Admissions Procedures

Complete the following admissions steps, and if you need help along the way, give us a call at 330-494-6170 and ask for the Admissions Office.

Information about the approval process for listed programs may be requested from the respective division office or by contacting the approving agency directly.

Apply for Admission

Complete your application online at starkstate.edu.

Submit Your Documents

To register for courses, you’ll need to supply your official high school transcript (contact your high school guidance office to get your records) and these, if they apply for you:

  • GED certificate and scores (bring the originals to the Admissions Office and we’ll make a copy).
  • Official transcripts from all colleges you previously attended (transfer students only).
  • Selective Service number (males ages 18-26; register or receive a number at sss.gov or call toll-free 847-688-2567).

Placement Assessment

Provide your ACT scores (if you’ve taken the test within the last five years)

–OR–

Set up an appointment to take the ACCUPLACER assessment. Call 330-494-6170 or stop in M110.

–OR–

Have the results of any ACCUPLACER assessment you’ve taken in the past five years at another college or university sent to the Admissions Office.

Apply for Financial Aid

You’ll need to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to apply for financial aid. Go to fafsa.gov and use Stark State College’s school code, 011141.

Visit Gateway student services in M102 or the financial aid webpage at starkstate.edu/finaid for more detailed information.

New Student Orientation

You’re required to complete a new student orientation before you can register for classes. Register for an in-person session (the best way to get your questions answered) or an online orientation at starkstate.edu/orientation.

You’ll need your student identification number to reserve your seat.

See how Stark State’s tuition compares to other colleges and universities: starkstate.edu/tuitioncomparison.

Transfer Applicants 

Transfer credit will be accepted for successfully completed college-level courses from institutions of higher education that are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission or other regional accrediting commissions recognized by the Council On Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Transfer credit will be evaluated upon receipt of an official transcript.

Transient/Guest Students

A transient/guest student is a student who plans to enroll at Stark State College on a temporary basis. Follow these steps to complete the admissions process:

  1. Complete a Stark State College application. The application is available online at starkstate.edu/admissions.
  2. Receive academic advising and approval from home institution for course(s) planned for enrollment at Stark State. Submit written approval from home institution to Stark State College Academic Records/Registrar’s Office indicating the course(s) for enrollment.
  3. Meet with a Stark State enrollment representative to review enrollment process. Contact the Admissions Office at 330-494-6170 with questions.

International Student Admissions

Stark State College is a certified Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) designee that welcomes qualified F1 visa holders from other countries.

According to the Code of Federal Regulations 8 CFR 214.3(a) (2), specific schools are eligible to enroll F visa holder students, including a community college or junior college that provides instruction in liberal arts or in the professions and awards recognized associate degrees.

The following procedures pertain to international students holding an F visa who apply for admission to Stark State College.

  1. Application.
    1. An application must be completed and submitted to Stark State College using the international application available at starkstate.edu/admissions.
  2. High school diploma (or equivalent) and transcripts
    1. It is the responsibility of the student to submit original or certified copies of the academic record in the original language with English translations. Students who have high school transcripts in a foreign language need to have them evaluated through a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) naces.org/members.htm. The records must show completion of an equivalent level of a four-year high school diploma in the U.S. Students may also submit original or certified copies of examination results issued by the high school or examination board. Photocopies may be submitted in addition to the originals if requesting to have the original returned.
  3. College transcripts
    1. Official U.S. college or university transcript.
    2. Foreign college records. To request transfer credits for courses completed, submit your original or certified copies in the original language, and English translations of the records are required. Students must submit foreign transcripts to a professional foreign transcript evaluation service in the U.S. to pursue the possibility of receiving transfer credit(s).
  4. Proof of English language proficiency. English proficiency results must not be more than two years old. Testing may be waived if the student has earned a degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or has completed a college-level English composition course with a grade of “C” or above from an accredited U.S college or university.
    1. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): Stark State College institutional code is 1688. Paper-Based Test (PBT: minimum score of 500) or Internet-Based Test (iBT: minimum total score of 61 AND no score below 18 on both reading and writing sections)
    2. IELTS (International English Language Testing System): Minimum score of 6.0
    3. ACT (American College Test): Minimum English score of 18 or higher
    4. AP (Advanced Placement Exam): English Literature and Composition or English Language and Composition test score of 3 or higher 
    5. Transfer credit in college-level English with a grade of “C” or better from an accredited U.S. college or university
  5. Immigration documents. Photocopies of the following documents must be submitted:
    1. Passport page that includes the student’s photo and visa page.
    2. Front and back of the I-94 3.
    3. If an F visa holder is transferring to Stark State College, the Form I-20 from the student’s current U.S. college or university, along with any transfer forms, must be submitted to the Admissions Office.
    4. Financial documents for F visa applicants and dependents. An original letter on official letterhead from a bank or other financial institution in which the sponsor has saving deposits or other types of accounts containing readily available funds. Student must provide:
      1. Date account(s) were opened.
      2. Specific amount of funds in the account. Names listed as account holders on bank statement must match names and signatures on Affidavit of Financial Support form. The statement must be in English, and signed and sealed by the appropriate bank or government official. This information must be dated within six months of the intended date of enrollment. No business accounts will be accepted.
  6. After the above process is complete and the student is admitted to Stark State College, a Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status is mailed to the student.

mySSC Portal and Banner Self Service

The mySSC web portal provides students with web access to the College’s student system, including a full suite of web-based self-service capabilities:

  • Review enrollment information.
  • Search for and register for classes.
  • View midterm and final grades.
  • View degree audit evaluation.
  • Check registration and financial account holds.
  • Check financial aid status and award amount.
  • Pay tuition with credit card or check .
  • Change personal information.
  • Request a Stark State College transcript or enrollment verification.
  • Track status of documents submitted for financial aid.
  • View advisor and program information.

The mySSC portal is a service-oriented web portal environment that is the single focal point for College electronic communication, information and services. The portal provides a single access point and single sign-on for many services available at Stark State College, including eStarkState and email.

Note: NEW students must enroll in person for classes.

Career Communities

Stark State’s 10 career communities help you look at clusters of occupations that align with your interests, skills, goals and career plans. Whether you have your sights set on a specific career pathway or are exploring your options, it’s a simpler way to find your career calling among the more than 200-plus degrees and certificates Stark State offers. You can select a certificate or associate degree in a career community or explore your passion by choosing an exploratory major within a career community.

If you aren’t sure exactly what you want to study or what degree you want to pursue, selecting an exploratory major will help with structured exploration while reducing taking unnecessary credits. Your Gateway advisor and career services specialist are here to help you get to a career decision and completion of your program of study so you can begin your dream career and job!

Academic Advising

As you begin your Stark State educational journey, you’ll be supported by a Gateway advisor who will help you establish your career goal and select the right courses for you to accomplish it. Your Gateway advisor will stay with you through your initial 15 college credit hours, and then help you transition to your faculty advisor. Your faculty advisor will help ensure you’re taking the right courses to complete your program of study and also will be your success champion as you progress to completion of your degree or certificate. Your advisors will work together to be your go-to team and help you navigate Stark State College to realize your goals.

You can find the name of your Gateway advisor and faculty advisor in your student portal, mySSC. Once in mySSC, click the MyStuff tab, scroll to the Academic Profile option and select the current term from the drop-down menu. Your information will include the names of your Gateway advisor and faculty advisor.

Placement Testing

Every first-time Stark State degree-seeking student is required to take the ACCUPLACER exam unless the student has ACT scores. Students may retake the ACCUPLACER test once per academic year; however, once a student has begun a course based on ACCUPLACER placement, they may not retest in that area. Students with applicable transfer credits are not required to test in that area.

Required Course Placement

First-time Stark State degree-seeking students are required to complete all developmental courses into which they are placed by ACCUPLACER or ACT scores and that are required by their programs, beginning with their first semester of credit enrollment and continuing for all subsequent semesters to completion. Reading proficiency is required of all students as determined by placement or course completion. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for a student returning after an absence at the discretion of the subject department chair or designee.

Transcripting Credit for Prior Learning

Credit can be awarded for demonstrated college-level learning. Students applying for credit must:

  1. Provide documentation to support the learning.
  2. Have documentation evaluated by the appropriate college personnel.

If awarded, approved credit will be recorded on transcripts after a student successfully completes one semester at Stark State College. For more information, contact the Admissions Office to speak with the prior learning assessment coordinator.

Credit by Examination (Proficiency Testing)

Students who can demonstrate ability and knowledge in a particular subject area may establish credit in certain courses without enrolling in them. This is done by taking a special examination or performing a special assignment, or both, through the appropriate department. An examination fee is assessed. No letter grade is given. Students may take the exam only once per course. Students enrolled in a course are not eligible to take a proficiency examination for the course after the sixth business day of the semester (16, 10, 8 and 5 week).

Advanced Placement

The College accepts credits earned while in high school as measured by the College Entrance Examination Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) program. Students must score three or higher on a subject-area examination. Contact the Admissions Office at 330-494-6170 for additional information.

International Baccalaureate

An International Baccalaureate (IB) education is a challenging two-year curriculum primarily aimed at students aged 16 to 19. It leads to transferable credits which are widely recognized by colleges and universities. For more information, go to ibo.org

CLEP Credit by Examinations

he College will award comparable academic credit to registered students for successful completion of the College Entrance Examination Board’s College Level Examination Program (CLEP) general and subject-area examinations. Contact the Admissions Office at 330-494-6170 for additional information.

Academic Outreach and Satellite Centers

At Stark State College, we understand the importance of making college education accessible to you in your community. The College is committed to serving students of all ages where they live and work by providing access to transferable higher education at our satellite centers and other locations. The College has locations in Akron and downtown Canton. Each location offers students the same convenience, affordability, quality faculty and individualized attention as our main campus. Satellites and off-site locations also offer personalized service in the admissions process, and the convenient location and parking can save you money on gas.

Financial aid and scholarship opportunities are available. Call 330-494-6170.

College Credit Plus

High school students from partner high schools may enroll in College Credit Plus courses. These courses may be offered at their high school, online or at the College. In all cases, they can earn the same transferable college credit. Students must meet the College entrance testing requirements (ACCUPLACER, ACT or SAT) and fulfill all prerequisites in order to enroll.

Courses are taught by College-credentialed faculty who use the College textbook, syllabus and learning outcomes. Upon successful completion of the course, the student earns college credit as well as high school credit. For more information, visit starkstate.edu/collegecreditplus.

College Tech Prep

In an attempt to ease the transition to college for students in career-technical education, the state of Ohio, through collaboration between the Ohio Department of Higher Education and the Ohio Department of Education, has divided the state into six regional centers. Stark State College partners with Kent State University, The University of Akron and Youngstown State University in the East Central Region.

Through this joint venture, the four post-secondary institutions have come together in a unique partnership with the goal of supporting students, teachers, counselors and administrators. The main purpose of the collaboration is to create meaningful articulation agreements regionally with secondary high schools and career technical planning districts.

As the East Central Regional Center develops, Stark State looks forward to being a valuable partner in assisting northeast Ohio students in accessing earned college credits, increasing the number of college graduates and creating a highly qualified, well-paid workforce in Ohio.

Full-time Student

A full-time student is one who is officially enrolled in Stark State College for a minimum of 12 semester hours of coursework in fall or spring semester or six hours in summer semester. (Please note that the definition of a summer full-time student may vary for financial aid purposes.)

Part-time Student

A student enrolled in 11 semester hours of coursework or fewer during a fall or spring semester is considered a part-time student. Enrollment of five semester hours or fewer during a summer semester is considered part time.

Student ID Cards

Identification cards are provided in the Admissions Office. This card also serves as the student library card. You are expected to carry your ID card at all times. Lost or stolen ID cards should be reported to Gateway student services. A new card can be issued once the fee is paid.

Student Responsibility

Students are responsible for being familiar with and adhering to all college policies and procedures as published on the College website at starkstate.edu/policies.

The site is searchable by opening the link marked Complete P & P (pdf), then right-clicking on the document and typing in the search phrase listed above.

Students without internet access may use open labs to access starkstate.edu/policies. Requests for printed copies of policies and procedures, or questions regarding any policy or procedure, should be directed to the Provost’s Office.