How to Apply to Engineering at Kent State: Four Engineering Degrees in the School of Engineering (Aerospace, Cybersecurity, Industrial and Systems, Mechatronics), Direct Entry with a 3.0 GPA, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

Undergraduate engineering at Kent State University is offered by the School of Engineering within the College of Aeronautics and Engineering, in Kent, Ohio. This guide follows Kent State’s website and is organised for U.S. domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. Computer science is not in the School of Engineering and has its own guide on this site, so it is not covered here.

1. Programs in the School of Engineering

• Engineering (BS): Aerospace Engineering, Cybersecurity Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Mechatronics Engineering.
• Engineering technology (BS): Aerospace Engineering Technology, Computer Engineering Technology, Industrial Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology and Mechatronics Engineering Technology. The college explains the difference: engineering is theoretical, analytical and design-focused with heavy math, while engineering technology is applied and laboratory-heavy, with more emphasis on reliability, quality control and manufacturing. This guide centres on the engineering degrees.
• Accreditation: the undergraduate programs page says all engineering programs are fully accredited by ABET and ATMAE. The program pages differ: Aerospace, Cybersecurity and Mechatronics Engineering state accreditation by ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC); the Industrial and Systems Engineering page only says the program is designed to align with ABET accreditation standards for industrial and systems engineering, without stating that it is accredited. Check with the college.
• Credit hours: minimum total of 123 for Aerospace Engineering and 120 each for Cybersecurity, Industrial and Systems, and Mechatronics Engineering.
• Internship: the Aerospace and Cybersecurity Engineering course lists include a 2-credit “Aeronautics and Engineering Internship/Cooperative Education (ELR)” course; we did not see it in the other two course lists. Whether placements are paid and how they are arranged is not published on the pages we read; contact the college (cae@kent.edu).
• Bachelor’s to master’s: the Aerospace and Mechatronics Engineering pages say students may apply early to the corresponding MS and count 9 graduate credit hours toward both degrees.

2. How admission works: choose a major on the application; students who fall short start in engineering technology

• Admission is selective: the first-year page says Kent Campus admission is selective, reviewing cumulative GPA, the type and difficulty of courses and grade trends. Kent State is test-optional (SAT/ACT are not required).
• New-student criteria for the four engineering majors (program pages):
  • Aerospace Engineering: at least a 3.0 high school GPA and a C or better in all math courses on the transcript.
  • Mechatronics Engineering: the same (3.0 GPA, C or better in all math courses).
  • Industrial and Systems Engineering: at least a 3.0 GPA and a clear ability to be placed directly into Calculus I (MATH 12002); the page says this happens with a C or better in all math courses on the transcript.
  • Cybersecurity Engineering: at least a 3.0 GPA and completion of high school Algebra II, or a college-level algebra course with a C or better.
  The first-year requirements page words Aerospace, Cybersecurity and Mechatronics as “a 3.0 GPA and math competency to be placed into Calculus I or beyond”, which differs from the program pages; rely on the program pages and confirm with Admissions. The Aerospace, Industrial and Systems, and Mechatronics pages all call the program math-intensive and assume Calculus I in the first semester.
• If you do not meet the criteria: you are admitted to the matching engineering technology major (Aerospace, Industrial, Mechatronics or Computer Engineering Technology) if you meet its minimum admission requirements, and the first-year page says that for Aerospace, Cybersecurity and Mechatronics you may request a change to the engineering major after your first year (it does not say this for Industrial and Systems Engineering; see the next item).
• Changing from another Kent State major: at least 12 credit hours completed at Kent State and a 3.000 Kent State GPA, plus a B in MATH 11022 or a C in MATH 12002 for Aerospace and Mechatronics; Industrial and Systems Engineering adds a C in PHY 23101; Cybersecurity Engineering needs a C in MATH 11022. Whether seats are limited or entry is guaranteed is not published.
• Staying in the major: the Aerospace Engineering page says students need a 2.250 major GPA and a 2.000 overall GPA each semester, with a one-semester grace period.
• Honors College: applicants to any major may take part; criteria are reviewed after admission and eligible students are invited to apply with an essay.

3. Prerequisites

• High school courses: the first-year page lists the Ohio State Board of Education’s college-prep curriculum: 4 units of English, 4 of math (Algebra I, II and Geometry, with at least Algebra II complete), 3 of science, 3 of social studies, 2 of foreign language and 1 of the arts or another foreign language.
• College advice (“How do I prepare” page): focus on math. If the first math course in the program roadmap is Calculus I (MATH 12002), take trigonometry, precalculus or even calculus in high school; if it is Trigonometry (MATH 11022), have a sound base in algebra and geometry. Physics is “not a requirement” but all engineering and engineering technology students take it in college. Do not skip math in senior year.
• Math placement: admitted students take the ALEKS math placement assessment; those who miss the score for the first course can use ALEKS learning modules and reassess before fall. The program pages also allow AP, IB, CLEP or A-levels as evidence of prerequisite knowledge. Students who do not place into MATH 12002 will likely take longer than eight semesters.
• AP, IB and dual credit: the “How do I prepare” page warns that early college credit (Ohio’s College Credit Plus) should be matched to the roadmap: for example, the fundamental engineering programs (aerospace, mechatronics, cybersecurity) require PHY 23101 and credit transferring as PHY 13001 will not count toward it, and early credit does not guarantee a shorter degree. Which AP or IB scores map to which engineering courses is not listed on the pages we read.

4. Rounds, materials and fees

• U.S. first-year: apply with the Kent State Application or the Common App; out-of-state students pay a non-refundable $50 fee. Dates listed (no year shown, so check they apply to fall 2027): November 1 priority deadline, January 15 merit scholarship deadline, and all materials due seven days before the semester starts. Decisions are released from October.
• Materials: official high school transcript (at least three years, sent directly by the school); SAT/ACT optional, and you indicate whether you want scores considered (it cannot be changed online afterwards). The pages we read do not list an engineering-specific essay or recommendation letters; this is not published.
• International first-year: online application with a non-refundable $70 fee; deadlines are June 1 for fall and October 1 for spring (no year shown); late applications are accepted, but earlier is recommended. Financial documents are requested only after admission.

5. U.S. domestic applicants

• Testing: optional; the engineering criteria above do not ask for SAT/ACT scores.
• Tuition (tuition page, “Golden Guarantee” rates for new students starting fall 2026 or spring 2027; check the rates for fall 2027): for 12–18 credits across an academic year at the Kent Campus, $13,848.40 for Ohio residents and $24,298 for non-residents, plus food and housing of $14,360. Program and special course fees are extra, and each credit above 18 costs $629.06. Any engineering-specific differential fee is not listed on the tuition page. The page says tuition is guaranteed for four years for most students.
• Scholarships and aid: the first-year page lists a January 15 scholarship deadline; amounts and criteria are on the scholarships pages, which we did not read in detail, so see the cost and aid page. Ohio residents who qualify can receive Flashes Go Further, which covers the gap between grants and scholarships and full tuition, for U.S. citizens or permanent residents classified as Ohio residents, studying full-time for a first bachelor’s degree at the Kent Campus and meeting satisfactory academic progress.
• In-state priority or guarantee: the pages we read do not describe a priority or guaranteed admission for Ohio residents in engineering.

6. International applicants

• Grades: the international first-year minimum is a 2.5 GPA on a U.S. 4.0 scale; applicants who miss a program’s requirement may be considered for the pre-major. The engineering criteria above (3.0 GPA) apply to direct entry to the engineering majors. The Cybersecurity page adds that applicants from countries or schools whose transcripts do not list math topics must show a C or better in all math courses.
• English minimums: TOEFL iBT 71 (Home Edition accepted, MyBest not), revised paper TOEFL 18, IELTS 6.0, SAT evidence-based reading and writing 510, ACT English 21, or completion of Kent State’s ESL Center Level 8 (3.75 GPA) or ELS Level 112. Academically qualified students below the minimum can be admitted conditionally and take ESL classes first.
• English waivers: applicants primarily educated in listed countries or territories (including Canada except Quebec, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Singapore (starred, English-language systems only), South Africa and Nigeria); China is not on the list. Also three years of full-time U.S. secondary study, SAT EBRW 510, ACT English 21, IB English A with 5 at HL or 6 at SL, or A, B or C in Cambridge O-Level, A-Level, GCSE or IGCSE English Language (First Language). Waiver requests go in writing to International Admissions.
• Materials: passport biographical page; secondary school certificate and transcripts (original plus certified English translation); English scores; bank statements after admission, with an affidavit if a sponsor pays. Scans are accepted at application; final official documents are verified by International Admissions within the first semester.
• Costs and proof of funds (2026–2027; check the version for fall 2027): international undergraduate tuition $24,298 and living expenses $14,360. For medical insurance and books and supplies, the tuition page gives $3,704 for a total of $42,362, while the international aid page (also used for I-20s) gives $3,935 for a total of $42,593; the two differ. There is a $20 activity fee per semester, the university’s student health insurance is required unless waived, and an I-20 needs extra funds of $4,500 for a spouse or first dependent and $2,500 for each additional dependent.
• Global Scholarship: for admitted international undergraduate first-year and transfer students on F-1 visas, considered automatically on admission if you are admitted by July 1 for fall (November 1 for spring, March 1 for summer). By high school or college GPA on a U.S. 4.0 scale: 3.70+ $12,000 a year; 3.6–3.69 $10,000; 3.5–3.59 $7,000; 3.49 and below $4,300; students admitted to the Honors College receive $15,000 plus a $2,000 Honors Scholarship. First-year students can hold it for eight semesters if they stay full-time (12+ credits) and in good standing at the Kent Campus. The university says combined scholarships can reach up to $68,000 over four years and that all international scholarships are partial. An engineering-specific international scholarship is not mentioned on the pages we read.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the admissions and program pages we read do not mention the Gaokao or say how Chinese results are used. This is not published; ask International Admissions (intladm@kent.edu).
• Transcripts: submit the secondary school certificate and transcripts in the original language with certified English translations. The international page links to a list of documents by country, which we did not read; check it. Huikao materials, an interview and recognised credential-evaluation agencies are not described on the pages we read.
• English: China is not on the waiver list, so submit TOEFL, IELTS or another accepted score, or qualify through SAT EBRW 510, ACT English 21, IB English A or Cambridge English Language (First Language) A–C.
• Math: how the “C or better in all math courses” criterion applies to Chinese high school courses is not explained; confirm with Admissions before applying.

8. Transfer students

• University level: anyone who attended any school after high school applies as a transfer, with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale; official transcripts from every institution attended; applicants with fewer than 12 semester hours of college work (not counting credit earned in high school) also send a high school transcript. Tests are optional.
• Credit: college-level courses from regionally accredited Ohio institutions taken in fall 2005 or later transfer with a D or better; out-of-state and international credit taken in fall 2010 or later transfers with a D or better; earlier courses need a C or better. The Flash Credit Estimator shows how credits transfer.
• Engineering conditions (transfer page): for Aerospace, Mechatronics and Cybersecurity Engineering, at least 12 semester hours of college coursework, a 3.2 cumulative GPA, and a B or better in Calculus I (MATH 12002) and University Physics I (PHY 23101) or equivalents; with fewer than 12 hours, college and high school records are both reviewed and a final high school transcript with an ACT or SAT score is needed.
• Where the pages disagree: the Aerospace and Mechatronics program pages give transfer conditions of 12 hours and a B in MATH 11022 or a C in MATH 12002, with no 3.2 GPA or physics; the Cybersecurity page gives 12 hours and a C in MATH 11022; the Industrial and Systems Engineering page gives 12 hours, the same math rule as Aerospace and a C in PHY 23101, and the transfer page does not list that program. Both versions are on kent.edu, so confirm with Admissions which applies.
• Deadline: the transfer page says the application and all materials are due seven days before the semester starts. International transfer students can also receive the Global Scholarship, for a number of semesters that depends on transferred credit.

Checklist

U.S. domestic applicants:

• November 1 priority and January 15 scholarship dates (confirm they apply to fall 2027); keep math grades at C or above and a GPA of 3.0 or higher for direct entry to engineering
• Take precalculus or calculus and physics if you can; take the ALEKS placement after admission

International applicants (including China):

• Apply by June 1 for fall with the $70 fee; to be considered for the Global Scholarship, be admitted by July 1; prepare TOEFL 71 or IELTS 6.0, or confirm a waiver
• Ask Admissions how the Gaokao and Chinese math courses are treated; prepare proof of funds after admission

Transfer students:

• At least a 2.0 cumulative GPA; for Aerospace, Mechatronics or Cybersecurity prepare 12 hours, a 3.2 GPA, and Calculus I and Physics at B; confirm which conditions apply

Sources: Kent State University website, School of Engineering; Undergraduate engineering programs; Accreditations; How do I prepare to pursue an engineering degree; Engineering vs. engineering technology; Aerospace Engineering; Cybersecurity Engineering; Industrial and Systems Engineering; Mechatronics Engineering; First-year requirements; International first-year requirements; Transfer requirements; English waivers; International aid and tuition; International scholarships; Tuition; Cost and aid; Flashes Go Further. None of the pages is dated specifically for fall 2027 entry: the deadline pages show no year, the tuition table is for new students starting in fall 2026 or spring 2027, and the international costs are for 2026–2027, so confirm the versions that apply to fall 2027.