September - December

Start a Scholarship Search. First, start with the Kent State University Scholarship Search Qualifier. This program will help you determine which scholarships you may qualify for at Kent State. Next you will want to utilize some of the top Online external scholarship search engines. Try sites like FastWeb.com, Scholarships.com, BrokeScholar.com and more. Click here to go to our overview of the top external scholarship search sites.  You may also try; your guidance counselor, local community, church organizations, library, and parents’ place of employment are also good places to find scholarships. Click here to go to our scholarship page to find out more how to successfully search for scholarships oppontunities.

Early January - Mid February

File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year during this time period in order to meet the priority processing deadline of March 1. Important Note: Students may use estimated tax information if tax returns are not completed (submit the FAFSA to the federal processor by February 1).

When you receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal processor, read it carefully and check it over for any items that may need to be corrected. If you must make corrections, please update Part II of your SAR and mail it back to the address provided for you on your SAR. Corrections can also be made on the Web by going back to the FAFSA Web site and select "Make Corrections to a Processed FAFSA" under the "FAFSA Follow-Up" section..

March - April

Respond immediately to any requests for additional information from the federal processor or the Kent State University Student Financial Aid Office.

Initial Financial Aid Award Letters are mailed to admitted first-year students who have completed all necessary paperwork.  If you need additional funding after you are notified of your financial aid award, contact the Student Financial Aid Office for alternative sources of funding.

April - June

Initial Financial Aid Award notifications begin to arrive for continuing students.

July - August

Master Promissory Notes for Direct Loans need to be signed. This can be done electronically by following the directions from the electronic signature page on our Web site. Note:  A Master Promissory note is a ten year loan note, so once signed, the student will not need to sign another for 10 years.  Therefore, future loan awards will be automatically accepted once offered, unless you reject it on the award letter of notify the Student Financial Aid office.  If you would like to take the loan, complete the servicer copy of the promissory notes as soon as possible over the Web using your electronic PIN number to sign your note.

All students must logon to FlashLine (via the Kent State homepage) to accept, decline or reduce the offered loan amount.

Payment is due to the Bursar’s Office in August for the fall semester.