Admission Requirements and Procedures     Print    

Regular admission is granted to applicants who have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher or another master's degree with an overall graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. In calculating the GPA, all courses from all institutions are included. Applicants who do not meet these requirements must take the Graduate Record Exam General Test and have official test scores submitted directly to Research and Graduate Studies from GRE to be considered for conditional admission.  (Please note that currently it is GRE’s policy to retain scores for no more than five years.   Please visit their website for further information, www.ets.org/gre/.)  International students, whose first language is not English, must achieve a TOEFL score of 250 or higher on the computer-based exam (600 or higher on the paper-based test; 100 or higher on the internet-based test) to be considered for full admission.

Tuition Rates

Information on tuition rates can be found here . 

Admission Procedures

Admission to the school consists of the steps indicated below.   The online application will indicate "Kent Campus" for all Kent, Columbus and 12-12-12 students.  Please refer to our Admissions Checklist for specific information on the how to apply to our program.

1. Order a transcript from all colleges/universities that you attended and completed eight (8) semester hours or more.  They should be sent to:

Office of Research and Graduate Studies                             330-672-2661
Kent State University
P. O. Box 5190
Kent. OH   44242-0001

2.  If your overall cumulative undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0, then arrange to take the Graduate Record Exam General Test as soon as possible.  (You will need our Institution Code which is 1367 and our Department Code which is 4701.)   GRE Scores should be sent to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies at the above address.  

3.  If you are an international student whose native language is not English, make arrangements to take the TOEFL.  You may contact Educational Testing Services for further information, www.ETS.org/TOEFL.   Students who have already completed a degree in a post-secondary institution in the United States may be exempted from this requirement.   For specific information about the TOEFL requirement, please visit the Office of Admissions website or you may contact them with any questions at 330-672-2444 or 1-800-988-KENT.  TOEFL scores should be sent to:

Office of Admissions
Kent State University
P. O. Box 5190
Kent, OH   44242-0001

4. Complete and submit the online admission application with the admission fee.   The following items are included with the online application :

• You may attach a resume, but it is optional.

• You will be asked for a Statement of Career Goals. This should be a one- page statement explaining why you chose Kent State University for graduate study, why you wish to earn an MLIS degree and what career tracks interest you. This statement will be used to match you with a faculty advisor and also serves as a writing sample.

• On the application you will list the names of three people completing letters of recommendation for you.   You will also need to obtain the letter of recommendation forms from our Forms and Downloads page under Application Materials.  Original signatures are required so these forms must be mailed to Research and Graduate Studies; they cannot be faxed or emailed.

• If you wish to apply for a Graduate Assistantship position, the form will be available through the online application system.  This application is also available under Scholarships and Assistantships from our Forms and Downloads page.
• If you are interested in applying for an hourly student position in the Kent State Library, you may complete a Graduate Student Application which is entirely online.  If you would like further information about these positions, you may contact Library and Media Services at 330-672-2962.

5. The School of Library and Information Science requires the following documentation: 

• Biographical Sketch for Graduate Students. Complete and mail it to the address listed at the bottom of the form.
• A personal interview (if requested).

Generally, a decision regarding admission may be made within 4 to 5 weeks of receipt of all of the above application materials.   To check the status of your application after all materials have been received, you may contact us at 330-672-2782 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

If you wish to complete a paper application, you may access a copy through this link, Printed Application.   This paper application includes the application and one copy of the recommendation form.   You will need to reprint two additional recommendation forms.  Note: If you wish to apply for an assistantship in Library and Information Science, we prefer that you submit the Application for Graduate Appointment form as indicated above.

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Deadlines for Admission

Prospective students should complete their applications and all application materials so that all application materials, including GRE scores,  have been received by:

JANUARY 15 FOR SUMMER SEMESTER ADMISSION *

MARCH 15 FOR FALL SEMESTER ADMISSION *

SPRING ADMISSION APPLICATION DEADLINE TO BE DETERMINED*

*Applications received after the indicated deadline date will be considered on a space-available basis for that semester.  Please contact the SLIS office to determine the possibility of late submission if your application file will not be complete by the deadlines stated above.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for all semesters for the Kent and Columbus locations.   Students in the 12-12-12 Distance Learning Program are normally admitted for the Fall semester only; however, they may be admitted for the Spring and/or Summer semesters if they are willing to enroll for classes/workshops at the Kent or Columbus locations.