For years, Jakob Arnold’s friends at Kent State University had been urging him to transfer to the university from Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio.
So when Notre Dame College announced in March 2024 that it would be closing its doors for financial reasons, Arnold found the doors at Kent State to be wide open, and a welcoming and accessible transfer process followed.
Now, Arnold is officially a Kent State Golden Flash, and he can seamlessly continue working on his degree in biology while engaging with the university’s diverse student body, faculty and staff.
“Kent State has a big, diverse population of people, which is one of the reasons why I chose Kent State,” Arnold said. “It will be a great place to immerse myself in different cultures. I like to step out of my comfort zone and meet new people.”
Arnold is one of many former Notre Dame College students who have found a new home at Kent State and its Regional Campuses or whose applications are being processed.
Kent State and Notre Dame College joined forces through a teach-out program to streamline the transfer process and create a seamless pathway to higher education. This partnership promises to open doors for Notre Dame College students seeking to further their academic pursuits and achieve their career goals.
“The comforting prospect at this difficult time for the Notre Dame students is that not only will they find a welcoming home at Kent State, but they will find great academic opportunities led by outstanding faculty so that they can successfully complete their educational goals,” said Melody Tankersley, Ph.D., Kent State’s senior vice president and provost.
Most of the recent transfers from Notre Dame College are enrolled at the Kent Campus, but there are some who have chosen to attend one of Kent State’s Regional Campuses, including the Geauga, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Stark and Ashtabula campuses.
Of all the Notre Dame College students attending Kent State this summer or this coming fall semester, the most popular majors are Early Childhood Education, Business (General), Finance, Accounting, Criminology, Cybersecurity, Nursing and Psychology.
Kent State Provides a Seamless Transition
With its commitment to providing award-winning support and access for all, Kent State has pledged to offer many benefits to Notre Dame College students who have accrued 60 or more credit hours. For those with fewer than 60 credits, the invitation is extended to apply to Kent State as transfer students, with a commitment to facilitating a smooth transition.
Kent State streamlined the admission process for Notre Dame College students in good academic standing, waiving all application fees and guaranteeing admission to those meeting specified GPA requirements. This eliminates barriers to entry, providing deserving students with access to a world-class education.
The no-barriers approach is what attracted Grace McCombs to Kent State. McCombs, a Stow resident majoring in early childhood education, had looked at John Carroll University and Baldwin Wallace University, but “Kent State offered me the greatest flexibility as I go into student teaching and taking summer courses,” said McCombs, who is a senior.
Along with academics, Kent State recognizes the importance of financial support. Kent State has pledged to extend transfer scholarships and need-based aid to Notre Dame College students, striving to match or exceed the net tuition costs they currently incur. This commitment underscores Kent State’s dedication to making higher education affordable and accessible to all.
Kent State Offers the Opportunity to Complete a Degree and Expand Horizons
After Arnold graduated from Cloverleaf High School in Lodi, Ohio, he chose to attend Notre Dame College because he was a student-athlete and the college offered him a wrestling scholarship that paid most of his expenses.
Then at the end of Arnold’s junior year at Notre Dame College, he began to hear rumors about its imminent closing.
“I was shocked,” he said. “We just had our 100-year anniversary of Notre Dame College being an accredited university. How would the school shut down now? I mean, I feel like even if finances are not incredible, how would they be so poor to where the university could not stay open?”
McCombs said she was not shocked but saddened by the closing, and her mother, an alumna of Notre Dame College, was heartbroken.
With the help of Kent State, McCombs is preparing for her student teaching during fall semester. She is nervous about the new experience but says Kent State has offered her the support she needs to go forward.
“Kent State was the school that I found to be the most helpful and supportive during the entire process of Notre Dame’s closing,” McCombs said. “It has the easiest process.”
Learn more about transferring to Kent State from Notre Dame College.