Financial aid is available to eligible UCF students enrolled in summer sessions including newly admitted students. The summer term is a trailer to the fall and spring aid year award cycle. The awarding process for the summer term differs from our fall and spring awarding processes. It is important students understand the steps for applying and receiving financial aid for the summer term. Information regarding summer aid eligibility, how to apply, and what types of financial aid are available to UCF students’, is listed below.
Summer Financial Aid Eligibility
The amount and type of summer financial aid you are eligible to receive will depend on:
- Having a valid 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file
- Summer enrollment hours
- Half-time enrollment for undergraduate students is 6 credit hours for summer
- Graduate students are considered half-time with 3 credit hours of enrollment for summer
- Students must have a completed financial aid file
- Student must meet ALL financial aid eligibility requirements
- Financial need
- Pell Grant and/or loan eligibility
Summer Financial Aid Application Process
The summer 2024 term is a part of the 2023-2024 aid year, and students applying for financial aid for the summer must complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA. All students anticipating financial aid funding for the summer term are required to have a complete 2023-2024 FAFSA with a valid Expected Family Contribution (EFC), and the UCF Federal School Code (003954) listed. The last day to complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA is June 30, 2024.
NOTE: The 2024-2025 FAFSA is for the fall 2024, spring 2025, and summer 2025 semesters.
Incoming Freshman ONLY
Freshman with a valid admission on file for the Summer B term, and have met all of the above financial aid application and eligibility requirements, can anticipate receiving a financial aid award notification via email in May.
An email notification will be sent to students’ UCF email account with instructions to log onto the myUCF portal, Student Center, to view summer financial aid awards. A paper award notification will not be mailed. Students can begin checking their UCF email account for this notification beginning mid to late May.
Incoming Transfer and ALL Continuing Students
Prior to being offered financial aid for the summer term, transfer students admitted for the summer term, and all continuing students, must first enroll in summer classes. Students who have met all of the above requirements and are enrolled at least half-time, will be able to view summer financial aid on the myUCF portal within five to seven business days of enrolling, once summer financial aid packaging begins.
An email notification will be sent to students’ UCF email account informing them to log onto the myUCF portal, Student Center, to view their summer financial aid awards. A paper award notification will not be mailed. Students can begin checking their UCF email account for this notification beginning mid to late April.
Summer Cost of Attendance
The cost of attendance is determined each year by the Office of Student Financial Assistance. The cost of attendance (COA) includes expenses that a student can anticipate incurring as a student, such as tuition and fees, room and board, books, transportation, and miscellaneous/personal expenses. Because the summer term is a shorter semester, the costs reflected in the COA will be a prorated (i.e. smaller) version of the costs reflected for the fall and spring terms.
Summer Enrollment
Students are required to be enrolled at least half-time in order to be eligible for most financial aid funding. Students are advised to review the financial aid office’s Program Eligibility Chart for additional information regarding enrollment and how it impacts eligibility for various financial aid programs.
Types of Summer Financial Aid
Florida Bright Futures Scholars
Students who are eligible for Bright Futures may receive summer funding. More information about summer Bright Futures Scholarships can be found in the Bright Futures section of this website.
Summer Grants
Pell Grant: Students, who did not receive in their full Pell Grant in the fall or spring semesters, may be eligible for the remaining Pell for the summer term. Additionally, Pell Grant eligible students who enroll in at least 6 credit hours in the summer will be considered for Pell Eligibility Incoming freshman are strongly encouraged to complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA in order to be considered for this and other funding.
UCF Grant: Undergraduate students may be eligible for the UCF Grant. Your eligibility is based upon your financial need as determined by your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from your 2023-2024 FAFSA, and the availability of funds at the time of awarding. If funding has been exhausted, you may not be awarded this grant, even if you meet eligibility requirements.
Federal Stafford Loans
Along with meeting all other financial aid eligibility requirements, students must be enrolled at least half-time in order to receive Federal Stafford loans. Annual loan limits are determined by class standing and dependency status.
Transfer students should be aware that the amount of loans received at a previous institution may affect your eligibility to receive loans at UCF. If you received Federal Direct Stafford loans during this academic year at another institution, make sure that the remainder of that loan is cancelled before applying for a loan at UCF.
Students must actively log onto the myUCF portal and accept or decline the loan offers. The financial aid office cannot accept or decline an award on a student’s behalf. NOTE: Loans that are left in an offered status will be cancelled by the financial aid office prior to end of the summer term.
If you are a first-time Federal Direct Loan borrower, you must complete both an online Master Promissory Note and an online Entrance Counseling session prior to disbursement. Students can view these requirements by logging onto the myUCF portal, Student Center, to check the To Do List.
Federal Direct PLUS Loan
Parents of dependent undergraduate students can borrow a Parent PLUS Loan to assist with covering their students’ educational expenses. Students must meet all financial aid eligibility requirements and be enrolled at least half-time.
Graduate students can borrow a Graduate PLUS Loan to assist with covering his/her educational expenses. Students must meet all financial aid eligibility requirements and be enrolled at least half-time.
Summer Disbursements
Financial aid disbursements will begin the week following Drop/Swap & Add and continue each week throughout the semester, as students complete and meet all eligibility requirements. The timing of disbursements is contingent upon enrollment and confirmation of academic activity.
NOTE: Students who will only be considered enrolled half-time with the inclusion of summer B courses, should be aware that summer financial aid will not disburse until after Session B has begun and students have successfully completed their academic activities for that session.