Kent State University has introduced two new financial incentives for prospective students: a scholarship for visiting the campus and a no-fee application for undergraduate applicants living in Ohio.
The moves are the university’s latest attempt to attract more students from a shrinking pool of would-be applicants.
In what has been dubbed the “enrollment cliff,” the consensus is that America’s college-age population will shrink by as much as 15% in the next 10 years.
The new $1,000 scholarship is for first-year undergraduate students who visit the Kent Campus in person. High school seniors planning to enroll for fall 2027 can earn this four-year award ($250 per year) simply by registering for and completing a qualifying official visit, such as a campus tour, Fall Preview KSU event or program-specific open house, by Nov. 30, 2026.
“Every student’s journey starts with that first step onto campus, and we are thrilled to invest in making that visit possible,” Sean Broghammer, Kent State’s vice president for enrollment management, said in a media release. “There’s a unique magic to experiencing Kent State in person. Once families explore our academic spaces, feel the vibrant student life and enjoy the energy of downtown Kent – Ohio’s best college town – they truly fall in love with our community.”
Students who attended Kent State’s spring and summer Preview KSU events are retroactively eligible for the $1,000 campus visit scholarship. The campus visit scholarship may be combined with other merit awards for students enrolling in fall 2027.
Kent State also eliminates application fee for Ohio students
Starting Aug. 1, Kent State will eliminate the $50 undergraduate application fee for all Ohio residents. This change applies to both first-year and transfer students applying to any Kent State campus through the Common Application or the Kent State Application.
“Your future shouldn’t have an entry fee,” Broghammer said. “Every student deserves the opportunity to explore college without paying a fee just to see if they’re admitted. Eliminating this cost allows more Ohioans to take that first step, discover what Kent State has to offer and see themselves here. An application fee should never be the reason a student hesitates to pursue their passion in our state.”
Broghammer added that Kent State views the application fee as an unnecessary financial barrier at the very start of the college search process.
To schedule a campus visit and qualify for the $1,000 scholarship, visit www.kent.edu/visit.
To apply to Kent State with no application fee starting Aug. 1, 2026, visit www.kent.edu/apply.
For details on admission, visit www.kent.edu/admissions.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: How to get a $1,000 scholarship at Kent State just for touring campus
Reporting by April Helms, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By April Helms, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
