Getting Started With College Credit Plus

CCP students take college-level courses and are expected to meet the same academic standards as other Kent State students. Before moving forward, think about whether you're ready to work independently, manage your time, keep track of deadlines and ask for help when you need it.

Consider how college courses will fit with your high school classes, activities, work and other responsibilities.

Traits of CCP Students
CCP students should be:

• Open-minded
• Responsible
• Independent
• Ready for challenging, fast-paced work
• Able to manage time well

Responsibilities of CCP Students
Students in CCP courses hold a number of responsibilities:

• Attend and participate
• Finish work on time
• Keep track of assignments and deadlines
• Ask for help when needed
• Know that grades count for high school and college
• Know that failing or dropping a course can have costs

Make sure you and your family understand both the opportunities, impact and responsibilities of CCP before you apply, particularly around these topics.

Schedule and Transportation

• Can I take classes earlier or later than normal school hours?

• Will I have enough time for college-level coursework along with high school, work, sports and other activities?

• For students attending Kent Campus

  • How will I get to and from campus, including when the weather is bad?
  • Will I have time to park, get to class, return to my car and make it back to my home school, if necessary?

College-Level Expectations

• Am I ready for the responsibility and independence of a college classroom?

• Am I prepared to attend and participate regularly, manage my work and meet college-level expectations?

• Am I comfortable taking classes designed for and attended by adult students?

Course Content and Academic Freedom

• Do I understand that college courses may include mature, graphic, explicit, violent or sexual subject matter that will not be modified because CCP students are enrolled?

• Am I comfortable with college faculty choosing course materials, grading practices and classroom policies?

Grades and Academic Record

• Am I comfortable with the impact my CCP grades may have on my middle/high school GPA, future college admission and scholarship opportunities?

• Do I understand that CCP grades may also be considered for admission to selective or competitive majors?

• Do I understand that the college credit hours I earn now may be considered when determining academic progress and eligibility for federal financial aid?

Family Communication

• Am I prepared to keep my family informed about my academic progress, knowing that Kent State will communicate directly with me as the student?

Potential Costs

• Do we understand when my family could be responsible for the cost of a course, such as if I:

  • Exceed the 30 credit hour annual limit
  • Take courses not approved by the local school district
  • Repeat a CCP course
  • Fail or withdraw late from a course

Using My Credits in the Future

• If I may attend another college or university after high school, have I checked how that institution would accept and apply my Kent State CCP credits?

Your school counselor can help you understand how College Credit Plus fits into your high school graduation requirements, schedule and future plans.

Talk with your counselor about:

• The courses you still need for high school graduation;

• Which college courses can meet those requirements;

• How many college courses are appropriate for you;

• How CCP will fit into your high school schedule;

• How grades and credits appear on your high school transcript;

• What happens if you fail or withdraw from a course; and

• Steps to complete your Letter of Intent. 

Students also need to follow Ohio requirements for notifying their school of their intent to participate in College Credit Plus by April 1 each year.

Ohio establishes eligibility requirements for College Credit Plus. You may be eligible if you meet one of the following:

• 3.0 or Higher GPA

  • You have a cumulative unweighted high school GPA of at least 3.0.

• 2.75–2.99 GPA + Relevant Coursework

  • You have a cumulative unweighted high school GPA between 2.75 and 2.99 and earned an A or B in a relevant high school course.

• Qualifying Assessment Score

  • You earn a remediation-free score on an approved assessment.
  • Students without an established cumulative high school GPA may have an additional pathway to eligibility based on relevant high school coursework.

Our important deadlines and test administration dates are posted on the date cards above.

Depending on your GPA, previous coursework and the courses you plan to take, you may need an approved assessment such as Accuplacer.

Not every student needs testing to establish CCP eligibility. Those who meet the GPA requirement posted in the Step 4 eligibility above do not have to do so.

GPA Challenges or Missing Assessment?

Reading: Accuplacer
College Credit Plus applicants who do not have an eligible GPA and who have never completed an ACT, SAT or Accuplacer that demonstrates CCP eligibility can choose to complete the College Credit Plus Accuplacer Reading assessment offered by Testing Services. See Ohio Revised Code 3365.03 (E).

View Accuplacer Information

Math: ALEKS
Students planning to take mathematics or courses with a mathematics prerequisite may also need to complete Kent State's ALEKS mathematics placement assessment.

How do I take the ALEKS math placement assessment?
Students take the online ALEKS math placement assessment through FlashLine. Students can access placement assessments in FlashLine by navigating:
Student > Resources > Placement Assessments

By clicking at the "Math" option, students can learn more about the ALEKS assessment and access the test.

• Before starting: The ALEKS test is online, proctored through Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor, and must be completed without help from other people or any outside resources.
  Before taking the exam, students must have the Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor installed.
• Starting the exam: The exam begins with a tutorial to introduce students to the test. The exam asks 25 to 35 questions and can last up to 90 minutes, including the tutorial.
  In compliance with the proctoring software, students should take the exam in a quiet, well-lit space and remain seated until finished.
• After the exam: ALEKS assigns course placement based on students' scores. Students can improve their score and retake the exam after completing the ALEKS Learning Module, which helps students review concepts and strengthen their skills for the exam. Students can access the ALEKS Learning Module after viewing their score by selecting "Start My Learning Module."

Once you've determined that you're eligible for CCP, gather what you'll need to complete your Kent State application.

What You'll Need

• Kent State College Credit Plus Application for Admission
• College Credit Plus Permission Form
• Official middle or high school transcript
• Assessment scores, if required

Kent State's current admissions information confirms those four application requirements. Students with qualifying GPAs may not need test scores to establish eligibility.

TIP: Use a personal email address rather than your school email address when applying so you continue to have access to important communications. Kent State specifically instructs CCP applicants not to use their school email address.

How to Get Your Application Materials

Some of the materials you'll need are available through the application process, while others will come from your school.

• Your CCP Permission Form
  • You'll complete the College Credit Plus Permission Form with your parent or guardian. The form is available through your application portal.
  • The form includes important information about participating in CCP, including college-level course content and student responsibilities.
• Your Transcript or Grade Report
  •  Ask your school counselor to provide your official middle or high school transcript as part of your application.
• Assessment scores, if required
  • If assessment scores are required to establish your CCP eligibility, make sure they are submitted with your application materials.
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When you're ready, complete the Kent State College Credit Plus application and submit all required application materials by the deadline.

These are Kent State's current CCP application deadlines for all campuses.

APPLY TO KENT STATE CCP

IMPORTANT TIPS: 

1. Do not use your school email address on your application. Use your personal email address.    
2. You will need to select the "Create New Account" link to complete the CCP Permission Form. This is NOT the same as the College Credit Plus Application. 

Home-School or Nonpublic-School Student?
You'll also have steps to complete through the State of Ohio for CCP participation and funding. Because state requirements and deadlines are separate from Kent State's application process, be sure to complete both processes on time.

Students should apply to Kent State early so they have enough time to receive their acceptance letter before the funding deadline.

See the funding steps for home-school and nonpublic-school students

State of Ohio CCP funding information

Once you're admitted to Kent State College Credit Plus, you'll have a few more things to do before your first class. You'll complete orientation, meet with your academic advisor and register for classes.

Review your action items and next steps. 

Before applying for state funding, students must apply and be accepted at Kent State University to provide the acceptance letter in the funding application.

The CCP funding application is completed online through the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce's CCP funding portal. Parents or guardians must make an OH|ID account to access and submit the funding application.

After submitting the form, students will receive a funding award notification. Students who receive funding can register for Kent State CCP courses. Students who do not receive funding may still participate as self-pay students.

Families submit the state CCP funding application through the Ohio Department of Education's OH|ID system. The steps below outline the process for the upcoming school year.

1. Login to the parent or guardian's OH|ID account. The account must be created under the parent or guardian's name.
2. Open the CCP Parent Dashboard and start a new application for the upcoming academic year.
3. Enter the student's information and certify the Intent to Participate.
4. Request the total number of credit hours needed for summer, fall and spring. Families may request up to 30 credits for the year.
5. Add each college where the student has been admitted. An acceptance letter must be uploaded for every college listed.
6. Upload required documents, including acceptance letters, homeschool documentation if applicable and transcripts or letters of good standing for returning CCP students.
7. Review the application and submit it under the Status/Flags tab. The status must show SUBMITTED before the April 1 deadline.
8. Award notifications are posted in early May and confirm the number of funded credit hours.

Non-public (private school) and homeschool students will receive their CCP funding award notification from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW). This notification confirms whether the student received state CCP funding for the upcoming academic year.

This form must be submitted to Kent State's CCP office as soon as possible. Students can email the CCP funding award to the CCP office at ccp@kent.edu through their Kent State email.

How students receive their funding award

• ODE sends the letter directly to the email address used in the funding application portal
• The award status may also be visible by logging into the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce CCP funding portal

The funding award notification includes the student's funding award amount, the academic year covered, instructions for how to use the award when registering for CCP courses and any notes about partial awards or missing documentation.

The CCP funding acceptance letter and CCP admission letter from Kent State are both required for students to register courses through CCP.