Kent State University

Kent State University, better known as KSU or Kent State, is a major public university in Ohio. Founded in 1910, it opened as the Kent State Normal School. Though located in the city of the same name, the Kent in the school's name actually comes from the man who donated land for its campus who was also the son of the town's founder. By 1915, the school operated under the name of the Kent State Normal College, because it had the right to offer degrees to its students. After the state decided to shift the focus of the college away from education and towards arts and sciences programs, it became Kent State College. It kept this name for a number of years before becoming a university.

Many people know this university because of the shootings that occurred on its campus in the early 1970s. The tragic event inspired a hit song and led to a small drop in enrollment in the coming years. Kent State now has a memorial dedicated to the shootings and the students who lost their lives in the middle of its campus. Part of the growth of the university is due to the number of regional campuses that it built over the years. Students can now take classes on one of six campuses located outside of Kent.

Kent State ranks as one of the top colleges in Ohio. According to U.S. News & World Report, its library and information sciences program is one of the top 20 programs in the country. This is also the only library science program in Ohio to make that list.

Kent State University Accreditation Details

If you think that you might want to transfer credits after enrolling in Kent State, you must make sure that it has regional accreditation or institutional accreditation. The accreditation that it has from the Higher Learning Commission makes it possible for students like you to both transfer credits into a program and transfer credits to another university. Kent State University also has accreditation for some of the programs it offers that help you earn a degree in fields like music, dance and psychology. More than 20 organizations granted Kent State accreditation, including:

• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.
• American Podiatric Medical Association
• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
• Council on Rehabilitation Education

Kent State University Application Requirements

KSU looks for the top students for its graduate programs, which is why you must have a minimum college grade point average of 3.0 to enroll in its graduate school. Though you have the option of using a paper application, you'll also need to make arrangements for the university to receive any necessary documents or paperwork. When you use the online application, you can submit all those documents through the online system. Once you fill out this application and have all your documents uploaded, you must pay a $45 application fee before you can submit it.

Other requirements for prospective graduate students include both an official transcript and letters of recommendation. The transcript must come in a sealed envelope that has the name of your college on the front. Kent State asks for a transcript from any college where you earned eight or more credits. You can use the online system to submit letters of recommendation, which should come from those familiar with your college or professional work. The university may ask for a list of your future goals, a writing sample, an official standardized test score or a copy of your resume.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The total cost of attending Kent State as a graduate student is around $23,000 for Ohio residents and nearly $30,000 a year for nonresidents. Those applying for resident status must provide the university with proof that they lived in the state for at least one year before the date that classes start. These figures include just over $9,000 in tuition for Ohio residents and a tuition rate of close to $16,000 for nonresidents. Though the university estimates that you will pay $7,800 for room and board, your own living expenses may be higher or lower. Estimated prices include personal expenses and textbooks too.

If you need financial aid for college, you must use the FAFSA and file your copy early in the spring or even in the late winter. Kent State can help students get grants and loans to pay for graduate school, which usually come from the state or federal government. Depending on your credit score, you may qualify for one or more private student loans too. You should check with KSU about other ways of paying your tuition, including setting up a payment plan with the university, using a reimbursement plan an employer offers or working on the university's campus.

Library Science

The main library science program that KSU offers is its Master of Science in Library and Information Science. This program is available on its main campus and through one of its regional centers, but you can also enroll in the online library science program. The online program allows you to take all classes online to to combine online classes with campus work. Kent State offers more than 10 concentrations or specializations that include museum studies, digital preservation and youth services. If you want to study a field not currently listed, the university will work with you to develop a program that meets your needs. Though there are some required courses that you'll take, you will also take classes relating to your concentration.

Related Resource: Top 30 Affordable Online Master's in Library Science Degree Programs

Some of the special courses you take will help you learn how to create library catalogs, preserve information for future use, work with younger students in a school setting and maintain a reference library. Certain programs focus more on digital and online work than traditional books and reading materials. Kent State can help you gain practical experience working in a library while in school too. The university offers a dual degree designed for those who want to enroll as an undergrad and easily transition into the graduate program. Kent State University also offers a number of other dual degree programs designed for graduate students who want to earn degrees in library sciences and business administration or education.