Summer Financial Aid

How to Apply for 2011 Summer Financial Aid

Summer Aid Availability

Financial aid for the summer term is generally limited to Federal Pell Grant, Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Direct Loans, Federal Parent Loan (PLUS), Federal Graduate Plus Loan and private loans. New York State residents may also qualify for the New York State Tuition Assistance Grant (TAP). For most aid programs you must be enrolled for at least six credits in total during summer 2011 (Exceptions may include federal Pell Grant or private loans).

How to Apply?

  • Step 1: File a 2011-2012 FAFSA
    If you have not filed a 2011-12 FAFSA, you should submit an online application at  www.fafsa.ed.gov.
  • Step 2: Register for all summer 2011 courses.
    Summer aid will not be offered until you are registered for the number of credits necessary to meet the basic eligibility requirements. You should register for all your summer classes before completing the online summer aid request form (see Step 3).
  • Step 3: Log onto your personal UIS account. Under the Financial Aid Menu, click on Apply for Summer Financial Aid. Select the aid programs you want to use toward payment of your summer study and submit your request.

Cost of Attendance
Your summer cost of attendance/budget will be based upon the cost of your total expected summer term enrollment and living expenses. You can view your individualized cost of attendance along with your summer bill online via your personal UIS account.

General Eligibility Requirements
To receive federal and state aid you must be admitted to a St. John’s University degree program and meet all federal eligibility requirements, including satisfactory academic progress and the following general requirements:

  • You must have a valid 2011-2012 FAFSA on file with the University. If you are selected for Verification, all requested documentation must be submitted.
  • You must register for a minimum of 6 credits of summer coursework in order to qualify for any federal student loans.
  • Federal Pell recipients must be registered for at least three credits to be considered for a summer Pell grant.
  • All summer coursework must be applicable to your degree program.
  • You must actively begin and attend all registered courses in each summer term in order to maintain eligibility for your summer financial aid. Failure to attend class and complete coursework will result in the loss of summer financial aid.
  • Changes in enrollment or withdrawals could impact summer aid eligibility and result in a reduction of summer aid. Since aid offers are based on expected enrollment  you are responsible for any account balance created by non applicable coursework, an enrollment change, a withdrawal, or failure to attend summer term courses.
  • Eligible TAP recipients must have completed at least 24 credits in 2010- 2011  and be enrolled for at least six credits to be considered for a summer TAP grant. Use of summer TAP accelerates use of your TAP eligibility.
  • Summer disbursement dates available online via your personal UIS account.

Federal Pell Grant Cross-Over Payment Period Policy
Beginning with the 2009-2010 academic year St. John's University implemented the New Year Round Federal Pell Grant regulations.  This allows students to be eligible for up to two (2) scheduled awards (200%) per year of Pell grants. Availability of two Pell grants per year based on federal funding levels and is subject to change based on Congressional action.

Transfer students:  If a student received 100% of the First Scheduled Award at their prior school, it is assumed that the student completed an academic year.  If a student received less than 100% of their First Scheduled Award, it is assumed that the student completed the same ratio of the academic year (24 credits) as the percentage of the First Scheduled Award utilized at the prior school.  For example, a transfer student received $2007 of a $5350 Scheduled Award.  Therefore, $2007 x 24/5350 = 9 credits assumed the student earned at the prior school.

Aggregate Lifetime Limit:  Students who received a Federal Pell Grant for the first time on or after July 1, 2008, are eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant for up to 18 semesters or the equivalent.

Summer Session Cross-over period:  St. John's University offers several sessions over the summer differing in lengths.  For the purpose of the Federal Pell Grant program, the separate sessions are combined into one “Cross-over” Payment Period.  A “cross-over payment period” is any period that includes both June 30th and July 1st.  For the purposes of federal financial aid programs, this period must be assigned to a specific financial aid award year.  For the summer of 2011 St. John's University is assigning this period to the 2011-2012 award year for the Federal Pell Grant program.  In accordance with federal regulations, the Office of Student Financial Services will do a comparison of payment amounts for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 award years for any student who filed a FAFSA for both years.

Currently enrolled students who plan to enroll for courses during the 2011 summer session to take advantage of the change to the Federal Pell Grant program should file their 2011-2012 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  We will then have the ability to review both your 2010-2011 AND your 2011-2012 applications to determine which FAFSA to use in order to maximize your eligibility for additional Federal Pell Grant funds.

Acceleration:  Due to new federal regulations tied to receipt of the Federal Pell Grant, your spring 2012 Federal Pell Grant will reflect your anticipated credit hour acceleration towards your degree.  If you do not enroll and complete 25 or more credit hours between the three terms (summer 2011, fall 2011 and spring 2012), your spring 2012 Federal Pell Grant will be reduced.

Summer Federal Direct Loans

  • All first time borrowers must visit www.StudentLoans.gov  to complete a Stafford Master Promissory Note and a Stafford Entrance Counseling Session.

Please note:
The act of applying for summer loans will constitute your acceptance of your entire federal loan eligibility for the upcoming school year, to be divided as follows:

  • You will be awarded up to half of your annual loan eligibility for summer study if your cost of attendance permits; your remaining annual loan eligibility will be equally divided between the fall and spring terms. 
  • If you wish to adjust the amount of your subsidized or unsubsidized Direct loans, you must submit a Loan Change Form to the Office of Student Financial Services.  
  • If you are graduating at the end of the summer, your summer loan eligibility will be prorated in accordance with federal regulations. 
  • The Office of Student Financial Services will notify you once your loan funds have been disbursed and applied to your student account.

Summer Federal Graduate PLUS Loan

Private Loans
If you are seeking a private loan for the summer you may borrow up to the total Cost of Attendance, which includes tuition, fees, and living expenses minus any other summer aid you receive.

Please initiate the private loan application process directly with your chosen lender. Please review of the  private loan process and the form you need to complete and submit to enable St. John’s to certify a private loan for you upon lender request. 

St. John’s recommends that students review their opportunities for borrowing through conventional federal loan programs first (Federal Direct Loan and Federal Graduate/Professional PLUS Loan), and beyond these, to evaluate private loan options carefully.