Top Ten Reasons to Work at Kent State...in no particular order Kent State is 1 of 5 universities in Ohio to be designated R1 Carnegie classification, which is the highest recognition that doctoral universities can receive. Only 146 universities in the nation have R1 status. Kent State, Ohio University and the University at Buffalo are the only Mid-American Conference schools to carry this coveted and esteemed designation. Kent State is one of only 15 four-year public universities in the nation and is the only Ohio public university to receive the 2021 "Great Colleges to Work For" designation. Kent is a great college town, centrally located and easily drivable to major league sporting events and major cities. Kent is 37.9 miles from Cleveland, and 101.2 miles fr