General Information

Summer Academic Terms at Virginia Tech run between May and August (between the fall and spring semesters.) Unused financial aid funds are offered to students attending summer classes as financial aid.  However, in some cases, students have used up all their Federal Stafford Loan eligibility during the academic year.  Please check with our office in order to determine your federal financial aid eligibility.

If a student's grade level changes after completing the spring term, he/she may be eligible to receive additional Federal Stafford Loans during the summer to bring him/her up to the new academic grade level limit.

Parent PLUS, Graduate PLUS, and Alternative Loans are also options for summer funding, please see our Loans page for more information.  Please be sure to file the Summer version of the Parent PLUS and Grad PLUS loan application forms when applying for summer funding.

Summer Financial Aid Regulations

• Summer aid is contingent on funding availability and is not guaranteed.
• All students must complete the FAFSA for the current aid year to be considered for federal financial aid for the upcoming Summer term.
• Students applying for an Alternative Loan are encouraged to file a FAFSA, as they may be eligible for federal financial aid, but this is not required. However, all students applying for an Alternative Loan must complete a Summer Aid Application to inform our office of the student's intended enrollment.
• All students must be enrolled at least half-time (total 6 credits per federal guidelines) in order to receive aid. That means both undergraduate and graduate students must take at least 6 credits over the course of the two summer terms (i.e. 6 credits for first summer term; 6 credits for second summer term; or 3 credits for first summer and 3 credits for second summer).
• Summer aid will not disburse until the student begins his or her 6th credit. Aid will be credited to the student's account, but will not pay until the beginning of the 6th credit, and any refund (if applicable) will be delayed.
• In order to receive summer aid, a student must be in a degree seeking program at Virginia Tech.
• Summer aid will not disburse until enrollment credits match the credits listed on the summer aid application, therefore, if there are any changes in enrollment status, students must complete a Summer Aid Change Form

Applicant Information