Summer Aid

Summer Financial Aid is available to eligible admitted UC Berkeley students enrolled in summer session.

What’s Required to be Eligible?

1.) Complete a financial aid application. For Summer 2025 financial aid, submit a 2024-25 FAFSA or California Dream Act Application by the UC Berkeley summer priority deadline: June 1, 2025. This is different from the financial aid application for starting in Fall 2025 (which is the 2025-26 application).

2.) Enroll in at least 6 semester units. Enroll in any combination of Summer Sessions or a summer program. Dropping below six units will disqualify you for financial aid.

*Summer Bridge is not available for Summer 2025 and is planned to resume in 2026. If you are seeking an alternative program, consider Freshman Edge.

3.) Complete at least 6 units of summer courses over all summer programs. To maintain aid eligibility, be enrolled in 6 or more units at the Summer Census date: July 12.

4.) Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)Your aid can change based on your grades and academic performance. SAP for continuing students is measured after the Spring 2025 term, and determines aid eligibility for Summer 2025. SAP for Summer 2025 is included as part of the 2025-26 Academic Year (Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026).

  • Continuing students, you must meet SAP for the preceding Spring semester and be in good standing with your college.

  • Returning students readmitted for the upcoming Fall semester must meet SAP.

  • Graduating seniors must have remaining degree requirements to complete during Summer Session to qualify for aid. Students that have completed all degree and major requirements are not eligible for Summer aid.

5.) Confirm Academic Participation (for all UC Berkeley courses). You need to verify your participation in each program, course and/or class taken at UC Berkeley by completing an Academic Integrity assignment. Around the start of classes, you will receive an email with a link to the assignment to confirm your participation. Learn how to complete the assignment.

6.) NEW students: You must attend UC Berkeley in the Fall. If you withdraw from UC Berkeley after Summer, you are not eligible for Summer aid and will be charged Summer tuition and fees.

What’s the Application Process?

For continuing students: There is no separate application needed to apply for summer financial aid (you automatically applied when you completed your FAFSA or CADAA for the preceding year). Once you’re enrolled in a minimum of 6 units you’ll be considered for Summer aid. Summer awarding begins in late March. You can view and accept/decline your summer awards in CalCentral once awarding begins.

For newly admitted Fall students: You must have completed a FAFSA or California Dream Application for the prior year (for Summer 2025, file an aid application for aid year 2024-25) and be enrolled in 6 or more Summer Session units. Once awarding begins, you can view and accept/decline your summer awards in CalCentral.

Summer Aid Timing

Offers: Financial aid offers for Summer Sessions begin sending around the end of March (you must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 units to receive an offer).

Disbursement: Summer financial aid awards are disbursed no earlier than 10 days before the start of your first session.

Loans Deadline: The deadline to accept summer student loans is 2 weeks before your session ends and no later than July 25.

Estimate Your Summer Aid

Wondering if Summer is right for you? Estimate your cost and financial aid for Summer Sessions, Summer Abroad, or Global Internships. Log into CalCentral, go to My Finances, navigate to the Financial Resources area on the right side of the page. Scroll down to the Summer Sessions heading and click on Summer Cost and Aid Estimator

The Summer Cost and Aid Estimator will only estimate awards for students who have a FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application on file and are not graduating before Summer. If you are interested in receiving financial aid for Summer Sessions, first be sure that your graduation term is up to date and that you have completed a FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application.

Changing Enrollment: Dropping, Canceling, Failing or Withdrawing

Your financial aid package is revised any time there is a change in your enrollment status during Summer Sessions. Students must be enrolled in at least 6 units to receive and maintain eligibility for financial aid. If you drop below 6 units, your aid may be canceled.

NOTE: It is a good idea to first discuss with your college or major advisor and with the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office before making your decision on dropping courses or withdrawing completely.

Dropping a course after it has started may result in your financial aid awards being revised. Awards are based on total Summer units enrolled and the duration of summer instruction. Therefore, dropping a course may cause an adjustment to your summer financial aid package.

Canceling a course before it begins may result in you being billed for a portion or all of your summer financial aid, if aid has already been disbursed to you.

*Failing or not passing summer courses due to non-attendance may result in you being billed for a portion or all of your summer financial aid. To avoid receiving a non-passing grade, you must officially withdraw from each session.

Withdrawal: To drop all summer courses, you must officially withdraw from each session. You could lose all or part of your financial aid if you withdraw from all classes. Before withdrawing, please speak to a financial aid counselor and read about withdrawal information for details on how an enrollment change may affect your aid.

If you are considering any of these options, please contact Cal Student Central to understand how your aid may be affected. If other factors are impacting your ability to attend classes, the Academic Accommodations Hub and Counseling and Psychological Services are available to you for support.

Remember to always take care of yourself, and contact us as you weigh these important decisions.

Know The Dates, Beat The Deadlines

April 1 Summer Intercampus Financial Aid Application becomes available through the Berkeley Student Forms page.
May 26 First day to apply for an Emergency Loan for summer.
June 1 Priority deadline for ALL STUDENTS to submit a 2024-25 FAFSA or California Dream Application to be considered for summer financial aid. This ensures that your FAFSA or Dream Act Application will be processed before applications can no longer be submitted for the aid year.
June 13 Students in Session A Only: Priority deadline to accept all loans, submit a Federal Direct PLUS Loan request and/ or complete any Subsidized or Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note or Entrance Counseling form to ensure disbursement before Summer Session A ends.
June 27 Deadline to submit a Summer Intercampus Financial Aid Application. *If your specific Summer Intercampus session ends prior to June 27, the Intercampus Application must be submitted at least two weeks prior to your session end date to ensure processing.
June 30 Last day to submit or make corrections to a 2024-25 FAFSA or California Dream Act Application. You will be unable to apply for summer aid after June 30th.
July 18 Summer Census Date – Courses that are added and/or dropped up until and including this date will impact aid eligibility. If you are receiving Summer financial aid, contact Cal Student Central for advising before making adjustments to your Summer schedule.  
July 25

Priority deadline to accept all loans, submit a Federal Direct PLUS Loan request and/ or complete any Subsidized or Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note or Entrance Counseling form for any sessions ending August 15, 2025 to ensure disbursement before the end of the session.​

August 15

Last day to apply for an Emergency Loan for summer.

Summer Aid Frequently Asked Questions

The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office is here to help you with your summer aid questions! Check out some frequently asked questions to help you in determining if you are eligible for summer aid.