Summer financial aid and registration

Students who have never taken a summer class usually have a lot of questions about financial aid when they are faced with the possibility of taking courses in the summer. How does it work? Do I need to apply to FAFSA again? Here are a few tips to remember regarding financial aid and registration in the summer:

• The academic year ceases at the end of the summer term; so, you must have aid left over from the fall and spring semesters to use for summer.
• There is no additional FAFSA to fill out for summer. One application spans the fall, spring and summer semesters.
• Like all semesters, you must be enrolled at least half-time to get a loan disbursement. Half-time begins at five credit hours for grad students and six hours for undergraduates. Likewise, you generally must be half-time to get a Pell Grant in the summer.

While summer is considered just another semester at UC, there are a few subtle differences from the fall and spring terms in regards to financial aid and billing:

• There is no financial aid “lock date” for the summer semester. That means that your aid doesn’t lock in, and it could adjust based on changes to your summer enrollment. It is best to speak with a One Stop representative before making any changes to your summer schedule.
• There are significantly more sessions within the semester. Some start in May, while others start in June or July. Always check your schedule to verify the course dates. Remember that financial aid is applied ten days prior to the start of your classes. That is especially important to remember if your classes start later in the semester.
• You must be registered for summer classes to get a summer financial aid award. You would also need to have the current year’s FAFSA on file, as well.

Other than those differences, summer acts similarly to the fall and spring semesters. If you do decide to take summer courses, pay attention to your class start dates and contact One Stop if you plan to drop or withdraw from a scheduled course.