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Kent State University
Award Letter Help
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Welcome to Kent State University's Student Financial Aid help page for understanding your financial aid award letter. This Online help will explain the information contained within the award letter and also provide a KSU expense calculator to help determine what your costs are.


KSU Cost Calculator
We have designed the KSU Cost Calculator to help you estimate your expenses at Kent State University. In order to generate the most accurate estimate possible please be as accurate as you can and answer all the information to the best of your ability.
  • Enter your awards
  • Input your personal info
  • Get your estimated expences

Understanding Your Award Letter
Initial Award Letter
Your INITIAL award letter may be the only paper version of the award letter you receive. Revisions to your awards will appear in Flashline (logon through KSU's homepage - http://www.kent.edu). Click on the Student Tools tab, then click on the Financial Aid link under the My Account heading to locate your financial aid information. An e-mail will be sent to your kent.edu account notifying you of changes.

Status

Financial Aid Programs
The financial aid programs are the awards you have been offered for the 2008-2009 award year. You are not required to return the award letter to the Student Financial Aid Office unless you have made any changes.

Other Aid
List any type of outside aid sources that you expect to receive during the 2008-2009 academic year. Examples of outside aid include scholarships, grants, fee waivers, veterans benefits, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, Job Training Partnership Act and other aid from sources outside the university. Provide actual or estimated amounts. Your listed awards may be revised based on outside aid received.


Payment Options

Federal Direct PLUS Loan for Parents

Parents of dependent students are eligible to borrow funds under the Federal Direct PLUS Loan program. At Kent State University, all dependent students will receive an estimated Parent PLUS award amount listed on the Financial Aid Award Notification. If the parent desires to borrow the Parent PLUS, the PLUS Pre Application must be completed as described below.

The PLUS loan requires a credit worthy parent borrower and allows the parent to borrow the cost of attendance minus financial aid. The eligible parent borrower must be the student’s mother, father, or the step parent whose information is listed on the FAFSA during the year of the loan. To apply for the PLUS, download the PLUS Pre Application form by clicking here and mail or fax the application to the Student Financial Aid Office.

The parent borrower must complete the electronic PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN). The parent borrower will need their FAFSA PIN to sign the PLUS MPN. Click here for the link to the electronic MPN.

Repayment for the PLUS generally begins 30 to 60 days after the funds are credited to the student account. Effective July 1, 2008, for PLUS loans first disbursed on or after July 1, parents can request an in-school deferment for their dependent child. Parents who desire the in-school deferment must contact the Direct Loan Servicer at 1-800-848-0979.

Additional Unsubsidized Based on Parent PLUS Denial
Parents who have been denied the Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) based on credit may request their dependent students receive the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. This request must be made on the PLUS Pre Application. Eligible students can receive up to $4,000 unsubsidized for freshmen and sophomore years and up to $5,000 for junior and senior years.

Federal Direct PLUS Loan for Graduate Students

Graduate PLUS is a federal student loan designed for Graduate students who have reached their annual maximum for the Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans.

To apply for the Graduate PLUS, download a copy by clicking here and mail or fax to the Student Financial Aid Office.

To be eligible to receive a Grad PLUS loan the borrower must:

  • File the current year Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • Exhaust all eligibility for Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans ($20,500/yr or $138,500 lifetime limit)
  • Complete and return the Graduate PLUS Pre Application to Student Financial Aid
  • Pass a credit evaluation performed by the Department of Education
  • Have a signed MPN on file with the Department of Education. Click here for the Department of Education Web site
  • Must complete Entrance Loan Counseling sessions for graduate PLUS. Click here for the Department of Education Web site
  • Be registered at least half-time (4 credit hours) during the loan period
  • Not be in default or have an overpayment on any Federal Title IV financial aid program



    • Alternative Loans

    Financing a college education is a concern for many families. Most financial aid packages will include student loans; however, federally subsidized and unsubsidized loans may not cover the total cost of college expenses. Consequently, families are faced with the challenge of meeting the cost of their expenses.

    Alternative loans are private loans that provide students with additional funding for unmet college expenses. Students are encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to exhaust all eligibility for federal funds before applying for alternative loans. Alternative loans are not federally guaranteed and require a good credit rating and/or credit worthy co-signer. The annual amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance minus other financial aid.

    At Kent State University, we will process an alternative loan from any lending institution. However, we have compiled a list of lenders that are most frequently used by Kent State students. FASTChoice is a private loan selection tool that helps students make a wise choice regarding borrowing an alternative loan. FASTChoice allows you to compare lender rates, terms, and benefits.

    Reasons why Kent State selected the FASTChoice options:

    If the funds cause a credit on the student account, the Bursar’s office will send a refund check or electronic deposit. Click here to review the Bursar's refund policy.

    Get more information on FASTChoice lender options.





    Loan Periods for the 2009-2010 Year
    Semester begin and end dates
    Summer 2009 5/26/09 – 8/22/09
    Fall 2009 8/31/09 – 12/19/09
    Spring 2010 1/19/10 – 5/15/10
    Fall and Spring 2009-2010 8/31/09 – 5/15/10

    Note. Summer is a separate application and cannot be included on the loan application with the academic year.

    Payment Plans


    The Kent State University Bursar's Office manages all billing and payment to student accounts. Payment options are described in detail on the Bursar's Office Web site or call 330-672-2626 for complete details in each payment option.
    1. Kent State University accepts cash, money orders, personal checks, MasterCard and Discover (convenience fee for credit and debit card payments applies).
    2. The Installment Payment Plan is designed to spread a semester's tuition, room and food plan charges into payments over a three month period.
    3. The Tuition Management Plan offered in conjunction with Tuition Management Systems, Inc. spreads the cost of tuition, room and food plan charges for both fall and spring semesters over a 10 month period.
    4. The Kent First Payment Program consists of an initial down payment and 42 monthly payments by automatic withdrawals from a savings or checking account.
    5. Kent Plus Payment Program is a plan to pay three years of residence hall accommodations (fall and spring semesters only) in a standard double room, with a standard food plan, over 24 monthly payments by automatic withdrawls from a savings or checking account.
    6. BorrowSmart. Visit the BorrowSmart Web site to learn more about the loan options available and ways to reduce student loan debt. This education payment counseling experience offered through both the phone and web will help you determine affordable payment strategies to save you money.


    Contact Information
    Contact the Student Financial Aid Office about...
    • Adjusting loan amounts
    • Requesting additional loans
    • Applying for a parent (PLUS) loan
    • Adding external scholarship info
    Telephone: 330-672-2972
    Fax: 330-672-4014
    Email: finaid@kent.edu
    Web site: www.sfa.kent.edu
    Contact the Bursar's
    Office about...
    • Invoice questions
    • Payment plans
    • Refund checks
    • Emergency loans
    Telephone: 330-672-2626
    Fax: 330-672-2606
    Email: bursar@kent.edu
    Web site: www.kent.edu/bursar