Apply for Financial Aid

YES, YOU SHOULD FILE THE FAFSA!

Applying for financial aid is not a difficult process but can feel overwhelming if you are applying for aid for the first time. We're here to help.

FAFSA OPENS IN OCTOBER 

To ensure maximum financial aid eligibility, it is recommended you complete the FAFSA by Feb. 1. 

DO FILE!

Even if you feel you may not qualify for financial aid, we suggest that you apply. Help may be available. If you need assistance completing the FAFSA, do not hesitate to contact our office for help.

STEP 1: APPLY FOR ADMISSION

If you are a new student, you must first apply and be accepted in order to be considered for financial aid at Kent State Stark. 

APPLY FOR ADMISSION AT KENT STATE STARK

STEP 2: COMPLETE FAFSA

Submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Financial Aid) online. By completing the FAFSA, you will be considered for federal grants, loans, work-study programs and, in some cases, scholarships.

COMPLETE FAFSA ONLINE

• Students can find help completing the FAFSA online at studentaid.gov.
• Complete the FAFSA as soon as it becomes available each year. 
• Review more information on how to provide your financial information on the FAFSA.
• The IRS Data Retrieval Tool is available. This will pull your income information straight from your tax return and input it into the FAFSA. To check your eligibility to use the IRS Data Retrieval tool, visit the FAFSA website. If you are ineligible, you will need your Federal tax returns and W-2 forms to complete the FAFSA.
• Make sure you use the Title IV School Code of 003054 for Kent State University at Stark.

STEP 3: SUBMIT ENROLLMENT PLANS

In addition to applying for federal student aid using the FAFSA, students need to submit their Kent State enrollment plans in FlashLine.

View instructions on how to submit enrollment plans in FlashLine

Students who submitted enrollment plans in FlashLine will be awarded according to the responses submitted. Check FlashLine for updated information about your financial aid awards.

If you submitted your enrollment plans, but were not awarded financial aid, your financial aid may not be awarded until you have resolved any issues that prevented financial aid awarding. Some issues include but are not limited to:

• Outstanding financial aid requirements (for example, for verification)
• Unsatisfactory Academic Progress status

Check FlashLine for active messages or unsatisfied student requirements.

MAKING ENROLLMENT PLAN CHANGES

Students who need to make changes to enrollment plans should return to FlashLine. In the "Resources/Additional Information" tab, you will be able to resubmit your answers.

Students who did not submit enrollment plans online and complete a FAFSA will not be awarded financial aid. 

STEP 4: REVIEW TERMS & CONDITIONS

Review the Terms & Conditions of Receiving Financial Aid and review Unsatisfied Requirements, Active Messages and/or Academic Progress.

• Log into FlashLine and select Student from the main menu.
• Under Finances, click on Scholarships & Financial Aid.
• Click on Financial Aid Awards, select the current aid year from the drop down and Submit.
• Select the Terms & Conditions tab and read and acknowledge important information.
• Select Overall Financial Aid Status at the bottom of the page to review Unsatisfied Requirements, Active Messages and/or Academic Progress.

STEP 5: REVIEW AWARD NOTIFICATION

Once Kent State receives your FAFSA application information from the federal government and you have completed your enrollment plans, you will receive a Notification of Financial Aid (Award Letter).

• New incoming students will receive a paper award letter by mail in late March.
• Returning students will receive their award notification email in April. View your awards in FlashLine.

Follow the instructions in your award notification to accept your financial aid awards.