First-Year Scholarships

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS ENTERING IN FALL 2025

Kent State Stark's first-year scholarships are awarded on the basis of high school academic performance. These scholarships do not require repayment.

2025-26 First-Year Scholarship Eligibility

  • Must apply and be accepted for Kent State Stark admission by March 1, 2025
  • Available to new first-year students (2025 high school graduates)
  • Must attend Kent State Stark for the 2025-26 academic year
  • Scholarships are for the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters only
  • Scholarships are not available for summer terms

You will be automatically considered for a Kent State Stark first-year scholarship if you have been admitted to Kent State Stark by March 1, 2025

FIRST-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP CONTACT

Brandi Mash
Senior Financial Aid Coordinator
bmash@kent.edu
330-244-3243


Scholarship Universe at Kent State
Kent State's ScholarshipUniverse is a search portal that helps match students to scholarships. To get started, you’ll need to complete a Student Profile. The questions you’ll be asked to answer will help match you to scholarships. While you don’t have to answer all of these questions – the more you answer, the better your search results will be. In addition, ScholarshipUniverse is able to match students to external scholarship opportunities.

CREATE YOUR SCHOLARSHIP UNIVERSE STUDENT PROFILE
Note: You need to be admitted to Kent State before using ScholarshipUniverse.


ADDITIONAL FIRST-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

These scholarships are available to first-year students. Information on how to apply is included with each scholarship. 

Kent State Stark Alumni Scholarship

Available to first-year and current students.

  • Child of a Kent State Stark alumnus (parent or guardian who attended Kent State Stark)
  • Minimum 3.0 high school GPA
  • Full-time enrollment at Kent State Stark
  • Essay required
  • Applicant may be requested to participate in a personal interview with the selection committee
  • Deadline to apply is March 1
  • Apply in ScholarshipUniverse
Kent State Stark Honors Program Scholarship

Available to first-year students who have been accepted to the Kent State Stark Honors Program.

Kent State Stark Music Scholarship

For information on applying for a $2,000 Betty J. Clementz Music Scholarship available to incoming music majors, contact Dr. Sebastian Birch at sbirch@kent.edu.

Choose Ohio First STEMM Scholarships

Scholarships are available for first-year students interested in majoring in STEM fields (biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental studies, mathematics). 

Choose Ohio First Computer Science Scholarships

Scholarships are available up to $5,500 per year for first-year students majoring in computer science. 

The Margaret Kilchenmann Memorial Scholarship

Available to first-year and current students.

  • Must be full-time at Kent State Stark
  • Business or education major
  • Must be working part-time
  • Preference given to students who live in Western Stark County and students who are planning to complete their degree on the Kent Campus 
  • Essay required
  • FAFSA received by March 1
  • Deadline to apply is March 1
  • Apply in ScholarshipUniverse
Charity Rotch Scholarship

Available to first-year and current students.

  • Stark County resident
  • Nursing, education or health-related major
  • Full-time enrollment at Kent State Stark
  • Preference given to students who reside in western Stark County (ex. Massillon, Navarre, Perry, Canal Fulton, Brewster, Jackson Township, locations west of I-77)
  • Essay required
  • FAFSA received by March 1
  • Deadline to apply is March 1
  • Apply in ScholarshipUniverse
Charles and Judy Scheurer Endowed Scholarship

$500 per year is available first-year and current students.

  • Must be a Stark County high school graduate
  • Must be a first generation college student
  • Essay required
  • FAFSA received by March 1
  • Deadline to apply is March 1
  • Apply in ScholarshipUniverse