Federal loans, whether student loans or Parent PLUS loans, are often the only form of financial aid that a student will receive during the summer. Federal loans do require at least half-time attendance. Students are limited as to how much they can borrow in total student loans. They can review this amount on studentaid.gov. The Office of Financial Aid strongly encourages students to schedule an appointment with their financial aid counselor to discuss how using financial aid for the summer may affect their eligibility.

Students can also apply for private loans to cover the cost of their summer courses. For more information regarding private loans, please visit the Financing Your Education page .

Students may be eligible to receive the federal PELL grant for their summer courses. The Office of Financial Aid will determine eligibility at the time of packaging. Any Pell Grants used during the summer semester will count against the Lifetime Eligibility Usage.

To be eligible for the Pennsylvania Summer State Grant Program, you must be enrolled at least half-time (defined as at least six credits per semester) and be enrolled in at least 5 weeks worth of courses. Students must submit an application to PHEAA to determine if they are eligible. Summer Pennsylvania State Grants will be credited to eligible student accounts at the end of summer. You will  not  receive this funding at the beginning of the summer session(s) so all students must plan accordingly. 

The Summer PA State Grant Application is available through PHEAA.

Please note, a Summer Pennsylvania State Grant is included in the maximum number of payments for which a student may be eligible. By law, students are limited to the number of Pennsylvania State Grant payments needed to complete the program in which they are enrolled. All eligible students are limited to the equivalent of four academic year State Grant awards (8 total semesters). Using the grant during the semester can take away potential fall or spring eligibility later.

To complete the application and learn additional information about the Pennsylvania Summer State Grant Program, view the PHEAA State Grant Program website.