If you plan to enroll in Summer courses, a Federal Pell Grant may be available to you. If you are eligible for Summer Pell Grant funding, your Pell Grant will be automatically awarded via GET.
General Eligibility Requirements:
- Must have been awarded a Pell Grant for the current academic year. Students who did not use the full amount must exhaust their remaining annual limit before becoming eligible for the additional Summer Pell Grant
- Must have remaining Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility
- Meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements
- Must be enrolled and attend a minimum of six units of summer courses. Any combination of units from any summer session counts for summer Pell Grant unless they have remaining annual Pell Grant eligibility
Students who have remaining Pell Grant eligibility based on LEU (Lifetime Eligibility Used), will be automatically awarded a Summer Pell Grant. The award posted will be based on full-time enrollment and will be prorated to reflect the number of actual enrollment.
Students will only use part of their lifetime eligibility if they enroll in summer courses and a Pell Grant is actually disbursed. Student who do not wish to attend during the summer need to take no action as the award will be canceled and no eligibility will be used.
Students are provided with a maximum of 12 full-time equivalent semesters Pell Grant eligibility that they may use to complete their first undergraduate baccalaureate degree. If a student enrolled full-time in the fall and spring semester each year, the lifetime eligibility rule would allow for 6 years to complete their degree. The federal government measures this in the following manner:
If a Pell Grant is disbursed in a semester:
| Units Attempted | Lifetime Eligibility Used |
|---|---|
| Full-time enrollment (12 units or more | 50.0% |
|
Three Quarter time enrollment (9-11 units) |
37.5% |
|
Half time enrollment (6-8 units) |
25.0% |
|
Quarter time enrollment (3-5 units) |
12.5% |
The sum of the Lifetime Eligibility Used for any term in which a Pell Grant was disbursed regardless of the institution where the grant was received may not exceed 600%.
Under Federal Pell Grant rules, students can use some of their lifetime eligibility early by enrolling in summer courses. Remember you must enroll in at least 6 units during summer. The Federal government did not allow the option for a Quarter time enrollment in the summer. Students should review their overall academic plan to ensure they will graduate in a timely manner as Pell Grant eligibility is capped at 600% including summer awards. The Federal Government allows for no exceptions to this cap.
Students must have exhausted their full-time Pell Grant award during the fall and spring semesters in order to be eligible for the summer Pell Grant. For example: If Mary was full-time (12 units) in the fall and only three-quarter time (9 units) in the Spring, she has 3 units of Pell Grant eligibility which she must be used during the summer, before she can utilize the summer Pell Grant award. Because she has remaining eligibility from the fall and spring terms, she is not required to enroll in 6 units. However, if she wishes to add another 3 units to summer, bringing her to 6 units, she will qualify for 3 units of additional summer Pell Grant because she is taking a total of 6 summer units.
To determine how much Pell Grant has already been used and whether you may have remaining annual Pell Grant eligibility, students may visit NSLDS for updated information.
Using a Pell Grant during summer counts against your lifetime eligibility. To find out how much Pell Grant funding you have already received, and how much of your lifetime eligibility remains, please visit studentaid.gov and log in with your FSA ID.
Yes. Units from the May intersession and all summer sessions count towards the minimum 6 unit requirement.
If you are eligible for Summer Pell Grant funding, your eligibility will be automatically included in your Financial Aid Award via GET. If you believe you qualify for a Summer Pell Grant but do not see one, contact the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.
Summer Pell Grant disbursement occurs when you are enrolled in and attended 6 units of summer courses. Students who are unable to enroll in a minimum of 6 units will not be eligible to receive the federal Pell Grant award disbursement.
Students who enroll in 6 units and receive their Pell Grant disbursement but withdraw from all 6 units are subject toa withdrawal calculation, which may reduce the award amount that they received.
The maximum Pell Grant may cover up to 85% of summer tuition. Any amount listed on your account after your Financial Aid Award was disbursed is your financial responsibility.
Annual Pell Grant awards are disbursed mid June. Summer Pell Grant awards are disbursed mid July.