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Eligibility Requirements

Federal, state, and institutional aid is available for current and newly matriculated UC Santa Cruz students who enroll in the Summer Quarter at UCSC or another UC campus. To be considered for financial aid, students must complete a 2023-24 FAFSA or Dream Application and include our school code ( 001321) by June 30. The "priority" enrollment date for most students is June 1.

In addition to completing the FAFSA or Dream Application, students must also:

  • Enroll and complete 6+ credits to be considered for federal and state aid 
  • Complete 12+ credits to be considered for the Summer University Grant
  • Graduate Students must enroll in 5+ credits to be considered for federal aid. Graduate students are not eligible for the Summer University Grant. 
  • If you do not receive aid or can pay tuition on your own, these credit minimums do not apply to you. 

As you explore the option of attending summer, there are some financial aid facts to keep in mind: 

  • Students who meet the eligibility criteria will be offered a combination of grant and loans or loans only depending on their need to meet the cost of attendance for the summer 
  • Students attending summer should not expect to receive the same financial aid provided during the fall, winter, and spring quarters.
  • Students participating in UCSC-approved summer special programs, including study abroad programs, and who enroll in 6 or more credits may be eligible for grant funding.
  • Credit minimums do not apply to students who do not receive aid or who can pay tuition out of pocket. 
  • Undergraduate Students with a Pell-eligible EFC (less than 6206) enrolled in 6 or more credits may be eligible for grant funding.
Changes to Aid Eligibility
Financial aid may be canceled or decreased if eligibility requirements are not met, resulting in a bill to your account. Your financial aid eligibility will decrease if:
  • If you drop below 12 credits. 
  • If you enroll in 12 or more credits in Sessions 1 and 2 but then decide to take all 12 credits in one session.
  • If you withdraw from a course or the summer quarter
  • If you take an incomplete “I” and receive non-passing (Fs, NP) grades

For information on our Summer Withdrawal Policy, click here. 

Below are examples of how enrollment changes impact a student's grant eligibility.

Example 1: Student enrolled in 8+ weeks, 12 credits, 0 Expected Family Contribution 

The same student drops to 10 credits and remains enrolled in 8+ weeks, 0 Expected Family Contribution  

Tuition: $3,124

Total Estimated Grant: $5,000

Tuition: $2,287

Total Estimated Grant: $1,149

Example 2: Student enrolls in 8+ weeks, 12 credits, 0 Expected Family Contribution 

The same student remains enrolled in 12 credits but decides to enroll in a 5-week session instead of 8+ weeks; 0 Expected Family Contribution  

 

Tuition: $3,124

Total Estimated Grant: $5,000

 

Tuition: $3,124

Total Estimated Grant: $3,000

 

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