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Financial Aid Checklist

 

For New, Current or Transfer Students in Undergraduate or Graduate Programs


As a new, transferring or returning undergraduate or graduate student, we encourage you to explore your financial aid options, including loans, grants, scholarships and other tuition assistance.

Follow our step-by-step checklist to get started.

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Applying for financial aid can get complicated. If you have questions, please ask. We are happy to assist!
Step 1: Apply/Renew Scholarships
  • If you are a new or transfer undergraduate student, apply for admission to Kent State by Feb. 1 to receive your best financial aid offer.
    • First-year freshman who apply by Feb. 1 will automatically be considered for first-year merit scholarships. 
    • If you're a transfer student, check your deadlines for merit scholarships. 
    • Remember to submit your final high school, dual credit or college transcripts.
  • All students can conduct a scholarship search. 
  • If you are a returning student, you may be eligible to renew your current Kent State scholarships:
    • If your current scholarship is a renewable scholarship, it will be renewed automatically if you meet the renewal criteria. Renewal criteria can be viewed in > Student > Scholarships and Financial Aid > Financial Aid Dashboard > Offer Tab> Click on the name of each scholarship to view renewal criteria.
    • If your current scholarship is a non-renewable scholarship, you will have to reapply to be considered for the scholarship during the upcoming year. 
  • If you are a graduate student, check with the Graduate College and your College to find major specific scholarship opportunities and explore Graduate Assistantship opportunities. 
Step 2: Apply for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • File the to be considered for federal and state financial aid programs each academic year. To ensure maximum eligibility, complete the FAFSA as soon as possible each year. File no later than Feb. 1 to be considered for your best financial aid offer. 
  • Parents may apply for a (optional for undergraduate students)
  • Graduate Students: The Federal Direct Graduate is available to students who may need to borrow additional funds. 
  • If requested, complete the verification process or Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeal prior to receiving federal financial aid. To view any other outstanding requirement(s), go to > Scholarships and Financial Aid > Financial Aid Dashboard.
  • If your submitted FAFSA is no longer an accurate representation of your family's current financial situation, consider completing a special circumstance application. 
  • If you are planning to attend in the summer, check out our Summer Financial Aid page. 
  • Complete your Financial Aid Questions in FlashLine.
Semester you plan to attendYou will submit this FAFSAYou can submit the FAFSAUsing income and tax information
Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 20262025-2026Now2023
Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Spring 20272026-2027Now2024
Step 3: View and Accept Financial Aid Awards
  • You will be notified when you can view and accept/decline/reduce your financial aid awards (including federal aid, state aid and university scholarships) in .
    • First-time federal loan borrowers: Sign the and complete . You must complete these to receive federal aid. As a part of Entrance Counseling, you will receive information regarding Direct Loans, budgeting your expenses, repayment options and your rights and responsibilities as a borrower. To use your federal student aid for non-institutional charges, students must acknowledge Title IV authorization upon registration. 
    • Returning federal loan borrowers: Monitor federal loan borrowing, view loan history and find servicer information on . 
  • Report outside scholarships, awards and other tuition assistance you are bringing to Kent State on the Offer tab of your Financial Aid Dashboard in .
  • If you are a transfer student, contact your current school's financial aid office and cancel any undisbursed financial aid, including loans and grants. Students cannot receive federal aid at more than one school at a time. 
Step 4: Updates, Gap Funding and Payments
  • Check your ºÚÁÏÍø email address regularly for important information and updates from the university. 
  • Review information about authorization of Title IV aid (federal aid) in your Financial Aid Dashboard on . 
  • Explore Federal Tuition Assistance for military-connected students. 
  • If you still need help covering your college expenses, explore some of our videos including gap funding. 
  • Notification of your invoice will be sent to you by email in July for fall semester, December for spring semester and April for summer semester. 
  • To share your student account or financial aid information with a parent, guardian or advocate, grant FERPA authorization.
  • Visit the Billing and Payments website for detailed billing, payment, due date and refund information. 
  • Consider Tuition Insurance.
Step 5: Exit Counseling and Repayment
  • If you received a federal loan, you are required to complete upon exiting the university, dropping to less than half-time enrollment status or graduating. 
  • View your current loan amounts and find your loan servicer at .
  • Create an online account with your (the company that handles the repayment process of your loans for the Department of Education).
  • Work with your loan servicer to determine your . Repayment will begin six months after you graduate, withdraw or fall below half-time enrollment. 

 

Other Financial Scenarios

 

If you have unique circumstance related to your financial aid eligibility or award, — such as a Verification or Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirement, summer financial aid or transferring — you can find answers to those questions and more below. 

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