Admission Requirements

Who Can Be Admitted to Kent State as a Freshman?

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 have graduated with at least 16 units of the recommended college preparatory curriculum in high school, who have achieved a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), and whose composite ACT score is 21 or better (980 combined critical reading + math SAT score).

Applicants who do not meet these standards may be wait-listed and asked to submit further academic credentials, such as senior-year grades and/or test scores. All wait-listed admission decisions for the summer and fall semesters will be made no later than April 15, 2011 (and then on a rolling basis after April 15), based on the strength of the student’s academic record and the availability of space.  Wait-list decisions for the spring semester are made on a rolling basis.

Kent State is interested in attracting students from underrepresented groups, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Home School/Alternative Education Policy

Kent State welcomes applications from home-schooled students. Students who are home-schooled may submit an equivalent diploma through a successful General Educational Development (GED) examination and an ACT/SAT* score, or submit the following information for admission consideration:

1. Written verification from the appropriate school district that the student has been excused from compulsory attendance for home education
2. ACT or SAT* score.
3. A portfolio of the student’s work reflecting all secondary coursework completed Students should complete a program of study that covers the material in the full college preparatory program recommended by the Ohio State Board of Education. Non-Ohio students should submit appropriate supporting documents as required by their home state. Please contact the Office of Admissions for further details.

* Since Kent State Regional Campuses do not require ACT/SAT scores for admission, this requirement may be waived by the appropriate campus.

Deferred Admission

The Admissions Office at the Kent Campus may defer the admission of students who do not meet admissions criteria but who show areas of promise for successful college study. Deferred applicants may begin their college coursework at one of seven Regional Campuses of Kent State University. The Admissions Office at the Kent Campus will forward a student’s application materials to a Regional Campus at his/her request.  

College Preparatory Curriculum

The full college preparatory curriculum as recommended by the Ohio State Board of Education consists of the following:
4 units of English (emphasis on composition)
3 units of mathematics (Algebra I, II, Geometry)
3 units of science
3 units of social studies
2 units of foreign language
1 unit of the arts or an additional unit of a foreign language