Students taking more than six credit hours this summer are eligible for financial aid.
Summer course registration opened on March 31. Students who are enrolled in summer courses and have a valid 2024-25 FAFSA will automatically be considered for Federal Pell Grants, Direct Loans and PLUS loans, according to an email sent to all students on April 12.
According to Jevita Rogers, assistant vice chancellor for enrollment and financial aid, any student interested in financial aid for summer classes needs to check their degree audit, find what classes they need and enroll to be considered.
“Summer classes allow students to either graduate earlier than they planned or have additional credits to complete a minor or second major and not be overloaded with classes in the regular fall and spring semesters,” Rogers said via email.
Students who do not have a 2024-25 FAFSA completed can still fill out the FAFSA application. UCCS receives students’ FAFSA forms within 7-10 business days, according to Rogers, which automatically qualifies students for the four types of aid. Students will receive an email about how much aid they will receive by May 22.
To be eligible for summer financial aid, students must be enrolled at least half-time (six or more credit hours) not including waitlisted classes, be degree-seeking, file the 2025-26 FAFSA and fit the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.
Work Study
Work study is a financial aid program that allows students to earn money through part-time jobs while taking classes.
Students interested in summer work study positions must apply through their myUCCS portals by April 22. To apply for a work study, a student must have filed a 2024-25 FAFSA, be enrolled in Fall 2025 classes and have submitted their 2025-26 FAFSA form.
Those who held work study positions for the Spring 2025 semester should have received an email with details on how to reapply for summer aid, according to Rogers. Students who hold work study positions will take priority for summer term positions. The summer work study program runs from May 25 to Aug. 16.
To access the summer financial aid application, students should go to their myUCCS portal, select the “Financial Aid” tab in the Student Center and select “Summer Aid Application.”
Federal Pell Grant
Federal Pell Grants are typically available to students with serious financial need or incarcerated students enrolled in a Prison Education program, according to the FAFSA webpage.
Students eligible for Pell Grants can be granted up to 150% of their annual Pell Grant award by being enrolled full-time in the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters and half-time for the Summer 2025 term. Pell Grant recipients can also utilize their full grant by enrolling in at least 12 credit hours for the summer term instead of traditional enrollment throughout the year.
Pell Grants are conditional on attendance; students are required to fully attend and participate in activities for enrolled classes. The rates of Pell Grants are recalculated for students in online or other non-attendance courses.
The award amount for a Pell Grant may be adjusted or reduced if a student drops a class before the term starts or drops without withdrawing, their attendance is undocumented or they do not attend class.
Federal Direct Loans
For students with Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans, only those with remaining undisbursed money within their loan limits will receive aid. For example, if a student does not use the full yearly amount of a loan in the fall and spring semesters, they can use the remaining loan money for the summer term.
First-time borrowers are required to complete the Direct Loan entrance counseling and master promissory note in their FAFSA portal before loan funding can be disbursed.
Federal PLUS and Grad PLUS Loans
PLUS Loans are available to parents of dependent undergraduate students. Grad PLUS Loans are available to qualifying graduate or professional students, according to the FAFSA website.
For the summer term, those with Parent PLUS loans are awarded by subtracting a student’s other aid from the total cost of attendance. Grad PLUS Loan recipients must have utilized their entire Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan limit before being considered for summer aid.
Students can apply for PLUS Loans in their FAFSA portals, and their myUCCS portal will show any awarded aid three to five business days after approval.
Students can direct questions about applying for summer financial aid to the Financial Aid Office’s email.
The clock tower. Photo by Josiah Dolan.