are competitive and funding-limited. Recipients are expected to take part in internships or research, seminars and speaker events, and present at annual research days. Students in eligible two-year programs are considered automatically. Contact: KSUCOF@kent.edu, 330-672-0979.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Ohio residents in eligible STEMM majors with a 3.0 or better who get the invitation email and apply by the January priority date. You cannot find the application without that invitation, so watch the inbox in November.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Marching Golden Flash Award
📅 Deadline: Fall (band commitments) ✓ Renews
$1,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Kent's general rule is that combined scholarships cannot exceed the expense they cover.
💡
Strategic Detail
$1,000 per year, paid as two $500 installments in fall and spring. Open to incoming first-year students and returning members from any undergraduate major at any Kent State campus. Recipients must take part in all required Marching Golden Flashes activities.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Marching Golden Flashes participants who complete full season
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Departmental Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Varies by award. Peak season in ScholarshipUniverse runs from about October through March. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Kent's general rule is that combined scholarships cannot exceed the expense they cover.
📄
How to Apply
Apply via ScholarshipUniverse or department application
Selection criteria: Department- or donor-defined
💡
Strategic Detail
Dozens of awards by major and department. Criteria, amounts and deadlines vary widely and are not published in one place. Many are in ScholarshipUniverse; some departments list awards on their own pages.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Strong GPA, department involvement, and donor match fit
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Alumni & Donor Scholarships (ScholarshipUniverse)
📅 Deadline: Varies by award. Peak season runs from about October through March; log in weekly. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Kent's general rule is that combined scholarships cannot exceed the expense they cover. Extra scholarship money usually reduces loans first.
📄
How to Apply
Create profile and apply via ScholarshipUniverse
💡
Strategic Detail
Donor-funded scholarships matched by major, activities, identity, service and need. Available to admitted and continuing students through ScholarshipUniverse.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Applicants matching major/service/identity/leadership criteria; juniors/seniors frequent winners
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Clark Endowed Accounting Scholarship
📅 Deadline: ScholarshipUniverse window for 2027-2028: November 2, 2026 to February 15, 2027. Accounting has its own separate department application. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Kent's general rule is that combined scholarships cannot exceed the expense they cover.
📄
How to Apply
Inside ScholarshipUniverse, complete both the Accounting Department application and the Ambassador Crawford College application.
Selection criteria: Academic achievement and leadership
💡
Strategic Detail
Awarded to accounting majors with high academic achievement and leadership activities.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Accounting majors with high academic achievement and leadership activities
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Richard & Maude Ferry Accounting Scholarship
📅 Deadline: ScholarshipUniverse window for 2027-2028: November 2, 2026 to February 15, 2027. Accounting has its own separate department application. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Kent's general rule is that combined scholarships cannot exceed the expense they cover.
📄
How to Apply
Inside ScholarshipUniverse, complete both the Accounting Department application and the Ambassador Crawford College application.
Selection criteria: Academic achievement and first-generation status
💡
Strategic Detail
Awarded to a first-generation college student based on merit. Listed with the Accounting Department scholarships.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: First-generation accounting majors based on merit
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Harold Jenkins Memorial Scholarship
📅 Deadline: ScholarshipUniverse window for 2027-2028: November 2, 2026 to February 15, 2027. Accounting has its own separate department application. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Kent's general rule is that combined scholarships cannot exceed the expense they cover.
📄
How to Apply
Inside ScholarshipUniverse, complete both the Accounting Department application and the Ambassador Crawford College application.
Awarded to accounting majors based on scholastic ability, student organization involvement and other criteria.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Accounting majors, scholastic and student organization involvement
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
SURE - Summer Undergraduate Research Experience
📅 Deadline: Early March (annual). The program runs about eight weeks in June and July. Non-Renewable
$1,600–$3,200
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
A summer stipend, so it does not compete with fall and spring tuition awards.
📄
How to Apply
Apply via SURE application with faculty mentor & project plan
Selection criteria: Research potential and faculty support
💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Eight-week summer research program: $3,200 stipend at 40 hours a week or $1,600 at 20 hours a week. On-campus housing provided at no cost if needed. Students must be current Kent State students, line up a faculty mentor who submits a letter of support, be in good academic standing, and be enrolled for the following fall.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with strong ideas and faculty mentor support
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Education Abroad Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Varies by program and scholarship; many deadlines fall up to a year before departure. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Kent's general rule is that combined scholarships cannot exceed the expense they cover.
📄
How to Apply
Search ScholarshipUniverse and the Education Abroad program search; track deadlines with the office's scholarship application tracker.
Selection criteria: Essay, academic record, plan strength
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Kent does not publish one list of amounts or deadlines. Search ScholarshipUniverse and filter the Education Abroad program search for program-specific scholarships. Start early.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with clear study abroad plans and strong essays
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Air Force ROTC Scholarships
📅 Deadline: High school scholarship applications open early in senior year through afrotc.com; in-college scholarships follow national AFROTC dates. ✓ Renews
Full Tuition
tuition, books, stipend
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Cannot stack with another award that covers the same tuition in full.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through afrotc.com and coordinate with Detachment 630 at Kent State.
Three routes: the High School Scholarship Program (apply early senior year), the In-College Scholarship Program (as early as sophomore year), and the Charles McGee Leadership Award for juniors and seniors after Field Training. Cadets who complete Field Training receive monthly stipends from $300 to $500 plus a $450 book stipend twice a year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with strong grades, leadership and fitness who start early, ideally at the beginning of senior year.
Covers 100% of tuition for the length of the scholarship (two, three or four years), a $1,200 yearly book allowance and a $420 monthly stipend. Requires U.S. citizenship, a 2.5 minimum GPA, a Department of Defense physical, Army height and weight standards, a fitness test and an on-campus interview. A Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty option offers a $12,000 room and board flat rate instead of tuition.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Strong academics, leadership, and physical fitness; early applicants have better odds
Data last verified Jun 12, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
How does Flashes Go Further actually work?
Kent adds up your tuition, subtracts all tuition aid (federal and state grants, Kent merit, waivers, and outside scholarships marked for tuition), and covers what’s left. If the leftover is $1 to $199, you still get $200. It lasts up to eight semesters for Ohio families at or under $75,000 who file the FAFSA each year. Families from $75,001 to $100,000 may get up to $2,000.
What is Choose Ohio First, and why haven’t we heard of it?
It’s a state-funded scholarship for Ohio students in science, technology, engineering, math and medicine. You can’t apply cold. Eligible admitted students get an invitation email around November 1, the priority deadline is around January 5, and the application closes around March 2. Recipients commit to internships or research and a few events each year.
Does the marching band really pay?
Yes. Every member of the Marching Golden Flashes can receive $1,000 a year, split between fall and spring, as long as they take part in all required band activities. Any major, any Kent State campus.
When do department scholarships open?
It varies by department. As one example, the business college’s 2027-2028 window runs November 2, 2026 to February 15, 2027 in ScholarshipUniverse, and accounting majors fill out a separate accounting application on top of that.
Can current Kent State students still win money?
Yes. Most department and donor awards are aimed at continuing students, and the SURE summer research program pays $1,600 or $3,200 for eight weeks of work with a faculty mentor, plus free on-campus housing if needed. SURE applications are usually due in early March.
How do ROTC scholarships fit in?
Army ROTC can cover 100% of tuition, plus $1,200 a year for books and a $420 monthly stipend. Air Force ROTC offers high school and in-college scholarships with monthly stipends. Because Kent won’t let two scholarships cover the same tuition in full, a full ROTC tuition award can reduce tuition-only merit.
Kent State’s Honors College is now part of the new College of Honors and Global Education, and you’ll see it called “Honors Education” on Kent’s site. The scholarship pages still say Honors College, so don’t let the name change throw you. It’s been around since 1933 and takes students from every college at Kent. Admission is by invitation, and your student has to apply separately.
Invitation: A minimum 3.7 cumulative high school GPA, and admission to Kent State by December 1
Application: Two short-answer questions (your student picks), due January 15
First year: A required two-semester Freshman Honors Colloquium
Honors College Scholarships & Fellowships
App Required
Honors Distinction Award
📅 Deadline: January 15 · 📢 Results: April 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.7+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awarded in addition to the Academic Achievement Award, President's Achievement Award or PA Scholar of Distinction Award.
📄
How to Apply
Be admitted to Kent State by December 1 and receive an invitation to apply to the Honors College (minimum 3.7 high school GPA); submit the Honors application with two short-answer questions via the Honors College portal by January 15.
Flat $2,000 per year, renewable for up to four years or graduation, whichever comes first. Must be registered for at least 12 Kent Campus credit hours for the award to apply that semester. Open to Ohio and out-of-state students. The Honors College notifies recipients.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 3.7 or higher cumulative GPA who are admitted to Kent State by December 1, receive the Honors invitation, and submit the Honors application by January 15. Every admitted Honors student is considered.
App Required⚠ Senior Only
Honors Thesis Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Tied to the Senior Honors Thesis proposal and ScholarshipUniverse posting dates (varies each year). Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 Senior
✚
Stacking & Combining
Kent's general rule is that combined scholarships cannot exceed the expense they cover.
📄
How to Apply
Get the thesis proposal approved, then search ScholarshipUniverse for the Honors thesis funds and apply to each one that fits.
Selection criteria: Project merit, clarity of proposal, faculty support.
💡
Strategic Detail
Several named Senior Honors Thesis scholarships provide a minimum of $1,000 for the thesis year. You do not have to be a member of the Honors College, but your thesis proposal must be submitted and approved by the college, and you must carry at least 12 Kent Campus credit hours in both fall and spring of the thesis year. Some funds target specific fields such as nursing, psychology, STEM, architecture or the humanities. Separate expense reimbursement of up to $150 is standard.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Seniors with an approved thesis proposal who apply in ScholarshipUniverse, especially when the topic matches one of the field-specific funds.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Honors Study Abroad Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Applications usually open in February; due by April for summer programs and by May for fall and spring programs. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Kent's general rule is that combined scholarships cannot exceed the expense they cover.
📄
How to Apply
Search ScholarshipUniverse for the College of Honors and Global Education study abroad funds and apply by the April or May deadline.
Selection criteria: Academic record, study abroad plan, essay quality.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Competitive awards for Honors students on study abroad or study away programs of four weeks or longer, with preference for Kent State-affiliated programs. Must be in good standing and have completed at least one honors course. Includes a fund for students in Florence and one for the Washington Program for National Issues (the WPNI award is requested through the Honors advisor, not ScholarshipUniverse). Amounts are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students with a clear plan for a program of four weeks or more who apply as soon as applications open in February.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Wick Poetry Center Honors Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Spring poetry submission deadline (varies annually). Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Kent's general rule is that combined scholarships cannot exceed the expense they cover.
📄
How to Apply
Honors students submit original poetry to the Wick Poetry Center/Honors competition following the annual spring submission guidelines.
Selection criteria: Quality and originality of poetry submission.
💡
Strategic Detail
Honors students can compete for this award by submitting original poetry. Amounts and exact deadlines change each year. Open to Honors students in any major, not just English or creative writing.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students who already write poetry and submit polished work on time. Low effort if your student is a writer.
Data last verified Jun 12, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
*Most Honors scholarships apply only in semesters when your student carries at least 12 Kent Campus credit hours. Exact renewal rules for each award are listed in the student’s FlashLine account.*
Deadline Note: The $2,000 Honors Distinction Award and priority for the Founders Scholarship both run through the Honors application. Your student must be admitted to Kent State by December 1 and submit the Honors application by January 15. Late applicants go on a waiting list behind everyone who applied on time.
Why Honors Pays Off at Kent
Guaranteed consideration: Every Honors admit is considered for the $2,000-a-year Honors Distinction Award.
Extra scholarships with no extra work: Kent uses the Honors application to pick students for additional awards, announced by April 1.
Senior thesis money: Named thesis scholarships of at least $1,000 for the thesis year.
Study abroad help: Honors-only funds for programs of four weeks or longer, including Florence and a Washington, D.C. program.
Honors College: FAQs (Kent State University)
Is Honors admission automatic?
No. Students with a 3.7 or higher GPA who are admitted by December 1 get an invitation to apply. Your student then submits the Honors application with two short-answer responses by January 15.
Does getting into Honors mean more scholarship money?
Usually, yes. Admitted Honors students are considered for the $2,000-a-year Honors Distinction Award on top of their regular merit award, and Honors admits get priority for the Founders Scholarship. Kent’s Honors page reports that 100% of its new freshmen receive merit scholarships.
Can out-of-state students join Honors?
Yes. The Honors Distinction Award is open to Ohio and out-of-state students, and it stacks on top of the President’s Achievement Award or the PA Scholar of Distinction Award.
Do you have to be in Honors to get a thesis scholarship?
No. Any student completing a Senior Honors Thesis with an approved proposal can apply, as long as they carry at least 12 Kent Campus credit hours in both semesters of the thesis year. Several funds target specific fields like nursing, psychology, STEM and architecture.
When are Honors study abroad applications due?
Applications usually open in February. They’re due by April for summer programs and by May for fall and spring programs. Your student needs at least one completed honors course and a program of four weeks or longer.
What if my student loses an Honors scholarship?
Students who miss the renewal criteria can appeal to the dean of the Honors College, explaining the circumstances and including documentation.
Kent State is a big public research university in Northeast Ohio, not far from Cleveland and Akron. A lot of families know the name from history. What they don’t always know is that Kent has a handful of programs that punch well above the school’s profile, including some you won’t find at most state schools.
Nationally Known Program: School of Fashion. This is Kent’s calling card. Kent reports that both its fashion design and fashion merchandising programs rank #1 in the Midwest, and both show up in national top-15 lists too. Students close out every year with a big annual fashion show. If your student wants fashion without moving to New York, Kent belongs on the short list.
Aeronautics: Kent runs its own university airport and offers a Professional Pilot degree accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International. Just know that flight fees are billed on top of tuition.
Architecture & Design: The College of Architecture and Environmental Design offers architecture, architectural studies, interior design and construction management, with a study abroad connection to Florence and an urban design collaborative in Cleveland where students work on real city projects.
Nursing: Kent describes its undergraduate nursing program as the highest-ranked at a public university in Northern Ohio.
Business: The Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship covers accounting, finance, marketing, analytics and more, and it has its own set of department scholarships.
Journalism & Media: The School of Media and Journalism runs a big student media operation, including the long-running Kent Stater newspaper, a student TV outlet and a student audio and podcast group, so students get real newsroom experience.
Liquid Crystal Research: Kent’s Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, founded in 1965, is one of the places that made liquid crystal science a serious field. It’s mostly a graduate research hub, but it’s a big draw for science-minded students.
🔗 Official Kent State University Links
Use Kent State’s official pages below to double-check scholarship amounts, deadlines, costs, and data. Kent updates these pages each year, so always rely on them for final deadlines and award terms.
Big picture? Kent State is one of the easier schools in the Midwest to plan for. Your student gets reviewed for merit just by getting admitted, Ohio tuition is locked for your student’s whole entering class, and Ohio families under $75,000 can realistically get tuition down to zero. Out-of-state families aren’t left out either: the President’s Achievement Award and the bigger PA Scholar of Distinction Award take a real bite out of the nonresident price.
The part families miss is timing. Get admitted by December 1, apply to the Honors College by January 15, and file the FAFSA by that same date. Do those three things and your student is in line for everything Kent offers, from the $2,000 Honors bump to Founders to Flashes Go Further. Then spend a few minutes a week in ScholarshipUniverse, because that’s where the fashion, aviation, nursing and business department money lives.
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
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Leo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He went through the college money maze firsthand with his daughter and built this site so other families could see the real numbers without a paywall or a sales pitch. More about Leo →
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