If you're taking a class or participating in a study abroad program this summer, you may be wondering how summer financial aid works. We're here to answer your questions and guide you through the process.
Summer is the final semester of the academic year at NIU, and limited summer financial aid is available. Many scholarship and grant programs are restricted to fall and spring payments. Loan programs have annual limits that many students exhaust during the school year. If you register for summer classes and you’re eligible for aid, offers will be posted in MyNIU before summer classes begin. Summer Federal Student Loans cannot be accepted after the end of the Summer Semester.
Financial aid is disbursed according to class start dates. If you're in a study abroad program or a class that begins in May, you'll receive your financial aid before students whose classes start in June.
Summer aid packaging for Study Abroad and mid-May start students will begin soon.
Summer aid packaging for June start students will begin after the May start students but prior to their start date.
Summer aid offers are processed after you are registered for summer classes. Summer aid eligibility is based on the actual hours and weeks you attend classes. To be eligible for most types of summer financial aid, you need to attend at least half time during the summer:
You must also:
Read more about types of summer aid and eligibility for your level of study:
The State of Illinois Monetary Award (MAP Grant) is not available for the summer. It is restricted to fall and spring semesters. Most NIU grants and scholarships are also restricted to the fall and spring.
If you're eligible for the Federal Pell Grant you may be eligible for additional Pell for the summer. Like during fall and spring semesters, your Pell Grant during summer will be based on the number of credit hours in which you enroll. If you enroll in fewer than 12 credit hours, your Pell Grant will be prorated (reduced) for every hour less than 12.
Read more about Summer Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant program allows an eligible student to receive up to 150% of the student's Pell Grant scheduled award. This is known as "Year-Round Pell." Year-Round Pell benefits a student that was enrolled in the fall and spring terms by allowing them to receive up to an additional semester’s amount of Pell Grant for the summer. Students may take advantage of this opportunity to earn their degree faster. If you qualify for the Pell Grant, you may use part of your lifetime Pell Grant eligibility for summer semesters.
Pell Grants have both an annual limit and a lifetime usage limit. Students may receive up to the equivalent of three (3) full-time semesters of Pell Grant per academic year.
Lifetime Pell Grant eligibility is the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters, or six academic years comprised of fall and spring semesters. Usage is prorated if you attend a semester less than full time.
You must be registered for six or more credit hours to borrow from federal loan programs. Some private loan programs may approve you for less than six hours.
The total amount you borrow cannot exceed the summer cost of attendance less all other aid. The cost of attendance includes:
Living expenses are prorated for the actual weeks of attendance. If you drop and add classes, you may have a change in eligibility, even if the total hours remain the same. For example, if you take six hours of courses over eight weeks, you'll have a higher cost of attendance than if you take six hours over only four weeks.
| Grade Level | Dependent | Independent or Dependent with PLUS denial |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 (0-24 hours) | $5,500: Up to $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. | $9,500: Up to $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
| Year 2 (25-48 hours) | $6,500: Up to $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. | $10,500: Up to $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
| Year 3-4 (49+ hours) | $7,500: Up to $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. | $12,500: Up to $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
| Lifetime | $31,000: Only $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. | $57,500: Only $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
Many private lenders offer student loans. FinAid, an external organization, provides a comprehensive list of private loan lenders. If you are interested in a private loan, you should verify eligibility criteria and fill out an application with the individual lender. NIU will receive loan applications electronically.
If you're approved for a private loan, you may borrow up to the summer cost of attendance less other aid.
I may be eligible for a Federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loan if:
I may be eligible for a Parent PLUS Loan if:
I may be eligible for a private loan if:
You must be registered for three or more graduate level credit hours to borrow from federal loan programs. The total amount you borrow cannot exceed the summer cost of attendance less all other aid. The cost of attendance includes:
Transportation and living expenses are prorated for the actual weeks of attendance.
If you drop and add classes, you may have a change in eligibility, even if the total hours remain the same. For example, if you take six hours of courses over eight weeks, you'll have a higher cost of attendance than if you take six hours over only four weeks.
If you did not borrow $20,500 for 2024-2025 academic year, you can borrow the remainder of this annual limit up to the cost of attendance less other aid. You must enroll in three or more hours.
If you have an approved 2024-2025 summer PLUS loan application, you may borrow up to the summer cost of attendance less other aid.
If you have an approved private loan application, you may borrow up to the summer cost of attendance less other aid.
You must be registered for four or more graduate level credit hours to borrow from federal loan programs. The total amount you borrow cannot exceed the summer cost of attendance less all other aid. The cost of attendance includes:
Transportation and living expenses are prorated for the actual weeks of attendance.
If you drop and add classes, you may have a change in eligibility, even if the total hours remain the same. For example, if you take six hours of courses over eight weeks, you'll have a higher cost of attendance than if you take six hours over only four weeks.
If you did not borrow $20,500 for the 2024-2025 academic year, you can borrow the remainder of this annual limit up to the cost of attendance less other aid. You must enroll in four or more hours.
If you have an approved 2024-2025 summer PLUS loan application, you may borrow up to the summer cost of attendance less other aid.
If you have an approved private loan application, you may borrow up to the summer cost of attendance less other aid.
For scholarship-specific questions
scholarships@niu.edu