Kent State University at Stark (KSUS) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Within the Kent State University system, the Stark Campus is the largest and most recognized of all the campuses and academic institutions. The school was founded in 1946 in response to the surge in student applications as a result of more people taking advantage of the G.I. Bill, though the school traces its roots back to 1912 when the Kent Normal School began bringing teacher training to the area of Northeastern Ohio.

Kent State University-Stark Campus (also known as simply Kent State Stark) is a higher education institution fashioned in the liberal arts mold, offering students a wide variety of areas of study and several levels of degree programs. It is a mid-sized university (hovering around the 10,000 student body mark) with approximately half of its students engaged in academic programs with the other half (roughly) pursuing professional and executive training and certifications.

The school is situated in a fairly accessible and convenient part of Stark County, on 200 acres of gorgeous land in Jackson Township, near the local airport and close to a major regional crossroads.

Information Summary

Ranks 80th in Ohio and 2171st overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	60.9
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$7,034
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	17 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	65% / 43%
Enrollment Total (all students)	4,771

Academics

Kent State Stark has consolidated a strong reputation for itself in terms of a good teacher to student ratio. Class sizes tend to be small, with most undergraduate classes falling below the 30-student mark. This focus on amenable student group sizes helps improve the quality of education on average.

Kent State Stark is a fully accredited higher education institution, recognized first and foremost by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools’ Higher Learning Commission. Furthermore, the school has for a long time been an active member in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and opted into the Voluntary System of Assessment, an initiative to improve accountability in higher education institutions launched by the government’s Department of Education as a response to its Spellings Commission in 2006.

The school’s business programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business; its music program by the National Association of Schools of Music; its nursing program by the Ohio Board of Nursing; and its education program by the National Council of Accreditation for Teacher Education.

In all, the school offers students the ability to pursue associate and bachelor’s degrees in several areas, as well as a Professional M.B.A., an M.Ed. or M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction, and various corporate and community programs that are aimed at improving workforce skills and personal strengths.

Within the selection of bachelor’s degrees, Kent State Stark offers a typical liberal arts assortment constituted by the fields of: English, General Studies, History, Mathematics, Justice Studies, Middle Childhood Education, Applied Studies, Business Management, Family Life Education, Psychology, Nursing, and Communication Studies. In addition these 12 avenues for obtaining a bachelor’s degree, students have over 280 different major programs to select from and various minors as well, such as pre-law.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Unique Programs

If there is one thing that sets Kent State Stark apart from most other colleges in the nation it is its dedication to sustainability and environmental initiatives in general. The school’s green reputation continues to grow as more programs are launched and partnerships inked, a trend which is sure to continue well into the future.

The cleanliness of the campus in general bears testament to the commitment that the institution has with the environment and reducing its own carbon footprint. A prime example of this commitment is evinced by the school’s membership in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, which groups various North American universities and colleges aiming to promote sustainability in every aspect of higher education, from course curricula to school administrative processes.

Kent State Stark also joined forces with the University of Miami to launch the Herbert W. Hoover Initiative for Environmental Media Activism, an ambitious and forward looking campaign to foster future generations of students and scholars that take environmental issues seriously and get the message out through the media.

Separately, the school has set up a program called Tree Campus USA—which counts on the sponsorship of the National Arbor Day Foundation—to protect the campus’s urban forest, one of the distinguishing features of the school.

Finally, and despite the fact that it is not an actual program, it is worth mentioning that a large proportion (averaging at 90%) of Kent State Stark graduates take the “Graduation Pledge” which commits them to weighing the environmental as well as the social implications of any job position they may be offered in the future.

Admissions

Kent State Stark is an open enrollment (otherwise referred to as open admissions) university, which means that any student with a high school diploma or an equivalent GED certificate can enroll for classes. Notwithstanding, in order to enter certain major programs there are particular requirements that students will have to fulfill.

Though the school does not have strict application deadline policies, submitting an application just before the beginning of a semester will most likely result in the student only being admitted for the following semester. Hence, to begin in the fall a high school senior, for example, should consider submitting their application by approximately Thanksgiving of their senior year.

The school is adamant about encouraging applicants to use their online application form, which fits in with their broader environmental policies (see Unique Programs section below). The average high school applicant will need to submit the application form (online or in print) along with a non-refundable fee, their SAT/ACT scores, an official copy of their transcript up to the moment, and the College Prep Form.

Financial Aid

Though Kent State University-Stark does not assign new students a specific financial aid advisor, there are options for obtaining financial assistance to attend the school. The administration has set up separate scholarship funds and opportunities for new students and current students, so where to turn for aid depends largely on the student’s status in this regard. As always, students and applicants have the option of applying via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 6083rd for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Ohio.

Students

As mentioned, Kent State Stark is the largest and most senior of the various Kent State University campuses. With over 10,000 students attending it is a fairly well sized campus, totaling over 200 acres with wooded areas and grassy fields. The campus is fairly centralized, and is dominated by 7 main buildings.

The largest and most imposing of them all is the University Center, which is a state of the art Professional Education and Conference Center; it houses the Corporate University where professional programs and certification courses are given. The building is one of a select group of buildings in the state of Ohio to be accredited by the International Association of Conference Centers: it boasts a hall with capacity for 600 seated guests, a dining room offering full service, and various conference and training rooms.

The campus is covered with complete indoor and outdoor wireless internet service, meaning that staying connected on campus is never a difficult thing to do. This perk makes for a more relaxed and dynamic student life, and professors and students alike get to enjoy the outdoors a little more because of it.

There is a gymnasium available to students free of charge so that they don’t have to go pay a membership fee at the local gym, and the campus also has two baseball diamonds, a complete track circuit with sports field and three tennis courts. Finally, a shaded pond area presents a place to relax and find some peace.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Kent State University at Stark