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Meet Our
Students

At Kent State you can find the way to your image of the future.

Look at the future

From the very start of your Kent State experience to beyond graduation, you’re going to feel welcomed, encouraged and supported. Flashes Take Care of Flashes.

We meet students where they are and embrace them for who they are. We believe that what makes us each unique makes us stronger together.

Our goal is to make education accessible and affordable for everyone, from all backgrounds and walks of life. We want to help you realize your dreams.

Everyone at Kent State is dedicated to your success and well-being. We help our graduates become fully prepared to succeed in anything they want to do.

Katie Yanez Biotechnology: Data Analytics
The best thing Kent State could have done for my career was to allow me to get into research my first semester, freshman year. It has given me the best possible experience and will give me four years of research experience as an undergrad.

Katie was born a scientist. When she was about 8 years old, she asked for (and received) a microscope as a birthday present.

She is energized by discovery and research. Her goal is to be the head of a research lab, so she can direct her research to effect change in the world.

Research was important to her when she was choosing a university. She found that other universities she looked at didn’t allow students to participate in research until their junior or senior year. That — and when she saw that Kent State had plenty of high tech microscopes — became the biggest deciding factors in her choosing Kent State.

“Employers and grad schools look at grades and boards, of course, but they really want research experience, too. The fact that Kent State got me into a lab so soon in order to learn lab skills and gain research experience has made all the difference and will help me stand out.”

How Kent State makes it work

Kent State’s high level of research activity earned the university the prestigious, national R1 designation. Only the top 4% of U.S. universities hold this elite status. Having active research on campus creates opportunities for students to participate in meaningful investigation and gain invaluable hands-on experience, knowledge and skills for any career path.

Learning By Doing

Career-ready graduates

Our programs combine instruction in classes and labs with valuable, hands on learning experiences outside the classroom so that our graduates are well prepared for today’s most indemand careers.

Supporting your success

Everyone at Kent State — administrators, professors, staff and students — is dedicated to helping you graduate. Even before you arrive on campus — and after you graduate — you’ll be part of a community of support and assistance.

Dedicated people and resources

You’ll find so many people on campus, from our admissions counselors, academic advisors, financial aid specialists and career services staff, who are here to assist you in achieving your goals. They can provide academic help, tutoring, mentoring, career development, advocacy and personal support.

A valuable degree

Your degree from Kent State has value because of the strength and quality of the nationally recognized programs behind it. Employers recognize that value, too, and that is why many companies and organizations actively recruit Kent State graduates.

Important partnerships

The research Katie participated in was conducted at Kent State and also at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) a regional partner in training health professionals and medical researchers.

Kent State’s partnerships with NEOMED, Cleveland Clinic, Delta Airlines, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. NASA, Progressive Corp., Vitamix and many other organizations associated with our academic colleges help our students add to their handson, realworld learning experiences.

Exceptional instructors

Nearly every one of our students has a story about Kent State professors who have gone above and beyond to help them, both with their studies and personally.

Shorya Agarwal Fashion Merchandising
When I came back from the study abroad trip, I was definitely more confident in myself because I knew I had an experience that not everyone gets. That confidence helped me pursue things that I wouldn’t have pursued in the past and had me more “out of the box” in my thinking as well.

Coming to Kent State from Canada, Shorya was not new to international travel. He also had taken trips with his parents when he was younger. But when he traveled to Paris to study abroad, it was a transformative experience for him.

He studied with students from Kent State and from all over the world. His daily routine was completely immersed in local culture. The things he saw and the people he met expanded his view of the world.

Everything was different: his professors, his classes, the people he met, the experiences he had. In discovering this new place, he found he also had discovered new things about himself.

“The study abroad program helped prepare me for any future career by exposing me to different cultures and different people. And I was pushed out of my comfort zone. I think it’s really important to be comfortable being uncomfortable.”

How Kent State makes it work

Education abroad experiences add additional depth to a student’s resume, with qualities that employers look for, like increased confidence, an expanded worldview and being comfortable working with people from other cultures.

Expand Your World

Choose your destination

You can study abroad at Kent State’s campus in Florence or at one of our locations that partner with a local university in Paris, London, Prague, Geneva or Hong Kong, or in Curitiba, Brazil; Yongin, South Korea; or Kigali, Rwanda. In all, there are more than 200 education abroad opportunities for Kent State students in 60 countries worldwide.

There are also education abroad opportunities for the School of Fashion in Los Angeles and at Kent State's New York City Fashion location.

Travel with purpose

Education abroad isn’t a vacation, it’s an intense, immersive learning experience. Coursework can be accelerated and condensed to fit a semester’s worth of classes into a few weeks. Because you’re a student, not a tourist, you learn more about daily living and what it’s like to live and study in another country.

An international university

Kent State's education abroad program and the university’s programs for international students were recognized for excellence in internationalization with a Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization. Kent State was the only U.S. university to earn the 2022 award. Our university has welcomed students and professors from more than 100 countries with special resources that assist international visitors.

Financial aid for studying abroad

Kent State knows education abroad experiences are valuable, so we work to help students find financial aid and scholarships. Students are eligible, in most cases, to receive financial aid for education abroad. Information from your annual FAFSA helps determine your eligibility and awards.

Sidney Strauss & Hanna Hoffman Psychology & Criminology and Justice Studies
It’s so easy to make new friends here. In the beginning, we went to every single event together, like Blastoff! and orientation. At all of these events, we would just look around at whoever was near us and say, “Hey, do you guys have orientation next? Want to go together?”
- Sidney Strauss
Whenever I go into a new class, I sit down and talk to whoever’s around me. If they bite, I’m like, “Oh, new friend!” And that’s just kind of how everything happens.
- Hanna Hoffman

Sidney and Hanna became best friends even before they met in person. They connected through a roommate match on social media before they began their freshman year.

They bonded almost instantly over shared interests and began communicating, a lot of it via text.

The texts were mostly brief and transactional, like “Should I bring this lamp?” That was the way Sidney and Hanna wanted it. They agreed to “save all of their stories” so they could share them, and learn more about each other when they were living together as roommates on campus.

Living on campus in the Honors College residence hall, Sidney and Hanna were able to meet friends who shared their interests and have enhanced access to professors and advisors. Being close to campus activities and events gave them lot of things to do and, more importantly, gave them opportunities to grow, both personally and academically, to prepare them for their successful futures.

How Kent State makes it work

Kent State’s Living-Learning Programs (there are more than a dozen) and being active in student organizations are great ways to meet new people and find friends on campus. Academic and professional student organizations offer opportunities for valuable experiences such as exploring careers, networking and connecting with professionals in the workforce.

Loving Life on Campus

You won’t be bored

There’s always something to do on campus. You can attend university events, concerts, festivals, movie nights, farmers markets, food truck pop-ups and more. Kent State’s student organizations also offer a full schedule of events that includes comedy nights, trivia nights, karaoke, late-night ice skating and formals. The Flash Activities Board (FAB) plans many events for students each year.

Overall wellness and safety

The overall health, well-being and safety of our students is very important to us. For fitness, the Warren Student Recreation and Wellness Center offers state-of-the-art fitness equipment and a full schedule of activities. An on-campus health center offers full-service primary care. If a student is feeling stressed, anxious or depressed they can access on-campus mental health and counseling resources.

For safety, Kent State has a dedicated, fully accredited campus police department and student escorts.

Find your community

You can find a match for most social, academic or professional interests through Kent State’s 350+ student organizations. There’s something for everyone and it’s one of the best ways to make friends, help others and gain experience for your career.

Students also can connect through identity-based organizations like Black United Students (BUS), the Student Multicultural Center (SMC), Hillel and the LGBTQ+ Center.

An engaged campus

Kent State encourages students to get involved and share their meaningful voice. Activism is an important part of our university history, as well. Our students have opportunities to participate in student government, community service and philanthropy.

Jacob Herbolich Integrated Social Studies
I was on my campus tour and as we turned the corner on the esplanade, I had this view of the library, towering over everything else. The sun was out, it was gorgeous. You could see every part of campus. People were out, just milling about. I just remember feeling “This is the place I want to be. This is the place I belong; this is home.” And that was the moment I decided to come to Kent State.

Being from a very small town, Jacob was a little apprehensive about coming to a large university and the (relatively) larger city of Kent. As it turned out, becoming part of this larger world was the spark that he needed.

Now, his favorite experiences include walking around downtown Kent, trying different foods at the restaurants and hiking in the parks by the river. And while he says he feels a connection to Kent, he’s also thinking of expanding his experience to living in and exploring larger cities.

“Going to a football game where there were more people than in my hometown by about 100 times, seemed like it would be stressful, but it was so fun. It’s been an amazing experience to share a community bond with people and get those experiences you think about when you think of college.”

How Kent State makes it work

Kent is located near four larger cities offering access to companies serving industries in nearly every business category. Northeast Ohio also is home to a large number of corporate headquarters, including Goodyear, KeyBank, Progressive, Parker Hannifin, Signet Jewelers and many more.

Feels Like Home

Just right

Many students describe Kent State as having the feeling of community you might find at a smaller college, with all the resources and perks of a large university. Kent State, they say, also is in a “sweet spot” location-wise: central to major population centers.

Take a walk

If you like hiking and walking trails, there are 19 city parks in Kent, and three extensive metro park systems are nearby, as well as a state nature preserve and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Kent is located right on the Cuyahoga River and there are canoes and kayaks available to rent. Not far from Kent there are areas for skiing and snowboarding, too.

An exceptional downtown

The city of Kent is a great college town with an energetic downtown area that’s just a few steps off campus. You can explore restaurants, unique shops, galleries and parks. There’s always something to do — with live music, special events and festivals. Recently, Ohio Magazine chose Kent as one of the best hometowns in Ohio.

It’s not very far

Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown and Canton are just a short drive away from Kent. These cities offer airports, professional sports, concerts, museums, theatres and a renowned orchestra.

Getting around is easy

Kent State is exceptionally walkable. It’s easy to get anywhere on campus from anywhere else on campus. The footprint of the Kent Campus is just one square mile — and it's just a mile from the center of campus to the center of downtown Kent.

Portage Area Regional Transit Authority (PARTA) provides bus service on campus, around Kent and to surrounding communities, including Cleveland and Akron.

SPIN provides shared electric bikes and scooters that are available on campus and within the city of Kent for use by students, professors, staff and the community.

Lauren Klodt Actuarial Mathematics: business, economics
There are definitely moments when I’m working on something in my internship and I think, “Oh, I did something like this in one of my classes,” or “My supervisor just used that word. I know that word because my professor uses it all the time.” It’s really great.

Lauren carries an energy, an aura of determination and confidence.

Lauren has always been an energized student. She describes herself as “a school person,” and the kind of student that completed assignments early and went for the extra credit. She worked hard and her teachers in high school noticed. One of them told her “You’re going to be an actuary.” At the time, she didn’t know what that was, but she researched it. When she came to Kent State, she declared it as her major.

Lauren has already completed two internships and will complete at least one more before she graduates.

“Internships are so important because it really gets you in there. You’re immersed in the ‘real world’ experience of things and it’s a different experience than being in class, because you think a bit differently and work a bit differently.

“But it’s not just the work itself that you get to learn, it’s also the connections you make and networking you get to do, which is also very important.”

How Kent State makes it work

Kent State works with students to help them search the many scholarship opportunities that can make a university education more affordable. Lauren’s talent with numbers helped her use scholarships to pay her own way through college.

Internships like Lauren’s offer valuable career experience. Students can get help in finding internship opportunities through Career Exploration and Development at Kent State as well as in their colleges and programs.

Empowered to do Anything

Finding your path

For students who are considering multiple majors and aren’t sure which one is right for them, Kent State’s award-winning Exploratory Program can help. Offered through University College, this program helps students take inventory of their interests and skills to assist them in finding the academic program that’s the right fit for them.

Encouraging leadership

Professional organizations on campus offer students opportunities to learn leadership skills while networking and making business connections. Lauren is a member of Kent Student Ambassadors, a service organization that promotes philanthropy and pride on campus and in the community. Students also can gain valuable experience in how government works when they represent their fellow students through Undergraduate Student Government.

Preparing in-demand graduates

Kent State fully prepares students for in-demand careers so they become in-demand graduates. Our programs have a blend of classroom instruction and experiential, real-world learning opportunities. When they interview our students, employers recognize that Kent State graduates are well-prepared and career-ready. Many students, like Lauren, receive job offers even before they graduate.

Developing professional skills

Success in the workforce depends on more than just the knowledge behind your degree. That’s why Kent State’s programs also support professional development. Students learn how to prepare business communications, such as resumes and cover letters, and learn about other essentials like, personal skills and proper business etiquette.

Athalia Jones Kent State graduate / Nursing Technician
I knew I had made the right choice in Kent State when I was getting ready to graduate. I had applied to be a nurse and the hospital offered me a position in labor and delivery. It was because they trusted Kent State and their nurses.

When she was younger, Athalia was fascinated by first aid books. She loved learning about the human body and how to take care of people. Later, she felt drawn to caring for babies.

During a campus visit, she decided Kent State was the place where she wanted to pursue her nursing degree. She credits the outstanding hands-on experiences in the skills lab, the simulation lab and the supportive relationships with her instructors and advisors in helping her earn her degree and find her calling as a nurse.

After completing her clinicals and becoming a technician in maternity, she realized that this was what she most wanted to do: take care of mothers and babies.

How Kent State makes it work

Kent State is a leading supplier of qualified professionals for the healthcare industry and northeast Ohio’s entire workforce. More than 63% of all of our graduates work in Ohio after graduation. Annually, Kent State alumni contribute $3.4 billion to Ohio’s economy.

Making a difference

Our alumni

Kent State alumni are changing the world. Our career-ready graduates can be found working in nearly every business category throughout the U.S. and around the world, making important contributions and adding billions of dollars to the global economy each year.

Regional impact

Graduates of Kent State’s nursing program like Athalia are in demand in northeast Ohio and beyond. Kent State is a leader in preparing qualified nurses for the area’s regional health systems. You’ll find our nurses working at organizations including Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, The MetroHealth System, Summa Health and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Network locally and nationally

It seems that almost everyone knows someone who graduated from Kent State. Plus, Kent State alumni chapters across the country make it easy to stay connected to fellow Flashes and the university. These chapters sponsor events and programs for networking, connecting with old friends and making new ones.

Known for quality graduates

“Kent State’s name does something for people; when people hear you’re a Kent State grad, they say, ‘Oh yeah, I have a lot of nurses from there, and they’re good nurses.’ So, they want to hire you because you’re from the nursing program at Kent State.”
-Athalia

Working worldwide

You’ll find more than 270,000 Kent State alumni working at organizations all over the world. Companies and organizations that have hired Kent State graduates include:

  • Adidas AG
  • Amazon
  • The Armed Forces
  • The Boeing Co.
  • Cleveland Clinic
  • Deloitte US
  • Delta Airlines
  • Eaton Corp.
  • FedEx
  • General Electric Company
  • GOJO Industries
  • J.M. Smucker Co.
  • NASA
  • NBCUniversal Media
  • The New York Times
  • Progressive Corp.
  • Rockwell Automation
  • Samsung Electronics Co.
  • Sherwin-Williams Co.
  • Spotify
  • Tesla
  • The Walt Disney Co.
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