Tuition Guarantee Program FAQ

The Tuition Guarantee Plan provides eligible new first-year* and transfer** undergraduate students and their families the certainty that their Ohio resident tuition rate (i.e., instructional and general fee), career services fee, and room and board plan charges will not increase during their applicable cohort period. Participation in the program is required for all new first-year undergraduate students and eligible transfer students enrolling in a degree-seeking program at Kent State University for the first time on, or after, Fall Semester 2018.

*A new first-year student is any undergraduate, degree-seeking student enrolled at any of Kent State University’s campuses for the first time on or after fall 2018 and who has not been enrolled at any other college or postsecondary institution. New first-year students include students who enroll at Kent State University after graduating from high school and nontraditional students who enroll at any of the Kent State campuses for the first time. New first-year students do not include non-degree-seeking students, College Credit Plus or Advanced High School, exchange students and other students participating in other pre-enrollment or postsecondary option programs.

**A transfer student is any student who transfers to Kent State University from another college or postsecondary institution. Transfer students who transferred from any college or university prior to Fall Semester 2018 are not covered under the Tuition Guarantee Plan, as they are considered part of the returning student cohort. 

Beginning with the 2018-2019 Academic Year, Kent State University’s Tuition Guarantee Plan will apply to all new first-year * and transfer undergraduate students** who enroll in a degree-seeking program at Kent State University for the first time on, or after, Fall Semester 2018.

*A new first-year student is any undergraduate, degree-seeking student enrolled at any of Kent State University’s campuses for the first time on or after fall 2018 and who has not been enrolled at any other college or postsecondary institution. New first-year students include students who enroll at Kent State University after graduating from high school and nontraditional students who enroll at any of the Kent State campuses for the first time. New first-year students do not include non-degree-seeking students, College Credit Plus or Advanced High School, exchange students, and other students participating in other pre-enrollment or postsecondary option programs.

**A transfer student is any student who transfers to Kent State University from another college or postsecondary institution. Transfer students who transferred from any college or university prior to Fall Semester 2018 are not covered under the Tuition Guarantee Plan, as they are considered part of the returning student cohort. In addition, students in the online BSN for RN online program will not be part of the tuition guarantee plan as this program is approved at a special tuition rate.

New first-year degree-seeking undergraduate students*:

All eligible new first-year degree-seeking undergraduate students are guaranteed that the Ohio resident tuition rate (i.e., instructional and general fee), career services fee, room, and board will not increase for 12 consecutive semesters, which consist of  four (4) fall, four (4) spring and four (4) summer terms.

Example:Eligible new first-year undergraduate students entering fall 2018 will be guaranteed that the Ohio resident tuition rate (i.e., instructional and general fee), career services fee, room and board rates stay the same from fall 2018 through summer 2022. For students entering in spring 2019, their guarantee rate will run from spring 2019 through fall 2022.

Eligible students who enroll for the first time during a summer term will pay the prior cohort tuition rate for the initial term, but will be assigned to the entering semester cohort that immediately follows.

Example:Eligible new first-year undergraduate students entering in summer 2019 will pay the 2018 per-credit hour cohort tuition rate for their summer courses. Beginning in fall 2019, the student will be assigned to the 2019 cohort rate.

Transfer students**:

All eligible students transferring from another college or university will join the cohort that aligns with the credits that they are transferring to Kent State with, see table below.

Credits Transferred	Cohort	Years Guarantee Available
< 30 credit	Current cohort	4 years available
30 - 59 credits	Prior cohort	3 years available
60 - 89 credits	2 years prior	2 years available
90 credits or more	3 years prior	1 year available

Example: Students transferring 30 or fewer credits to Kent State during their first term will be guaranteed that their resident tuition, career services fee, room and board rates will stay the same for 12 consecutive semesters or four academic years. Similarly, students who transfer 79 credits during their first term to Kent State will be guaranteed their cohort rate for two years.  

A student’s cohort rate period is guaranteed regardless of enrollment status (full, part-time or not enrolled).

*A new first-year student is any undergraduate, degree-seeking student enrolled at any of Kent State University’s campuses for the first time on or after fall 2018, and who has not been enrolled at any other college or postsecondary institution. New first-year students include students who enroll at Kent State University after graduating from high school and non-traditional students who enroll at any of the Kent State campuses for the first time. New first-year students do not include non-degree-seeking students; College Credit Plus or Advanced High School; exchange students; and other students participating in other pre-enrollment or postsecondary option programs.

**A transfer student is any student who transfers to Kent State University from another college or postsecondary institution. Transfer students who transferred from any college or university prior to fall semester 2018 are not covered under the Tuition Guarantee Plan as they are considered part of the returning student cohort.  In addition, students in the online BSN for RN online program will not be part of the tuition guarantee plan as this program is approved at a special tuition rate.

Tuition rates for undergraduate students are capped between 12-18 credit hours for fall and spring terms. As such, all undergraduate students (including students who are part of the Tuition Guarantee rate plan) can take up to 18 credit hours per semester for fall and spring semesters at the rate charged for full-time enrollment (i.e., 12 credit hours). Tuition rates for summer terms are not capped at the tuition range of 12-18 credit hours. Instead, summer tuition is charged per-credit hour.

The Tuition Guarantee Plan rate covers the undergraduate Ohio resident tuition rate (i.e., instructional and general fee), career services fee, room and board charges.

Room and board charges are part of the Tuition Guarantee Plan and will be fixed for each new cohort starting in fall 2018. Students pay a fee based on the housing and meal plan selected. If a student chooses a different residential or meal plan option after enrolling, the cost will be adjusted based on the rates set at the time of initial enrollment.

Other fees, fines, and costs related to attending Kent State University not specifically identified as part of the Tuition Guarantee Plan are excluded from the guaranteed cohort rate and are subject to change. The exclusions include, but are not limited to, the nonresident surcharge, tuition above flat rate, special course and program fees, student health insurance, parking and the cost of textbooks.

The Tuition Guarantee Plan rates cover the undergraduate Ohio resident tuition rate (i.e., instructional and general fee), the career services fee, room and board charges.

The Career Services Fee is charged per-credit hour and is capped at 12 hours:

• $6.00 Kent Campus
• $3.60 Regional Campus

Select the following links for tuition, room and board rates:

Tuition Guarantee rates: www.kent.edu/tuition
Room and Board rates: www.kent.edu/housing

In those cases where a student is taking between 12 and 18 credit hours and is attending a Regional Campus and the Kent Campus at the same time, the cohort rate will be assessed individually for each campus. These individual tuition assessments added together will not exceed the Kent Campus cohort rate capped between 12-18 credit hours during fall and spring terms. The rates for summer terms are not capped between 12-18 credit hours. Instead, the summer guarantee rate is based on the guaranteed cohort per-credit-hour rate. 

All eligible undergraduate students transferring from another college or university will join in the cohort that aligns with the credits that they are transferring to Kent State. See table below.

Credits Transferred	Cohort	Years Guarantee Available
< 30 credits	Current cohort	4 years available
30 - 59 credits	Prior cohort	3 years available
60 - 89 credits	2 years prior	2 years available
90 credits or more	3 years prior	1 year available

Example: Students transferring 30 or fewer credits to Kent State during their first term will be guaranteed that their resident tuition, career services fee, room and board rates will stay the same for 12 consecutive semesters or four academic years. Similarly, students who transfer 79 credits during their first term at Kent State will be guaranteed their cohort rate for two years.

*A transfer student is any student who transfers to Kent State University from another college or postsecondary institution. Transfer students who transferred from any college or university prior to Fall Semester 2018 are not covered under the Tuition Guarantee Plan, as they are considered part of the returning student cohort.  In addition, students in the online BSN for RN online program will not be part of the tuition guarantee plan as this program is approved at a special tuition rate.
 

The Tuition Guarantee Plan covers fall, spring and summer terms. The Tuition Guarantee Plan rates for summer terms are charged separately at the applicable guaranteed cohort per-credit hour rate and are not capped between 12 and 18 credit hours as they are during the fall and spring terms.

All eligible new first-year degree-seeking undergraduate students are guaranteed that the Ohio resident tuition rate (i.e., instructional and general fee), career services fee, room and board will not increase for 12 consecutive semesters which consist of  four (4) fall, four (4) spring and four (4) summer terms.

Example: Eligible new first-year undergraduate students entering fall 2018 will be guaranteed that the Ohio resident tuition rate (i.e., instructional and general fee), career services fee, room and board rates stay the same from fall 2018 through summer 2022. For students entering in spring 2019, their guarantee rate will run from spring 2019 through fall 2022.

Eligible students who enroll for the first time during a summer term will pay the prior cohort tuition rate for the initial term but will be assigned to the entering semester cohort that immediately follows.

Example: Eligible new first-year undergraduate students entering in summer 2019 will pay the 2018 per-credit hour cohort tuition rate for their summer courses. Beginning in fall 2019, the student will be assigned to the 2019 cohort rate.

Transfer students**:

All eligible students transferring from another college or university will join the cohort that aligns with the credits that they are transferring to Kent State University with, see table below.

Credits Transferred	Cohort	Years Guarantee Available
< 30 credits	Current cohort	4 years available
30 - 59 credits	Prior cohort	3 years available
60 - 89 credits	2 years prior	2 years available
90 credits or more	3 years prior	1 year available

Example: Students transferring 30 or fewer credits to KSU during their first term will be guaranteed that their resident tuition, career services fee, room and board rates will stay the same for 12 consecutive semesters or four academic years. Similarly, students who  transfer 79 credits during their first term at Kent State University will be guaranteed their cohort rate for two years.  

Students’ cohort rate period is guaranteed regardless of enrollment status (full, part-time or not enrolled).

Students who do not complete their undergraduate degree requirements within their cohort period will automatically be placed into the oldest unexpired cohort rate for one additional academic year.  

Example: New full-time undergraduate freshmen entering Kent State for fall 2018 will be guaranteed their cohort rate through summer 2022. If the students remain enrolled for fall 2022, then they will be placed into the oldest unexpired cohort rate (i.e., the cohort rate that went into effect the year after their assigned cohort) or the fall 2019 cohort rate. The students will remain in that cohort for one academic year. If the students remain enrolled after the 2019 cohort rate expires, then the students will be placed into the 2020 cohort rate and so on until the students are no longer enrolled.

Students may request an extension of their guaranteed cohort period if they are unable to complete their degree in four years due to circumstances beyond their control.

Eligible new first-year undergraduate degree-seeking or transfer students registered for classes as of the day after the last day to withdrawal at 100 percent for tuition refund purposes are considered matriculated students for that term for tuition guarantee program purposes. As such, students who officially withdraw from all of their courses during a fall or spring term after the 100 percent tuition credit period will be assigned to the cohort rate in effect for the term they officially withdrew from. Likewise, students who officially withdraw from all of their courses before the end of the 100 percent tuition credit period will not be considered matriculated for tuition guarantee program purposes and will not be assigned to the cohort rate in effect before their official withdrawal.

Examples:

• Official withdrawal during the 100 percent tuition credit period
  • A new first-year undergraduate degree-seeking student enrolled at Kent State for fall 2018 will be guaranteed the Ohio resident tuition rate (i.e., instructional and general fee), career services fee, room and board rates stay the same from fall 2018 through summer 2022. The students officially withdraw from all of their classes during the 100 percent tuition credit period for fall 2018 and are not considered matriculated for tuition guarantee program purposes. As such, the “clock” on the duration of the students’ cohort rate resets. The students subsequently enroll and matriculate during spring 2019. Since the “clock” on the duration of their cohort rate was reset after fall, their guarantee rate will now run from spring 2019 through fall 2022.
  • New students transfer 79 credits to Kent State University and begin their first term of enrollment as transfer students starting fall 2018. As such, the students are guaranteed the cohort rate for two years from fall 2018 through summer 2020. The students officially withdraw from all of their classes during the 100 percent tuition credit period for fall 2018 and are not considered matriculated for tuition guarantee program purposes. As such, the “clock” on the duration of the cohort rate resets for the students. The students subsequently enroll and matriculate for spring 2019. Since the “clock” on the duration of their cohort rate was reset after fall 2018, their guarantee rate will now run from spring 2019 through fall 2020.

• Official withdrawal after the 100 percent tuition credit period
  • New first-year undergraduate degree-seeking students enrolled at Kent State for fall 2018. The students are guaranteed that their Ohio resident tuition rate (i.e., instructional and general fee), career services fee, room and board rates stay the same from fall 2018 through summer 2022. The students officially withdraw from all of their classes after the 100 percent tuition credit period for fall 2018 and are considered matriculated for tuition guarantee program purposes. The students subsequently enroll and matriculate for spring 2019. Since the students were considered matriculated during fall 2018, the duration of their cohort rate does not change.  
  • New students transfer 79 credits to Kent State and begin their first term of enrollment starting fall 2018. As such, the students are guaranteed the cohort rate for two years or from fall 2018 through summer 2020. The students officially withdraw from all of their classes after the 100 percent tuition credit period for fall 2018 and are considered matriculated for tuition guarantee program purposes. The students subsequently enroll and matriculate for spring 2019. Since the students were considered matriculated during fall 2018, the duration of their cohort rate does not change.

The same process applies to students who seek to re-enroll after any period of nonattendance. Students who re-enroll after any period of nonattendance will be assigned to their original cohort rate for the balance of the cohort period, as long as no more than four academic years have elapsed since the students’ initial degree-seeking enrollment. If four or more academic years have elapsed, then the re-enrolling students are assigned to the oldest unexpired cohort rate.

Kent State University’s tuition-specific scholarships will remain the same as long as students continue to meet all scholarship eligibility criteria including GPA, enrollment status and specific campus enrollment requirements. The University Award and/or the President's Scholarship, which are tied directly to the Non-Resident Surcharge, are subject to change on a yearly basis and will be adjusted accordingly.

Students enrolled at any of the Kent State University campuses prior to Fall Semester 2018 are considered returning students for purposes of assessing tuition and other fees and not covered by the Kent State Tuition Guarantee and will continue to be assessed under the nontuition guarantee rates.   

The Tuition Guarantee Plan is guaranteed for eligible degree-seeking students regardless of enrollment status (i.e., full, part-time or not enrolled).

The Tuition Guarantee Plan is not available to non-degree-seeking students. This includes, but is not limited to, students enrolled in the English (ESL) program, guest students, post-undergraduate students, exchange students or high school students participating in pre-enrollment or post-secondary option programs such as College Credit Plus.