Summer Aid

Not sure where to start? We've created a flowchart to help determine whether or not you are eligible to receive Summer financial aid:

Summer Financial Aid Eligibility Flowchart

• I have been readmitted for Fall 2024, and prior to leaving Berkeley, I was making Satisfactory Academic Progress.*
  • Yes, you are eligible to receive Summer financial aid.
• I withdrew in Fall 2023 and/or Spring 2024, and have been readmitted for Fall 2024.
  • Yes, you are eligible to receive Summer financial aid if you were making Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress* prior to leaving Berkeley. 
• I am a newly admitted student for the Fall 2024 semester, Go Bears!
  • Yes, you are eligible to receive Summer financial aid. Be sure to get your 2023-24 financial aid application in before June 30.
• I am graduating and on the Summer 2024 degree list
  • Yes, you are eligible to receive Summer financial aid.
• I have completed all my degree requirements but I have not put myself on the degree list.
  • No, because you are done with your program and are eligible to graduate, you are not eligible to receive Summer financial aid.
• I graduated already, but want to come back and take classes to get into grad school.
  • No, because you completed all your degree requirements, you are not eligible to receive Summer financial aid.
• I am an international student.
  • No, you are not eligible to receive financial aid from the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office for summer.
• I am a visiting student from a non-UC campus, taking classes for the summer. Can I get aid?
  • No, you are not eligible to receive financial aid from the Berkeley Financial Aid and Scholarships Office for summer.

*Students who are not making Satisfactory Academic Progress after the Spring 2024 semester can submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal. 

I am a California Dream Act student. Am I eligible for a UC Summer Fee Grant?

YES. If you are an undergraduate, filed a 2023-24 California Dream Act Application, and meet the general summer aid eligibility criteria, you are eligible for a UC Summer Fee Grant.

How many units do I need to take in order to qualify for financial aid?

You are required to enroll in a minimum of 6 units to be eligible to receive a UC Summer Fee Grant and loans. You may earn these 6 units in either Pass/No Pass or Graded classes.

Newly admitted for Fall and returning students can earn the 6 units in any single Summer Session or combination of Summer Sessions only.

Continuing students may earn these 6 units in:

• Any single UC Berkeley Summer Session or combination of sessions.
• Berkeley Summer Abroad or Global Internship program, an Education Abroad Program (EAP), or through the Summer Intercampus program on a different UC campus.

How is my summer financial aid eligibility determined?

The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office determines all summer financial aid eligibility using the 2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act application.

How much will I get?

Estimate your cost and financial aid for Summer Sessions, Summer Abroad, or Global Internships. Log into Cal Central, go to My Finances, navigate to the Financial Resources area on the right side of the page. Scroll down to the Summer Sessions heading and click on Summer Cost and Aid Estimator.

How do I become eligible and apply for summer financial aid?

Continuing students (students who attended or withdrew from either the Fall 2023 and/or Spring 2024 semesters):

• If you haven't already done so, you are required to complete the 2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application.
• Your financial aid file must be complete no later than 3 weeks prior to the end of your summer enrollment.
• You are required to enroll in a minimum of 6 semester units (9 quarter units if attending a different UC campus) during the summer session.
• There is no separate summer aid application for continuing students attending Summer Sessions on the UC Berkeley campus.
• You will see your summer awards within 3 to 5 business days of enrolling in Summer Sessions once summer awarding has started (late March). Waitlisted courses are not considered for summer aid purposes.

Newly admitted graduate and undergraduate students and returning UC Berkeley students (students out of attendance more than one year):

• You must be newly admitted or returning to the upcoming Fall semester.
• Complete your FAFSA or DREAM Act Application no later than June 1 and ensure that UC Berkeley's federal school code (001312) is listed on the application.
• If you are not eligible to file the FAFSA and are a AB-540 undergraduate student, complete your California Dream Act Application no later than June 1 and ensure that UC Berkeley's school code (001312) is listed on the application.
• Your financial aid file must be complete no later than 3 weeks prior to the end of your summer enrollment.
• Enroll in at least 6 units during the Summer Session. If you have a complete 2023-24 financial aid application (FAFSA or California Dream Application) and have completed any additional requirements, we will determine your eligibility for summer financial aid based on your summer enrollment.
• If you are a newly admitted student for Fall or returning UC Berkeley student, you may only receive financial aid for UC Berkeley Summer Sessions, including online classes. Newly admitted and returning students are not eligible to receive financial aid for EAP, Summer Abroad, Intercampus, or Global Internship Programs.

Can I receive financial aid if I want to take online courses?

Yes, online courses offered through Summer Session are eligible for financial aid.

Can I receive aid for waitlisted classes?

No. Summer financial aid is based on actual enrollment in Summer Sessions courses. Students on the waitlist are not officially enrolled in the course. You will receive the appropriate amount of aid for the courses in which you are officially enrolled. Once you are removed from the waitlist and officially enrolled in the course, your financial aid will be adjusted to reflect your new enrollment within 2 to 3 business days.

How can I estimate my summer loan eligibility?

To estimate your remaining summer loan eligibility, simply subtract the amount of loans you accepted during the academic year from the maximum annual borrowing limit for your grade level.

Graduate students are encouraged to review the maximum annual borrowing limits. Please note that Optometry, Public Health, and Joint Medical Program students have higher annual loan limits. Graduate students who have exhausted their Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan eligibility will be offered a Federal Graduate PLUS Loan.

Please review our Federal Student Loans page for more information.

If I only qualify for a Federal Graduate PLUS Loan or Federal Parent PLUS Loan, which I or my family is unable to accept, what are my options?

You may qualify for a private loan, pending credit approval from an outside lender. Please review the Private Loans information available online.

What if my Federal Graduate PLUS Loan application or Federal Parent PLUS Loan application is denied?

Disbursement of a Federal Graduate PLUS Loan and Federal Parent PLUS Loan requires approved credit. Graduate students denied a Graduate PLUS Loan because of credit will be notified by the Department of Education. Parents who are denied a Parent PLUS loan because of credit will know they have been denied immediately upon completing the online application. You or your parent will have the following options:

• Appeal the decision.
• Get an endorser.
• Not pursue an endorser.
• Undecided.

If you or your parent chooses to “get an endorser”, the endorser must go to the Federal Student Aid website and complete the “Endorse a Loan” online form.

If your parent chooses “not pursuing an endorser”, this information will be transmitted to us. If you are an undergraduate student, we may offer you an Unsubsidized Direct Loan as a replacement. The maximum replacement amounts are $4,000 for freshmen and sophomores and $5,000 for juniors and seniors. The replacement amount is limited by your total summer budget.

If your parent chooses “Undecided,” then no action will be taken. Undergraduate students must have their parents choose “not pursue an endorser” in order for us to offer you any additional Unsubsidized loan. To change their choice, your parent should contact open a case through Cal Student Central. The case must be sent by your parent from the same email account that is on his or her PLUS application.

The only loan alternatives for Graduate Students are Private Loans.

When can I view and accept my summer financial aid offer?

Check Cal Central in late March for more details. Click on "View Awards" for 2023-24 in My Finances. You may click the "Accept" button next to any loans that you wish to borrow for summer.

What is the deadline to accept my summer financial aid offer?

• Session “A” ONLY students the priority deadline to accept all loans, submit a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan or a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan request and/ or complete any Subsidized or Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note or Entrance Counseling to ensure disbursement before Summer Session A ends is June 14, 2024.
• Students enrolled in session(s) other than Session A or any session with an end date beyond July 12, 2024, the deadline to accept your summer financial aid offer and complete/submit loan documents is July 26, 2024.
• Students in any Special Summer program ending before June 28, 2024, the deadline to accept your summer financial aid offer and complete/submit loan documents is 2 weeks before your program ends.

Can I use my work-study award during the summer?
Work-study awards from your 2023-24 award package cannot be earned after the Spring 2024 semester ends. But, if you have work-study as a part of your 2024-25 award package, you may begin earning these funds as early as July 1, 2024, provided that your 2024-25 financial aid file is complete (no missing documents) and your financial aid offer is not conditional.
There is no option to convert summer loans to work-study. Work-study is not available as a summer award. Please review Work-Study Information for Students for more information.

I am a student parent. Is there a Summer Parent Grant?

Yes! There is a Summer Parent Grant for undergraduate students. The maximum amount of this grant is $3,300. The amount you receive is based on your summer enrollment and financial need. Please note that a Summer Parent Grant may be reduced if you change your enrollment and the enrollment change reduces your summer budget.

Why haven't I received the maximum amount of $3,300 for my Summer Parent Grant?

The amount you receive in a Summer Parent Grant is based on your summer enrollment and your financial need. If you have not received the full amount of the parent grant and are fully funded up to your cost of attendance, then all your expenses related to summer are considered to be met.

Can I file a Cost of Attendance (COA) Adjustment Request to receive additional money for my summer childcare expenses?

Yes, you can file a Summer Childcare Expense Appeal form. Please note that this is the only summer expense item that may be appealed. The childcare expenses you request must be during your summer enrollment period. If your Summer Childcare Expense Appeal is approved, your summer budget will be increased, and you will be offered additional Summer Parent Grant, up to the maximum amount of $3,300 first and then additional loans. An approved Summer Childcare Expense Appeal will not result in any other additional gift aid eligibility. Log into the Financial Aid Forms portal and click on the Manage Requests button, then the + sign next to the Summer Child Care Appeal option.

I am a California Dream Act student parent. Am I eligible for a Summer Parent Grant?

Yes. If you are a California Dream Act student parent, you are eligible for a Summer Parent Grant. The amount you receive is based on your enrollment and financial need.

I am thinking about dropping a summer class. How will this affect my summer financial aid?

Dropping a course from one of your Summer Sessions, prior to the Summer Census Date (Summer 2024: July 12, 2024) will cause your summer financial aid package to be revised. Your financial aid package is revised any time there is a change in the number of units in which you are enrolled, a change in the Summer Session(s) you are attending and/or when you make an enrollment change (before or after the session starts). Please review the withdrawal information for details on how withdrawing from one or more Summer Sessions may affect your aid. Students are encouraged to speak with a Cal Student Central advisor before making Summer enrollment changes.

If I cancel, fail, or do not pass all of my summer classes, what will happen to my summer financial aid?

If you cancel, you may be billed for a portion or all of your summer financial aid.

If you fail or do not pass all of your summer classes due to non-attendance, you may be billed for a portion or all of your summer financial aid.

Courses with non-passing grades, or courses dropped after the Summer Sessions refund deadline, may impact your Satisfactory Academic Progress.

How do I officially withdraw from all my summer classes?

Please refer to the withdrawal section on the Summer Sessions website, which includes deadlines and information on the withdrawal process.

I enrolled in summer classes, had my summer financial aid paid to my billing account, and used my summer financial aid refund for living expenses. However, I did not attend any summer classes—what happens?

You will be billed for all of the summer financial aid that paid to your billing account and are responsible for returning those funds back to the University.

Are Cost of Attendance (COA) Adjustment Requests considered for summer financial aid?

COA Adjustment Requests are only considered for summer childcare expenses. The Summer Child Care Expense Appeal can be submitted through the Berkeley Student Forms page.

Are SAP Appeals considered for summer financial aid?

Yes. SAP Appeals are considered for summer financial aid eligibility. If you are not making SAP prior to the start of summer session, or after your Spring 2024 grades post, you can submit a SAP appeal in order to be considered for summer financial aid. 

How will an outside award/resource(s) impact my summer financial aid package?

If you already have a summer financial aid package and subsequently receive an outside award/resource(s) during the summer, your summer financial aid offer will be adjusted for that award, and is dependent upon the conditions of the award. Fee specific outside awards may reduce part or all of a UC Summer Fee Grant.
Generally, your need-based loans are reduced first to "make room" for that award. If the amount of outside aid exceeds the amount of need-based loans in your package, your grants are then reduced.

NOTE: Please report your summer outside award/resource(s) in CalCentral.