Frequently Asked Questions: Summer Session

Q: Is there a minimum enrollment requirement to receive summer financial aid?
Q: What types of financial assistance are available for the summer session?
Q: When will I receive my award letter?
Q: Can I receive financial aid if I take summer classes somewhere other than Mizzou?
Q: How is financial aid paid?

Q: Is there a minimum enrollment requirement to receive summer financial aid?
A: Yes. Federal loans require a student to be at least half-time. The following are the minimum number of hours required to be considered half-time.

Q: What types of financial assistance are available for the summer session?

A: The primary funding source will be loans: Student, Parent, or Alternative. The eligibility for summer student loan funding is based on grade level maximums and their fall - winter borrowing. Dependent undergraduate college students can borrow $3500 (0 - 29 hours), Sophomores $4500 (30 - 59 hours) and Junior and Senior level $5500 (60 hours or greater). Undergraduate students who have not borrowed the maximum based on grade level will have the remaining eligibility for the summer. If you have borrowed your maximum and you change grade levels at the end of the winter semester you will have eligibility for the differential: $1000 Freshman - Sophomore & $1000 Sophomore - Junior. For students who have exhausted their loan limits their only option will be a parent PLUS loan or an Alternative loan.

If you are an independent undergraduate or a graduate student see the federal loan limit chart.

A secondary source of funding is for Pell Grant eligible students only. If you have been full-time enrolled for the fall and winter semesters, you will not have Pell eligibility. If you were enrolled for less than full time fall or winter semester, the Financial Aid Office will calculate your Pell eligibility for the summer.

Q: When will I receive my award letter?
A: Summer award letters will be mailed sometime between the beginning of April to mid-April for students who are registered in summer course work.

Q: Can I receive financial aid if I take summer classes somewhere other than Mizzou?
A: No.

Q: How is financial aid paid?
A: Your financial aid will be applied to your MU bill. Your bill will consist of educational and other fees, room and board costs (if you live on campus), bookstore and other University charges. Your Pell Grant will automatically be applied to your account (if you are eligible for one). The payment of your student loan may vary depending on how the loan is scheduled. By federal rule all loans must disburse in two equal halves; the first disbursement at the beginning of the loan period and the second disbursement in the middle of the loan period. If you have remaining eligibility from the fall and winter semesters, both disbursements will occur at the same time (because the beginning and the middle of the loan period are in the past). If you have a summer only loan half will disburse at the beginning of summer school and the second disbursement will occur at the mid-point of summer school. If your financial aid exceeds your University costs, a refund will generate to you (student or alternative loan) or your parent (PLUS) depending on the loan type. For more information, please visit How Your Funds Are Applied.

If your financial aid exceeds your University charges, the balance is paid to you by check or direct deposit into your bank account. Refunds generated from a PLUS loan may be mailed to the parent. For more information on direct deposit, contact the MU Cashiers Office at (573) 882-3097 or visit their web page at http://cashiers.missouri.edu.

Back to Top