Summer Financial Aid

The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships will begin awarding students for the summer terms in April. There is not a separate summer financial aid application. If students do not receive offer notifications, it has been determined they are not eligible for summer aid.

Financial aid for the summer semesters works differently from the standard fall and spring semesters. Other than Pell and Lottery offers, eligibility is partly based on the remaining aid from the prior Fall and Spring semesters. For instance, if a student has borrowed maximum loan eligibility for the aid year, they are typically not eligible for a summer loan disbursement.

Eligibility is based on the 2023-2024 FAFSA and general requirements for financial aid disbursement, including Course Choice Counts as detailed in the General Information. Students cannot use future funds from the 2024-2025 award year to pay for summer 2024. Unresolved issues on student accounts may prevent summer offering.

See our Important Dates to review deadlines.

Award Information

Pell Grants

Students who received the maximum Pell disbursement for Fall and Spring and are eligible for an additional year-round summer disbursement must be registered at least half-time (6 credit hours) of eligible hours during the summer.

Students who did not receive the maximum Pell disbursement for fall and spring (such as those who registered less than full-time) may be eligible to receive the remaining Pell grant disbursement during the summer semester for as few as 3 eligible credit hours.

Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans

Students must be registered at least half-time (6 eligible hours for undergraduate; 3 eligible hours for graduate) to be considered for loan eligibility. Loans are offered for an entire academic year. If a student has received the maximum amount of their loans in the previous fall and spring semesters, they will not have loans remaining for the summer term.

However, when a student increases from a Freshman to a Sophomore or a Sophomore to a Junior at the conclusion of the spring semester, they may be eligible for the new grade level's loan limit.

Example:
Josh is a Dependent Freshman who received $5,500 in loans during the fall and spring semesters. At the end of the spring term he will have earned 30 credit hours and will be a Sophomore. Given that Sophomores are typically eligible for $6,500 in loans for an academic year, Josh is eligible for $1,000 in loans for the summer term.

Tennessee Hope Lottery Scholarships

Recipients of the Hope Lottery scholarship are typically able to use the scholarships during summer semesters. Lottery recipients who are registered for summer are reviewed automatically and offered if eligible. Just as in the Fall and Spring semesters, a student must be registered for at least 6 hours to be eligible for Lottery payments. For full information on Lottery eligibility, review the guidelines.

Tennessee Promise

Students must typically be registered full-time (12 eligible hours for undergraduate) to be considered for TN Promise in the summer. These eligible hours can span across the various terms available in the Summer. Registered students who are eligible will be reviewed and awarded automatically. Please see our Tennessee Promise page for general eligibility information.

Tennessee Reconnect

Students must typically be registered at least half-time (6 eligible hours for undergraduate) to be considered for TN Reconnect in the summer. These eligible hours can span across the various terms available in the Summer. Registered students who are eligible will be reviewed and awarded automatically. Please see our Tennessee Reconnect page for general eligibility information.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

These federal funds are available to eligible undergraduate students. SEOG funding is extremely limited. Offers are based upon initial 2022-2023 FAFSA submission date and financial need. If offered, you will receive notification via AP e-mail.

Federal Work Study (FWS)

Priority is given to current FWS employees. Remaining FWS funds will be offered to eligible students based on initial 2022-2023 FAFSA submission date and financial need.

FWS Students Not Enrolling in Summer: The Office of Student Financial Aid will contact all departments to determine if there are students planning to work during the summer who are not registering for summer classes. If funding is available, those students may be offered summer FWS. Review the policy for "Periods of Non-Enrollment" on the FWS information page.

TSAA Grants

TSAA grants are not available during the summer semester.

Summer II Information

For students enrolled in Summer II only, Financial Aid refunds will be processed on the Summer II payment schedule. When available, these dates can be reviewed through Student Account Services.