Kent State University is expanding its engineering and aviation programs with the creation of a new Digital Engineering Design Center.
The university’s Board of Trustees approved the center during its March meeting on the Kent campus. The center will be housed within the College of Aeronautics and Engineering and is expected to launch in fall 2026.
University leaders say the center will provide students and faculty with advanced digital engineering tools, interdisciplinary research opportunities, and new partnerships with industry and government.
Kent State is the only university in Ohio, and among only a few nationwide, that combines aeronautics and engineering within the same college, giving students access to training that bridges both fields.
The Digital Engineering Design Center will allow students to work with industry-standard modeling and simulation platforms and participate in real-world projects supported by organizations such as the U.S. Department of Defense.
Officials say the goal is to prepare graduates for careers in emerging technology fields that rely heavily on digital design, systems engineering, and advanced simulation.
Interest in the college has grown rapidly in recent years. Applications increased from 1,082 in 2022 to nearly 2,500 for the fall 2026 class, reflecting rising demand for engineering and aviation careers.
In addition to the new center, trustees also approved new degree programs in industrial and systems engineering and aviation science, further expanding academic offerings within the college.
University leaders say the investments will strengthen Kent State’s role as a regional hub for engineering education and workforce development in northeast Ohio.
Students in Kent State University’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering use immersive virtual reality tools to build digital skills for real-time design, testing and collaboration, reflecting the hands-on innovation driving the newly established Digital Engineering Design Center.
