At Penn State, the academic year begins with the fall semester and ends with the summer session(s)—Therefore, to be considered for summer student aid, you need to submit the current year Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA on the Web). The current academic year FAFSA must be received at the Federal Processor by June 30th. You must also meet certain eligibility requirements.

Keep in mind that your eligibility for summer student aid may be limited if you have used your eligibility during the fall and spring semesters. Many students and families utilize the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan or private alternative educational loans to pay for summer courses.

• Next Steps to Summer Aid

At Penn State, the academic year begins with the fall semester and ends with the summer session(s). Students enrolled during the fall and spring semesters prior to summer enrollment may have limited opportunities to receive student aid for the summer session(s).

It is important to contact the Office of Student Aid, W113 Smith Building, as early as possible to begin discussions on the availability of student aid funding for summer enrollment. If your academic planning includes the possibility of a summer internship, developing funding strategies could begin as early as the fall semester prior to summer enrollment. Successful early planning could include careful budgeting of student aid resources throughout the academic year.

This Web site includes detailed information on applying for summer student aid. A summary of the application process includes the need to complete the current year Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by June 30th. For example, students planning on an internship for summer 2009 should complete the 2008/09 FAFSA by June 30, 2009. It is best to complete the FAFSA much earlier than June 30th to allow for sufficient processing time. Summer student aid may include grants, loans and work-study. In addition to completing the FAFSA, additional application procedures are outlined on the web-site and may include filing deadlines. Student aid opportunities for summer generally require enrollment of six or more credits.