Summer Aid

What types of aid are available in the summer?

Summer financial aid may include a combination of grants, scholarships and loans. Undergraduate students with unmet financial need may apply for a private loan instead of a Parent PLUS Loan. 

Graduate Students are not eligible for the grants listed below and are encouraged to contact the Graduate Division or their academic department with questions about fellowships, departmental awards, fee waivers, and fee remissions.

Grants

• UC Summer Fee Grant (updated for Summer 2025)
  • Qualifying undergraduate students (including students that are not California residents) may be eligible for a UC Summer Fee Grant. UC Summer Fee Grants are fee paying awards and only apply towards your course and campus fees.

To determine how much UC Summer Fee Grant you may receive, compare your official 2024-25 Student Aid Index  (which can be found in the MyFinances section in CalCentral) to the chart below.

• Summer Parent Grant
  • Undergraduate student parents may be eligible for a Summer Parent Grant. The maximum amount of Summer Parent Grant for Summer 2025 is $3,300. The amount you receive may be less, depending on your financial need and your cost of attendance.  

• Summer Pell Grant
  • Pell Grants are available to students during the summer. Award amounts are based on your 2024-25 FAFSA data and the number of units in which you enroll.

• Berkeley Summer Grant
  • The Berkeley Summer Grant is available to eligible, entering students participating in Summer Bridge, Freshman Edge, Transfer Edge, or Global Edge Programs. To qualify for a Berkeley Summer Grant, students have to have a student aid index (SAI)  (from the FAFSA or Dream Act Application) of $2,000 or less, and have financial need. The maximum Berkeley Summer Grant award for summer 2025 is $2,500.

Loans

• Federal Direct Loans
  • If you did not accept the maximum amount of Federal Direct Loans in the 2024-25 academic year and you are enrolled in at least 6 units for summer, you may be offered Federal Direct Loans for summer. Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan amounts are based on the remaining loan eligibility you have leftover from the academic year. If eligible, they will be included in your summer award package.

• Federal Direct PLUS Loan
  • If your parents had a PLUS loan during the academic year, and want to borrow a PLUS loan during the summer, a new application is required. A new application can be completed on the Federal Student Aid website.
  • Graduate students will be offered a PLUS loan as part of your summer financial aid awards, if eligible. The loan can then be accepted on CalCentral, just like in the academic year.
  • Undergraduate students and their parents should visit the Federal Direct PLUS Loan page for more information about the Parent PLUS Loan and the Grad PLUS Loan.

• Berkeley Loans
  • If you received a Dream Loan during the 2024-25 academic year and are enrolled in at least 6 units for summer, you may qualify for a Berkeley Loan for summer. Visit the Dream Loan page for more information about the loan, including repayment terms and loan requirements.

Work-Study

• Work-study awards from your 2024-25 award package cannot be earned after the Spring 2025 semester ends.
• If work-study is included in your  2025-26 award package, you can begin earning these funds beginning July 1, 2025.
• The work-study money you earn over the summer (beginning July 1, 2025) will be deducted from your 2025-26 work-study award. Keep in mind—the more you work in Summer, the less you have to use towards your 2025-26 educational expenses.
• There is no option to convert summer loans to work-study. Work-study is not available as part of your summer aid package.
• For additional work-study requirements, please review the Work-Study Information for Students page.

What does summer financial aid cover?

The same expenses considered in the academic year Cost of Attendance are also considered in summer:

• Tuition
• Living Expenses (Food and housing)
• Books
• Personal expenses
• Campus, course and/or program fees (if applicable)
• Transportation

The total amount of these costs will be calculated based on your summer enrollment:

Total number of units + Total number of days/weeks enrolled = Summer Budget

The budgeted amounts for living expenses, books, and personal expenses are based on your enrollment. 

*Please note that the information and amounts above do not apply to Graduate Self-Supporting Degree Programs. The Summer Cost of Attendance for Self-Supporting Degree Programs are generally available to view in Cal Central by late March.

New for Summer 2025: Students may submit a Summer Cost of Attendance Adjustment Request for specific educational expenses incurred while enrolled over the Summer.

• Continuing students may request an increase to their Cost of Attendance for housing and child care expenses.
• New students (admitted for Summer 2025) may request an increase to their Cost of Attendance for housing and child care, as well as the cost of a computer purchase and relocation expenses.

Summer Cost of Attendance Adjustment Requests must be submitted no later than 2 weeks prior to the end of your Summer enrollment, in order to ensure a timely review. Cost of Attendance Adjustment Requests will result in an increase to Summer loan eligibility, in most cases. Students may submit a Summer Cost of Attendance Adjustment Request through the Berkeley Forms page at the start of Summer Sessions.

Summer Cost of Attendance for Summer 2025:

*assessed to students who were not registered in the previous Spring term at UC Berkeley

**assessed to new students and returning students in a new degree program

Example Student Budgets/Cost of Attendance:

*assumes 6 units of enrollment and does not include class pass, IREF and Document Management fees

*assumes 6 units of enrollment and does not include class pass, IREF and Document Management fees

*assumes 6 units of enrollment and does not include class pass, IREF and Document Management fees

*assumes 6 units of enrollment and does not include class pass, IREF and Document Management fees

*assumes 6 units of enrollment and does not include class pass, IREF and Document Management fees

*assumes 6 units of enrollment and does not include class pass, IREF and Document Management fees

Summer Bridge

Financial aid is available to newly admitted Bridge Scholars who take courses in the summer.

If you are a Summer Bridge Scholar, your financial aid application process is identical to that of a newly admitted student. Simply follow the steps below:

• Complete both the 2024-25 and 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) no later than June 1, 2025, and include UC Berkeley's federal school code (001312) on the applications.
• Dream Act students should complete both the 2024-25 and 2025-26 California Dream Act Application no later than June 1, 2025 and include UC Berkeley's federal school code (001312) on the applications.
• Check the My Finances section of CalCentral for Messages and Required Documents for Summer 2025 and Fall 2025. Follow the instructions and submit any required documents as soon as possible. Students with incomplete files will not be awarded financial aid until all required documents are submitted and reviewed.
• Follow all instructions provided by the Summer Bridge staff. Check with the Summer Bridge staff for summer program related questions.

Studying Abroad

Students can study abroad over the Summer through the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP), Berkeley Summer Abroad, or Global Internships.

If you plan to travel with the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP), please visit the EAP website for financial aid information, and read our page about receiving summer financial aid for an EAP Program.

Students can use the Summer Cost and Aid Estimator on Cal Central to estimate the Cost of Attendance and financial aid awards for Berkeley Summer Abroad and Global Internship programs.

Students planning to Study Abroad through another UC Campus should apply through the Summer Intercampus Financial Aid Application.

Studying at Another UC Campus - Summer Intercampus

Students can receive financial aid for enrollment at UC Berkeley and another UC campus during the Summer. This includes studying abroad through another UC campus. Students must apply for aid through the Summer Intercampus Financial Aid Application in order to receive aid for intercampus studies.

Newly admitted and returning students are not eligible to receive financial aid for the Summer Intercampus Program.

Students can complete the Summer Intercampus Financial Aid Application through the Berkeley Student Forms page, and will be required to upload confirmation of enrollment along with the application.

As a reminder, UC Berkeley uses semester units, while many other UC campuses use quarter units. To calculate quarter units to semester units: Quarter Units x 0.667 = Semester Units. (Ex. 9 quarter units = 6 semester units).

Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing of your application. You will receive an email directing you where to find your summer financial aid award package. You can then accept the summer aid offered to you.

Ten (10) days before the start of your program, we will do the following before your Summer aid is disbursed:

• Confirm your enrollment is as listed on your application with the host UC.
• Confirm your account balance (minus any UC Berkeley Summer tuition) is $0. Aid may not be released if other charges exist on your student account.
• Confirm that your Direct Deposit is active. You may sign up and manage your Direct Deposit/EFT accounts in CalCentral.
• Confirm that you have no registration holds on your account.

*Only after all the above has been confirmed will your financial aid will be released and applied to your billing account, to be refunded to you. It is your responsibility to pay the host UC campus directly for your summer charges. UC Berkeley cannot send funds to any UC Campus on your behalf. Students are encouraged to check with the host UC campus about deadlines and drop for non-payment policies.

If any of the above cannot be confirmed, Summer aid may not be released. Changes to your enrollment may delay the disbursement of your aid. It is your responsibility to communicate to the UC Berkeley Financial Aid and Scholarships Office any enrollment changes, including withdrawals, after you have been awarded. Adjustments to enrollment will result in adjustments to the financial aid package.

The deadline to submit an application to participate in the Summer Intercampus Program is June 27, 2025. If your specific Summer Intercampus session ends prior to June 27, 2025 the Intercampus Application must be submitted at least two weeks prior to your session end date to ensure processing.

Studying at another non-UC institution during Summer:

Students cannot receive financial aid to attend both a UC campus and a college or university not associated with the UC system. Students attending another non-UC institution over the Summer should contact their institution for questions regarding financial aid while not enrolled at UC Berkeley.

Berkeley Charter of Professional Accountancy

Financial aid is eligible for students who enroll in the Berkeley Charter of Professional Accountancy (BCPA) program, provided all eligibility requirements are met. Undergraduate students in the program can qualify for gift aid and loans, and graduate students can qualify for loans. The estimated cost of attendance for the program for Summer 2025 can be found below. You will only be charged tuition and fees for the program. While you will not be charged directly for living expenses and books, they are costs you will need to consider while attending the program.

*assumes 14 units of enrollment.

Students enrolled in the Advanced BCPA program should add an additional $1,000 to fees.

Below you will find a sample award package for an Undergraduate BCPA student with a -1,500 Student Aid Index (SAI) and $2,000 remaining loan eligibility.

Scholarships may be available through the BCPA program- inquire directly with them to find out how to apply.

Disbursement

Financial aid will disburse 10 days before the start of the first session in which you are enrolled, or the first date of your Summer enrollment. Students with a Summer Fee Grant in their summer financial aid package will see this grant applied to their billing sooner.

Billing

UC Students must pay their fees by the first day of the summer term (in May) or no more than 14 days from the time of enrollment, whichever is later. Due dates for tuition charges will appear in Cal Central. UC students are not automatically dropped from classes for non-payment or non-attendance in the summer term. If you do not plan to attend, you must drop your class(es) before the refund deadlines, or you will be financially responsible for fees.

Summer financial aid is designed to pay your Summer Sessions bill. If your summer financial aid (grants and/or accepted loans) is enough to cover Summer Sessions fees, you are not required to make an advance payment, unless required to do so in the case of a program deposit for a travel-study program.

If you see a late fee added to your billing account or have any other billing related questions, please contact Cal Student Central.

If you do not accept enough financial aid or have not been packaged with enough financial aid to cover the full amount of your summer charges, you are advised to pay the summer balance when it is due to avoid late fees and future registration holds.

If you do not receive summer financial aid, you are advised to pay your summer charges when they are due to avoid late fees and future registration holds.

If your summer financial aid offer consists solely of a private loan, you are advised to pay the balance of summer charges when they are due to avoid late fees and future registration holds.

Please review Payments and Refunds for more information.

When can I expect my summer refund?

Once your summer financial aid has been released to your account, and all account charges are paid, please allow 2 to 3 business days for your summer refund.

NOTE: Summer aid disbursements and refunds for students enrolled in Summer Session A who have remaining loan eligibility from the academic year may be slightly delayed. Please plan accordingly.

How does my California College Veterans Fee Exemption work for Summer Sessions?

Please contact Cal Student Central for more information and instructions. Please note that only matriculated UC students may be exempted from Summer Sessions fees. Please review the Veterans Benefits page for more information about the California College Veterans Fee Waiver Program.

Not sure where to start? We've created a flowchart to help determine whether or not you are eligible to receive Summer financial aid:

Summer Financial Aid Eligibility Flowchart

• I have been readmitted for Fall 2025, and prior to leaving Berkeley, I was making Satisfactory Academic Progress.*
  • Yes, you are eligible to receive Summer financial aid.
• I withdrew in Fall 2024 and/or Spring 2025, and have been readmitted for Fall 2025.
  • Yes, you are eligible to receive Summer financial aid if you were making Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress* prior to leaving Berkeley. 
• I am a newly admitted student for the Fall 2025 semester, Go Bears!
  • Yes, you are eligible to receive Summer financial aid. Be sure to complete your 2024-25 FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application before June 30.
• I am graduating and on the Summer 2025 degree list
  • Yes, you are eligible to receive Summer financial aid.
• I have completed all my degree requirements but I have not put myself on the degree list.
  • No, because you are done with your program and are eligible to graduate, you are not eligible to receive Summer financial aid.
• I graduated already, but want to come back and take classes to get into grad school.
  • No, because you completed all your degree requirements, you are not eligible to receive Summer financial aid.
• I am an international student.
  • No, you are not eligible to receive financial aid from the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office for summer.
• I am a visiting student from another institution taking classes for the summer. Can I get aid?
  • No, you are not eligible to receive financial aid from the Berkeley Financial Aid and Scholarships Office for summer. Visiting students from other UC campuses should contact the financial aid office at their home campus to ask about summer financial aid.

*Students who are not making Satisfactory Academic Progress after the Spring 2025 semester can submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal. 

I am a California Dream Act student. Am I eligible for a UC Summer Fee Grant?

YES. If you are an undergraduate, filed a 2024-25 California Dream Act Application, and meet the general summer aid eligibility criteria, you are eligible for a UC Summer Fee Grant.

How many units do I need to take in order to qualify for financial aid?

You are required to enroll in a minimum of 6 units to be eligible to receive a UC Summer Fee Grant and loans. You may earn these 6 units in either Pass/No Pass or Graded classes.

Newly admitted for Fall and returning students can earn the 6 units in any single Summer Session or combination of Summer Sessions only.

Continuing students may earn these 6 units in:

• Any single UC Berkeley Summer Session or combination of sessions.
• Berkeley Summer Abroad or Global Internship program, an Education Abroad Program (EAP), or through the Summer Intercampus program on a different UC campus.

How is my summer financial aid eligibility determined?

The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office determines all summer financial aid eligibility using the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act application.

How much will I get?

Estimate your cost and financial aid for Summer Sessions, Summer Abroad, or Global Internships. Log into Cal Central, 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.

How do I become eligible and apply for summer financial aid?

Continuing students (students who attended or withdrew from either the Fall 2024 and/or Spring 2025 semesters):

• If you haven't already done so, you are required to complete the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application.
• Your financial aid file must be complete no later than 3 weeks prior to the end of your summer enrollment.
• You are required to enroll in a minimum of 6 semester units (9 quarter units if attending a different UC campus) during the summer session.
• There is no separate summer aid application for continuing students attending Summer Sessions on the UC Berkeley campus.
• You will see your summer awards within 3 to 5 business days of enrolling in Summer Sessions once summer awarding has started (late March). Waitlisted courses are not considered for summer aid purposes.

Newly admitted graduate and undergraduate students and returning UC Berkeley students (students out of attendance more than one year):

• You must be newly admitted or returning to the upcoming Fall semester.
• Complete your FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application no later than June 1 and ensure that UC Berkeley's federal school code (001312) is listed on the application.
• If you are not eligible to file the FAFSA and are a AB-540 undergraduate student, complete your California Dream Act Application no later than June 1 and ensure that UC Berkeley's school code (001312) is listed on the application.
• Your financial aid file must be complete no later than 3 weeks prior to the end of your summer enrollment.
• Enroll in at least 6 units during the Summer Session. If you have a complete 2024-25 financial aid application (FAFSA or California Dream Application) and have completed any additional requirements, we will determine your eligibility for summer financial aid based on your summer enrollment.
• If you are a newly admitted student for Fall or returning UC Berkeley student, you may only receive financial aid for UC Berkeley Summer Sessions, including online classes. Newly admitted and returning students are not eligible to receive financial aid for EAP, Summer Abroad, Intercampus, or Global Internship Programs.

Can I receive financial aid if I want to take online courses?

Yes, online courses offered through Summer Sessions are eligible for financial aid.

Can I receive aid for waitlisted classes?

No. Summer financial aid is based on actual enrollment in Summer Sessions courses. Students on the waitlist are not officially enrolled in the course. You will receive the appropriate amount of aid for the courses in which you are officially enrolled. Once you are removed from the waitlist and officially enrolled in the course, your financial aid will be adjusted to reflect your new enrollment within 2 to 3 business days.

How can I estimate my summer loan eligibility?

To estimate your remaining summer loan eligibility, simply subtract the amount of loans you accepted during the academic year from the maximum annual borrowing limit for your grade level.

Graduate students are encouraged to review the maximum annual borrowing limits. Please note that Optometry, Public Health, and Joint Medical Program students have higher annual loan limits. Graduate students who have exhausted their Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan eligibility will be offered a Federal Graduate PLUS Loan.

Please review our Federal Student Loans page for more information.

If I only qualify for a Federal Graduate PLUS Loan or Federal Parent PLUS Loan, which I or my family is unable to accept, what are my options?

You may qualify for a private loan, pending credit approval from an outside lender. Please review the Private Loans information available online.

What if my Federal Graduate PLUS Loan application or Federal Parent PLUS Loan application is denied?

Disbursement of a Federal Graduate PLUS Loan and Federal Parent PLUS Loan requires approved credit. Graduate students denied a Graduate PLUS Loan because of credit will be notified by the Department of Education. Parents who are denied a Parent PLUS loan because of credit will know they have been denied immediately upon completing the online application. You or your parent will have the following options:

• Appeal the decision.
• Get an endorser.
• Not pursue an endorser.
• Undecided.

If you or your parent chooses to “get an endorser”, the endorser must go to the Federal Student Aid website and complete the “Endorse a Loan” online form.

If your parent chooses “not pursuing an endorser”, this information will be transmitted to us. If you are an undergraduate student, we may offer you an Unsubsidized Direct Loan as a replacement. The maximum replacement amounts are $4,000 for freshmen and sophomores and $5,000 for juniors and seniors. The replacement amount is limited by your total summer budget.

If your parent chooses “Undecided,” then no action will be taken. Undergraduate students must have their parents choose “not pursue an endorser” in order for us to offer you any additional Unsubsidized loan. To change their choice, your parent should contact open a case through Cal Student Central. The case must be sent by your parent from the same email account that is on his or her PLUS application.

The only loan alternatives for Graduate Students are Private Loans.

When can I view and accept my summer financial aid offer?

Check Cal Central in late March for more details. Click on "View Awards" for 2024-25 in My Finances. You may click the "Accept" button next to any loans that you wish to borrow for summer.

What is the deadline to accept my summer financial aid offer?

• Session “A” ONLY students the priority deadline to accept all loans, submit a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan or a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan request and/ or complete any Subsidized or Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note or Entrance Counseling to ensure disbursement before Summer Session A ends is June 13, 2025.
• Students enrolled in session(s) other than Session A or any session with an end date beyond July 12, 2024, the deadline to accept your summer financial aid offer and complete/submit loan documents is July 27, 2025.
• Students in any Special Summer program ending before June 27, 2025, the deadline to accept your summer financial aid offer and complete/submit loan documents is 2 weeks before your program ends.

Can I use my work-study award during the summer?
Work-study awards from your 2024-25 award package cannot be earned after the Spring 2025 semester ends. But, if you have work-study as a part of your 2025-26 award package, you may begin earning these funds as early as July 1, 2025, provided that your 2025-26 financial aid file is complete (no missing documents) and your financial aid offer is not conditional.
There is no option to convert summer loans to work-study. Work-study is not available as a summer award. Please review Work-Study Information for Students for more information.

I am a student parent. Is there a Summer Parent Grant?

Yes! There is a Summer Parent Grant for undergraduate students. The maximum amount of this grant is $3,300. The amount you receive is based on your summer enrollment and financial need. Please note that a Summer Parent Grant may be reduced if you change your enrollment and the enrollment change reduces your summer budget.

Why haven't I received the maximum amount of $3,300 for my Summer Parent Grant?

The amount you receive in a Summer Parent Grant is based on your summer enrollment and your financial need. If you have not received the full amount of the parent grant and are fully funded up to your cost of attendance, then all your expenses related to summer are considered to be met.

Can I file a Cost of Attendance (COA) Adjustment Request to receive additional money for my summer childcare expenses?

Yes, you can file a Summer Childcare Expense Appeal form. Please note that this is the only summer expense item that may be appealed. The childcare expenses you request must be during your summer enrollment period. If your Summer Childcare Expense Appeal is approved, your summer budget will be increased, and you will be offered additional Summer Parent Grant, up to the maximum amount of $3,300 first and then additional loans. An approved Summer Childcare Expense Appeal will not result in any other additional gift aid eligibility. Log into the Financial Aid Forms portal and click on the Manage Requests button, then the + sign next to the Summer Child Care Appeal option.

I am a California Dream Act student parent. Am I eligible for a Summer Parent Grant?

Yes. If you are a California Dream Act student parent, you are eligible for a Summer Parent Grant. The amount you receive is based on your enrollment and financial need.

I am thinking about dropping a summer class. How will this affect my summer financial aid?

Dropping a course from one of your Summer Sessions, prior to the Summer Census Date (Summer 2025: July 18, 2024) will cause your summer financial aid package to be revised. Your financial aid package is revised any time there is a change in the number of units in which you are enrolled, a change in the Summer Session(s) you are attending and/or when you make an enrollment change (before or after the session starts). Please review the withdrawal information for details on how withdrawing from one or more Summer Sessions may affect your aid. Students are encouraged to speak with a Cal Student Central advisor before making Summer enrollment changes.

If I cancel, fail, or do not pass all of my summer classes, what will happen to my summer financial aid?

If you cancel, you may be billed for a portion or all of your summer financial aid.

If you fail or do not pass all of your summer classes due to non-attendance, you may be billed for a portion or all of your summer financial aid.

Courses with non-passing grades, or courses dropped after the Summer Sessions refund deadline, may impact your Satisfactory Academic Progress.

How do I officially withdraw from all my summer classes?

Please refer to the withdrawal section on the Summer Sessions website, which includes deadlines and information on the withdrawal process.

I enrolled in summer classes, had my summer financial aid paid to my billing account, and used my summer financial aid refund for living expenses. However, I did not attend any summer classes—what happens?

You will be billed for all of the summer financial aid that paid to your billing account and are responsible for returning those funds back to the University.

Are Cost of Attendance (COA) Adjustment Requests considered for summer financial aid?

New for Summer 2025: Students may submit a Summer Cost of Attendance Adjustment Request for specific educational expenses incurred while enrolled over the Summer.

• Continuing students may request an increase to their Cost of Attendance for housing and child care expenses.
• New students (admitted for Summer 2025) may request an increase to their Cost of Attendance for housing and child care, as well as the cost of a computer purchase and relocation expenses.

Summer Cost of Attendance Adjustment Requests must be submitted no later than 2 weeks prior to the end of your Summer enrollment, in order to ensure a timely review. Cost of Attendance Adjustment Requests will result in an increase to Summer loan eligibility, in most cases. Students may submit a Summer Cost of Attendance Adjustment Request through the Berkeley Forms page at the start of Summer Sessions.

Are SAP Appeals considered for summer financial aid?

Yes. SAP Appeals are considered for summer financial aid eligibility. If you are not making SAP prior to the start of summer session, or after your Spring 2025 grades post, you can submit a SAP appeal in order to be considered for summer financial aid. 

How will an outside award/resource(s) impact my summer financial aid package?

If you already have a summer financial aid package and subsequently receive an outside award/resource(s) during the summer, your summer financial aid offer will be adjusted for that award, and is dependent upon the conditions of the award. Fee specific outside awards may reduce part or all of a UC Summer Fee Grant.
Generally, your need-based loans are reduced first to "make room" for that award. If the amount of outside aid exceeds the amount of need-based loans in your package, your grants are then reduced.

NOTE: Please report your summer outside award/resource(s) in CalCentral.