Summer Financial Aid

Taking summer classes can help you stay on track for graduation or lighten your fall and spring course load. Here’s what you need to know about financial aid for summer enrollment.

How summer financial aid works

Summer is a separate term for financial aid purposes. Aid eligibility depends on:  

  • Enrollment status (half-time or full-time)
  • Remaining annual loan limits and Pell Grant eligibility 
  • If you’ve used all your aid during fall and spring

Types of aid available

  • Federal Pell Grant and Ohio College Opportunity Grants (if you qualify and have remaining eligibility)
  • Federal direct loans (if you haven’t reached your annual limit) 
  • Parent PLUS loans and private loans
  • Scholarships (Some institutional and outside scholarships may apply. Check your award terms.)

Steps to apply for summer aid

  1. File the FAFSA. Be sure to submit the correct FAFSA. Summer begins BGSU’s aid year, so you will need to submit the FAFSA for the upcoming fall semester. For example, file the 2026-27 FAFSA to apply for aid for summer 2026. 
  2. Complete the BGSU summer aid application (opens mid-February). 
  3. Enroll in summer classes through MyBGSU. 
  4. Check your enrollment status. Undergraduates need to have at least 6 credit hours to qualify for loans; graduate students need at least 4 credit hours. 
  5. Review your financial aid offer in MyBGSU after your summer aid application is processed.
  6. Monitor your To-Do List in MyBGSU for outstanding items. 
  7. Verify your summer hours. Aid will not disburse unless your enrolled hours match what you reported on your summer aid application. Update your application if your credit hours change. 
  8. Plan ahead for billing. Summer bills are separate; payment plans are available. 
  9. Review your account after the 1st of each month to avoid registration holds. 
  10. Apply for additional aid by contacting Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.

Additional information about registering for BGSU summer classes

Important notes

  • Your summer aid is based on the credit hours you report. If you enroll in more or fewer hours than reported, you must update your summer aid application. 
  • Dropping classes can reduce or cancel your aid; you may have to repay funds. 
  • Funds used during the summer term will have an impact on the remaining aid available for the academic year. Please see an advisor in the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office for specific details. 
  • Refunds for summer term are issued during the first week of your first registered session.

Review the following examples to see the implications of registering for more or fewer hours than reported on your application.

Example of underreporting summer hours | Example of overreporting summer hours

Updated: 08/27/2026 10:13PM