Kent State's in-person Professional Pilot B.S. combines aviation coursework with aircraft and simulator training. Admission to the major is selective and involves a pre-admission assessment. Students study flight operations, aircraft systems and aviation safety while working toward professional-pilot qualifications.
- Program
- Professional Pilot - B.S.
- Credential
- Bachelor of Science
- Location
- Kent, Ohio, United States
- Casper
- Required
- Next deadline
- November 1, 2026 (First-year priority application deadline)
- Seats
- 100 planned for Fall 2026
- Length
- Eight-semester recommended plan; minimum 120 credit hours
Casper Requirement for Kent State University Professional Pilot
Kent State University Professional Pilot requires Casper for the 2026-2027 cycle.
- Test to book
- Casper
Check available Casper test dates in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.
After university admission and placement in Aeronautical Studies, applicants receive an email directing them to take Casper. The assessment costs $50, may be taken once, and is used to determine admission to Professional Pilot. Test dates for the entry term are not yet stated.
Casper format
Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test run by Acuity Insights. The current format has 11 scenarios (4 video-response and 7 typed-response) with 2 questions each and takes about 65 to 85 minutes, including optional breaks. Typed-response scenarios allow 3.5 minutes to answer both questions.
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Kent State University Professional Pilot Application Deadlines 2026-2027
- Apply through
- Kent State Application or Common Application
- Applications open
- August 1
- Application fee
- $50 non-refundable for out-of-state applicants
| What | When |
|---|---|
| First-year priority application deadline | November 1, 2026upcoming |
| First-year merit scholarship deadline | January 15, 2027upcoming |
| Transfer fall priority application deadline | July 1, 2027upcoming |
| Transfer fall scholarship consideration deadline | August 1, 2027upcoming |
Select Professional Pilot when applying; students admitted to Kent State are initially placed in Aeronautical Studies pending the major's decision.
Kent State University Professional Pilot Admissions Statistics
Period: Fall 2026 cohort; calendar year 2025
- Seats / class size: 100 planned for Fall 2026
- Professional Pilot students enrolled in 2025: 329
- Professional Pilot students graduated in 2025: 44
Eligibility Requirements for Kent State University Professional Pilot
- Degree / credits
First-year applicants must be high-school seniors or hold a high-school diploma, GED or equivalent, without post-graduation college enrollment; transfer applicants have attended college after high school.
- Language proficiency
International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency unless exempt. Undergraduate options include TOEFL iBT 71, IELTS Academic 6.0, Duolingo English Test 100, PTE Academic 48, or qualifying English-language study; Kent State lists additional accepted options and exceptions.
Admission pathways
- First-year admission: Apply to Kent State and complete the Professional Pilot pre-admission evaluation.
- Transfer admission: At least a 2.500 overall GPA in college-level coursework is required for consideration for the major.
Other requirements
- FAA medical certification: Obtain and maintain certification; at least third-class before the first Private Pilot Flight course and no later than the end of the first semester; later flight courses require at least second-class.
- Flight-course enrollment with prior credits: Transfer and College Credit Plus students may enroll in flight training only with special permission.
Selection Factors Kent State University Considers
GPA
- Minimum
- 2.500 overall for transfer consideration
Students need a 2.500 overall GPA before flight training and must maintain a 2.500 overall GPA and a 2.500 major GPA for progression. Flight training and associated theory courses require at least a C.
Admissions tests
- ACT (optional): Applicants may choose whether scores are considered for university admission.
- SAT (optional): Applicants may choose whether scores are considered for university admission.
- English proficiency testing (required for some applicants): Required for international applicants who are not exempt. Accepted undergraduate options include TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, Duolingo English Test, PTE Academic and other approved options.
Supplementary application
Submit an official high-school transcript as a first-year applicant; transfer applicants submit official transcripts from every college attended and, with fewer than 12 post-high-school semester hours, a high-school transcript. The Professional Pilot pre-admission evaluation is separate from university admission.
How applicants are ranked
University admission precedes placement in Aeronautical Studies and an invitation to Casper. Applicants meeting Kent State's Casper cut-off are offered Professional Pilot slots; an admissions deposit secures a slot on a first-come, first-served basis. An Aeronautical Studies pilot-career pathway is available to students without a slot, but later transfer into Professional Pilot is not guaranteed.
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Start Practicing FreeCurriculum at Kent State University Professional Pilot
- Program length
- Eight-semester recommended plan; minimum 120 credit hours
- Structure
In-person degree combining aeronautics and general education with private, instrument, commercial, multi-engine and flight-instructor coursework.
- Campuses
- Kent Campus
The plan also includes weather, aircraft systems, physics, aviation safety and law; students plan their sequence with an advisor.
Campus and facilities
Instruction is in person at Kent Campus, with flight training using Kent State's university-owned aircraft and simulators. The college identifies 34 aircraft in its academic fleet.
Tuition and Funding at Kent State University
- 2026-27 Kent Campus Ohio-resident undergraduate tuition: $13,848.40 per academic year
- 2026-27 non-Ohio-resident undergraduate tuition: $24,298.00 per academic year
Rates shown are for students starting Fall 2026 or Spring 2027; program and special-course fees are additional, and Fall 2027 entrant rates are not shown. Flight fees are additional to tuition and may rise if training exceeds included hours. The flight-fee schedule currently displayed is labeled 2024-25, so its course prices should not be presented as Fall 2027 prices.
Kent State University's Mission and Values
Prepare students to become professional pilots and obtain FAA certificates and ratings for flight and ground instruction and commercial and instrument operations.
How to Prepare Your Kent State University Professional Pilot Application
- Select Professional Pilot on the Kent State application
- Send the required official transcripts
- Watch for the Casper invitation after university admission
- Use the available Casper preparation materials and book an offered test date
- Check FAA medical eligibility and budget for flight fees
Frequently Asked Questions About Kent State University Professional Pilot
Is Casper required?
Yes, for the Professional Pilot pre-admission evaluation.
When will I be invited to take it?
After university admission and placement in Aeronautical Studies, Kent State emails instructions.
Can I take Casper more than once?
Kent State says it may be taken once.
Are ACT or SAT scores required?
No; Kent State offers test-optional admission.
What GPA do transfers need?
At least a 2.500 overall GPA in college-level coursework for major consideration.
Does university admission secure a pilot slot?
No; the major has a separate selective decision.
Is an FAA medical certificate needed?
Yes; at least third-class is required before the first flight course, no later than the first semester's end.
Are flight fees included in tuition?
No; special-course fees are additional.
Sources
- Professional Pilot - B.S. | Kent State University
- Important Information for Future Students Interested in a Career as a Pilot | Kent State University
- First-Year Kent Campus Student Requirements | Kent State University
- Transfer Student Requirements | Kent State University
- English Language Proficiency | Kent State University
- Tuition & Fees | Kent State University
- Flight/Special Course Fees | Kent State University
- kent.edu
Last updated: September 26, 2026