How to Apply to Chemistry at Kent State University: A Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry with Chemistry (ACS-Certified), Industrial Chemistry and Materials Chemistry Concentrations, Test-Optional, with Admission Rules and Prerequisites for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

Undergraduate chemistry at Kent State University in Ohio is offered by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Sciences and Humanities; this guide covers the Kent Campus. Based on Kent State’s website, it covers domestic students, international students (including a separate section for applicants from China) and transfer students. Biology, physics and mathematics are not covered here; the Biochemistry and Biotechnology bachelor’s degrees are closely related and are described below. Medicine, pharmacy and dentistry degrees are outside this guide, so see the website for them.

1. Degrees and concentrations

• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry: the program page says a minimum of 120 credit hours (including 39 upper-division hours) with three concentrations: Chemistry (certified by the American Chemical Society, ACS; for industrial research and development, government research laboratories or academia, and for graduate study in chemistry), Industrial Chemistry (solid background in the major areas of chemistry plus practical training in fields sought by local and regional chemical industries) and Materials Chemistry (for graduate study or industrial careers in materials science, including nanotechnology). The department’s undergraduate programs page calls the second concentration “Biological Industrial Chemistry” while the program page calls it “Industrial Chemistry”; the names differ, so check the current pages. The pages read list no B.A. in Chemistry.
• Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry: offered by the same department; the program page says it prepares students for graduate study in biochemistry or medicine, that with appropriate electives students meet the minimum requirements for ACS certification, and that there is an optional Pre-Medicine/Pre-Osteopathy/Pre-Dentistry/Pre-Podiatric Medicine concentration. The page also describes a pharmacy pathway with Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED); pharmacy is outside this guide, so see the website.
• Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology: an interdisciplinary degree administered jointly by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Department of Biological Sciences, with a foundation in biology and chemistry and training in biotechnologies; the curriculum includes a research experience at Kent State and/or an internship at a biotechnology company. A Chemistry Minor and a Biochemistry Minor are also offered.
• Combined bachelor’s/master’s: students in the chemistry concentrations (and biochemistry) may apply early to the M.S. in Chemistry and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degrees. The policy is in the university catalog, which this guide did not read.
• Exchange: the program page says chemistry students can take part in an exchange program with the University of Leicester in England, and the department page mentions overseas exchange programs.
• Graduation requirements: the program page says a minimum 2.000 major GPA and 2.000 overall GPA. The B.S. in the College of Sciences and Humanities also requires 8 credit hours of one foreign language (Elementary I and II; fewer hours if placement puts you higher), plus the Kent Core (composition, humanities and fine arts, social sciences) and the American Civic Literacy requirement.
• First-year common courses and labs: the Chemistry concentration roadmap starts with General Chemistry I (CHEM 10060, with honors or BOOST versions) and its lab plus Calculus I (MATH 12002); semester two has General Chemistry II and lab and Calculus II; semesters three and four add Organic Chemistry I and II with labs, Calculus III and General University Physics I and II; later terms have analytical, physical and inorganic chemistry with laboratories. The program page says laboratory training runs throughout. The full course lists and roadmaps for each concentration are on the program page.
• Research or capstone: the department page says undergraduate research is actively encouraged; many students take Individual Investigation (CHEM 40796) and may expand it into a senior thesis. In the Industrial Chemistry concentration, the Internship in Chemistry and Biochemistry (CHEM 40092) is listed among the electives and the page says it is strongly encouraged.

2. How admission works and declaring the major

• University or college: the program page’s admission text is the general university text: you apply to the Kent Campus, reviewed on cumulative GPA, curriculum strength and grade trends. The pages read do not say that chemistry has its own admission line or limit; this is not published. The pages say students who want a program with selective requirements but do not meet them may be considered for a pre-major (this applies to the listed selective majors, which do not include chemistry).
• When to declare, conditions, internal transfer: the pages read do not state when chemistry majors declare or any course or GPA conditions. This is not published; ask a college advisor (the department page has a Schedule Advising link).
• Progression requirements: the program page says students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress, listed on the Coursework tab; the Chemistry B.S. coursework tab read only says that the writing-intensive (WIC) requirement needs a C or better, besides the 2.000 GPAs.
• Contact: the department’s undergraduate office (chemug@kent.edu, 330-672-2405) answers questions about undergraduate programs.

3. First-year requirements and prerequisites

• How admission works: first-year admission to the Kent Campus is selective; the site says decisions are based on cumulative GPA, the strength of your high school college-preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses, whose first-year admission is open to anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent. This guide covers the Kent Campus.
• High school courses: the site lists the college-preparatory curriculum recommended by the Ohio State Board of Education: 4 units of English (emphasis on composition), 4 of mathematics (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 an additional unit of foreign language). The pages read set no higher GPA or high school chemistry or calculus requirement for chemistry majors (the majors with their own minimums include aerospace engineering, architecture, cybersecurity engineering, education, fashion, interior design, mechatronics engineering, nursing and speech pathology and audiology, but not chemistry).
• Test-optional: Kent State is test-optional; first-year and transfer applicants are not required to submit the SAT or ACT. The application asks whether you want test scores considered, and once you choose you cannot change it online. Codes: SAT 1367, ACT 3284.
• AP / IB credit: the pages read do not say which required courses AP or IB science or math scores replace. This is not published; ask the department’s undergraduate office or a college advisor.
• Honors College: applicants for any major may take part in the Honors College program; criteria are reviewed after admission and qualifying students are invited to apply with an essay.
• Math starting point: the pages read do not describe a math placement test; the Chemistry concentration roadmap starts with General Chemistry I and its lab and Calculus I (MATH 12002) in the first term, so confirm your course choices with a college advisor.

4. How and when to apply (2027 entry)

• Application: you can use the Kent State Application or the Common App, whichever you prefer. The application fee is $50 (non-refundable) for out-of-state students and $70 (non-refundable) for international applicants.
• First-year dates (the site prints no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027): application opens August 1; priority deadline November 1; merit scholarship deadline January 15; National College Decision Day May 1. The application and all materials must be submitted seven days before the start of the semester.
• Transcripts: official transcripts must be sent directly by your school; current high school students’ transcripts should include at least three years of coursework.
• International deadlines (no year printed, so check that they apply to 2027 entry): October 1 for the spring semester and June 1 for the fall semester; the site also says late applications are accepted but recommends applying early.
• Essays and recommendations: the pages read do not mention an essay or recommendation requirement for first-year applicants (the Honors College application includes an essay). This is not published; follow the application system.
• Science competitions: the pages read do not say how chemistry competitions are viewed in admission.

5. Domestic students

• Tuition (2026-2027, Kent Campus, Golden Guarantee plan): per semester at 12–18 credit hours, $6,924.20 for Ohio residents and $12,149.00 for non-Ohio residents. The site’s two-semester at-a-glance estimate: Ohio residents, tuition $13,848.40 plus food and housing $14,360, total $28,208.40; non-Ohio residents, tuition $24,298 plus food and housing $14,360, total $38,658. Program and special course fees are additional (the pages read list no program fee for chemistry majors), and each credit hour above 18 costs another $629.06.
• Golden Guarantee: the site says that for eligible students, the Ohio resident undergraduate tuition rate, career services fee and room and board plan charges will not increase for the duration of the applicable cohort.
• Scholarships: first-year students from Ohio and from outside Ohio are automatically considered for various merit scholarships, and transfer students are considered for merit scholarships after admission. The scholarships page says the requirements for these include being a U.S. citizen, being admitted to a bachelor’s degree-granting major and planning to enroll full-time on the Kent Campus. Amounts and criteria are on separate pages that this guide did not read.
• Priority or guaranteed admission for state residents: not mentioned in the pages read. This is not published.

6. International students

• Education level and GPA: international first-year applicants must finish secondary school in their home country by enrollment; anyone who has enrolled in a post-secondary institution applies as a transfer student. The site gives the minimum for first-year applicants as a 2.5 GPA on the U.S. 4.0 scale; those who want a program whose selective requirements they do not meet may be considered for the pre-major. International applicants also do not need to submit SAT or ACT scores.
• English minimums (undergraduate; one of the following): TOEFL iBT 71 (including Home Edition; MyBest scores not accepted); revised paper-based TOEFL 18 (average score); IELTS Academic or IELTS Indicator 6.0; Duolingo 100; PTE Academic 48; completion of the Kent State ESL Center Level 8 intensive English program with at least a 3.75/4.0 GPA; ELS Level 112 completion; SAT evidence-based reading and writing of at least 510; or ACT English of at least 21. The TOEFL institution code is 1367.
• Conditional admission: undergraduate applicants who do not meet the minimum language score may be admitted conditionally if they meet the academic requirements; they take English classes at the ESL Center before entering their program.
• English waivers: the waiver page lists countries and territories that are mostly English-speaking (for example Australia, Canada except Quebec, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Singapore for English-medium education only); China is not on the list. Other exemptions include an SAT evidence-based reading and writing score of at least 510 or an ACT English score of at least 21; IB English A at least 5 at higher level (6 at standard level); an A, B or C in Cambridge O-Level, A-Level, GCSE or IGCSE English Language (First Language); and three years of full-time study at a U.S. secondary school.
• Documents: the online application and fee ($70); a copy of your passport biographical page; English proficiency scores; your secondary school graduation certificate and transcripts (certified English translation plus the original language); and any extra documents a major requires. Financial documents (bank statements showing enough funds for education and living expenses) are only required after acceptance; if a sponsor pays, a Kent State Affidavit of Financial Support is used. After admission you must bring your final official transcript and diploma to International Admissions within the first semester or your account is put on hold.
• 2026-2027 costs for an international undergraduate: tuition $24,298 (12–18 hours, two semesters) and living expenses $14,360. For medical insurance and books and supplies, the tuition page says $3,704 for a $42,362 total, while the international aid page’s estimate says $3,935 for a $42,593 total; the two differ, so check the current pages. International students must buy the university’s health insurance (a waiver may be requested if you meet the criteria) and pay a $20 International Student Activity Fee each semester. For an I-20, proof of $4,500 is needed for a spouse or first dependent and $2,500 for each additional dependent.
• Global Scholarship: considered automatically for admitted international undergraduates on the Kent Campus (F-1, first-year or transfer); no separate application. By U.S.-scale GPA: 3.70 and above, $12,000 a year; 3.6–3.69, $10,000; 3.5–3.59, $7,000; 3.49 and below, $4,300. It renews; first-year students can receive it for eight semesters. Renewal requires continuous full-time in-person enrollment that meets immigration requirements on the Kent Campus and good academic standing. To be eligible you must be admitted by July 1 for fall, November 1 for spring or March 1 for summer. For students admitted to the Honors College, the Global Scholarship table lists $15,000 a year plus an Honors Scholarship of $2,000, and the Honors section lists $17,000 for Honors admission with a Global Scholarship at a 3.70 GPA or above. Honors Scholarship applications (new freshmen only) are due December 1 for spring and January 15 for fall. The site stresses that international scholarships are partial and do not cover full tuition, fees and living expenses.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages read do not say whether Gaokao results are used or what score is needed. This is not published; check with International Admissions.
• Transcripts: the international transcript page asks applicants from China to upload their 10th, 11th and 12th grade transcripts and graduation certificate, in English and in the native language; those who have not graduated upload the coursework taken so far. Whether huikao (academic proficiency test) records are needed is not published.
• Tests and English: international applicants also need no SAT or ACT; English requirements are in the previous section, and China is not on the waiver list. No A-Level or IB admission scores are published.
• Interview and contacts: the pages read mention no interview requirement; undergraduate admissions is at 1-800-988-5368 and international admissions at 330-672-7970.

8. Transfer students

• Requirements: transfer admission to the Kent Campus is also selective; anyone who attended an educational institution after high school applies as a transfer student; the minimum cumulative GPA is 2.0 on a 4.0 scale; the application fee is $50 for out-of-state students. The transfer page lists extra requirements only for programs such as aerospace engineering, architecture, business, cybersecurity engineering and nursing, and none for chemistry. This is not published for chemistry; ask a college advisor.
• Materials: official transcripts from every college attended, even if you think the credit will not transfer; applicants with fewer than 12 semester hours of college coursework (not counting credit earned in high school) also send a high school transcript; test scores are optional. The application and all materials are due seven days before the semester starts.
• Credit transfer: college-level courses at a regionally accredited Ohio institution transfer with a D or better if taken in fall 2005 or later; courses at accredited non-Ohio institutions and international credit transfer with a D or better if taken in fall 2010 or later (earlier courses need a C or better). Kent State offers the Flash Credit Estimator. Whether a given chemistry course counts toward the major is not stated in the pages read.
• International transfer students: transcripts from schools outside the U.S. can be uploaded to the portal, with an official translation if not in English, and the final transcript and diploma must be presented after admission. The Global Scholarship is also open to transfer students, for up to eight semesters depending on the credits transferred.

9. Costs, undergraduate research and outcomes

• Costs: see sections 5 and 6. Laboratory or program fees for chemistry courses are not listed in the pages read; rely on your Kent State bill and the University Fee Register.
• Department scholarships: the department page says it has scholarships and awards; those needing no application are decided by the scholarship committee, and applications go through ScholarshipUniverse by the annual March 1 deadline. Listed are the Chemistry Honors Alumni Scholarship (incoming freshmen, $1,500 a year, renewable with a 3.0 GPA, administered by the Honors College), the Chemistry Chair’s Scholarship (incoming chemistry freshmen, $1,000 one-time), the Chemical Reactions Scholarship Fund (sophomores and above, 3.2 GPA, $1,500), the Professor Chun-che Tsai Endowed Scholarship (juniors), the Gary L. Wamer Endowed Chemistry Scholarship (entering seniors, 3.6 GPA, at least one semester of undergraduate research and FAFSA-demonstrated need, $2,500) and others; the page says the list is subject to change. Whether they are open to international students is not stated, so this is not published.
• Undergraduate research: the department page calls independent research an important part of the undergraduate chemistry experience: many students start with Individual Investigation (CHEM 40796) and some expand it into a senior thesis, working one-on-one with a faculty mentor; you contact a faculty member who is accepting undergraduates, then register for the course. The department also runs a ten-week Undergraduate Summer Research Experience (REU), which its home page says has hosted participants from across the country; whether international students can join is not stated in the pages read. The department page also encourages well-qualified students to pursue honors work and/or a senior thesis through the Honors College.
• Outcomes: the department home page says graduates work in local industry and Fortune 500 companies, and many continue to graduate programs or professional degrees in medicine, dentistry and pharmacy; the Chemistry B.S. page says the degree prepares students for industries including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and environmental science, and for advanced study. The pages read give no placement rates or salary figures.
• Internships: the Industrial Chemistry concentration lists an internship elective (CHEM 40092); other internship details are not in the pages read.

Checklist

Domestic students:

• Complete 4 English, 4 math (through Algebra II) and 3 science units; the Kent Campus reviews GPA and course rigor, and tests are optional
• Apply by the November 1 priority deadline (check that it applies to 2027) and by January 15 for merit scholarships
• Confirm your first-term chemistry and calculus courses with a college advisor

International students (including applicants from China):

• A 2.5 U.S.-scale GPA; prepare IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 71; applicants from China upload 10th–12th grade transcripts and graduation certificate in English and the native language
• Apply by June 1 for fall (check the year), be considered automatically for the Global Scholarship, and ask International Admissions about Gaokao use

Transfer students:

• A 2.0 cumulative GPA and transcripts from every college; use the Flash Credit Estimator and ask a college advisor which chemistry courses transfer

Sources: Kent State University, Chemistry and Biochemistry undergraduate programs; Chemistry B.S.; Biochemistry B.S.; Biotechnology B.S.; Chemistry awards and scholarships; Opportunities for undergraduate research in chemistry; First-year requirements; International first-year requirements; English requirement waivers; International transcript requirements; Transfer requirements; Tuition and fees; International student aid and tuition; International scholarship resources; Scholarships. Costs are for 2026-2027; most admission-page deadlines carry no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry. Check Kent State for the latest details.