Summer Financial Aid
If you plan to take courses over the summer, you may be able to receive some financial aid to offset the costs. However, financial aid programs for the summer are limited to loans, work-study and Federal Pell Grants for eligible undergraduate students.
If you want to be considered for summer financial aid, you must:
- be a currently enrolled student in a degree-granting program at UMass Amherst
- be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). If you have any SAP issues, you must resolve them before receiving summer or academic year financial aid. (Please note that summer classes will affect your GPA for the fall term.).
In addition, you must resolve any financial obligations to the university before completing a summer financial aid application.
Applying for Summer Aid
To apply for summer financial aid, you must:
- File a current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Complete the appropriate UMass Amherst Summer Financial Aid Application/Verification form.
You can download forms for dependent students, independent students, or graduate students. You can also pick up an application at Financial Aid Services (255 Whitmore) or the Student Employment Office (243 Whitmore). - Submit signed copies of the previous year’s federal tax return.
- Submit all requested verification documents. All documents must be received by the deadline date or summer aid can not be processed.
- Mail the application materials to Financial Aid Services at 255 Whitmore Building; fax them to 413-545-1700; or bring them in person to 255 or 243 Whitmore.
Additional Information
Summer Abroad Programs
Internships and Independent Study
Enrollment Requirements
Dropping Credits
Registering for Classes or Summer Abroad Program
Summer Financial Aid Amounts
Living Expenses
Disbursement of Funds
Excess Funds
Summer Abroad Programs
You may receive financial aid if you are enrolled in a summer international exchange program, if it is an approved program with the International Programs Office. To receive aid, you must register your program classes with the UMass Amherst Division of Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) for at least six credits. Visit the Study Abroad section for more information.
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Internships and Independent Study
You may also receive financial aid if you are enrolled in a summer internship or independent study. The internship or independent study must be credit-approved academic work and you must register with Continuing and Professional Education for at least six credits. Contact your sponsoring professor or program director for assistance.
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Enrollment Requirements
If you are applying for federal student loans, you are required to take at least six credits during the summer session.
If you are applying for federal work-study only, you are not required to enroll in classes for the summer session.
Pell Grant eligible undergraduate students can enroll for a minimum of 3 credits for the summer.
If you are a graduate student working on a dissertation or field research that is considered at least half time by your program director you may receive a summer loan.
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Dropping Credits
If you do not enroll for the minimum number of credits during the summer we cannot award you loans. Additionally, if at any time during the summer session you fall below the required six credits minimum, your loans will be cancelled.
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Registering for Classes or Summer Abroad Program
Students going on exchange: After you complete a Summer Financial Aid application and submit it to Financial Aid Services, the International Programs Office (IPO) will be notified via e-mail of your eligibility for summer enrollment.
Students taking summer classes: All UMass Amherst matriculated Undergraduate and Graduate students will be able to register for summer classes in SPIRE, prior to financial aid being finalized. Please note that ability to register does not ensure receipt of summer financial aid.
If the cost of your courses exceeds the financial aid award you receive, you are responsible for paying the difference.
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Summer Financial Aid Amounts
Federal Pell Grants: Students with Pell Grant eligibility will be awarded after reviewing anticipated enrolled credits for summer.
Federal Direct Loans: During the summer session you may receive a Federal Direct Loan up to the cost of summer tuition and fees or up to your annual limit. The amount of the direct loan that you receive in the summer will reduce the amount of aid that you receive during the academic year, but it will not impact your Federal College Work-Study awards.
Federal College Work-Study: During the summer you may earn up to $2,550 in work-study, unless you graduate in May (e.g. students graduating in May 2009 are not eligible for work-study during the summer of 2009).
Alternative Loans: You may apply for an alternative loan for up to the cost of tuition and fees for the summer term. You must comply with the lender’s criteria regarding credits and enrollment status. We recommend you apply for summer financial aid first.
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Living Expenses
Because summer is not considered an official school term, living expenses are usually not funded with financial aid. However, you may earn work-study to help pay for living expenses.
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Disbursement of Funds
The disbursement* of federal summer loans will occur on a nightly basis on or after July 1, 2009 once your enrollment of six or more credits is verified. The disbursement of summer alternative loans will occur after July 1, 2009, once you meet the eligibility/lender criteria for the loan and the lender has sent the funds to UMass Amherst. Alternative loan funds are received twice a week by UMass Amherst.
*This is the day funds are credited to your Bursar account not the day you will receive your excess/refund
.
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Excess Funds
If you are eligible for an excess refund, it may be available within ten working days after funds are disbursed to your Bursar account. Please consider signing up for Excess Express, through your SPIRE account.
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