Summer Information

Summer classes and financial aid is handled a little differently than the fall and spring semesters. Summer is considered a trailer semester, meaning it is the last semester in the academic year. Here are some things to keep in mind about summer:

• There is a separate application for summer financial aid
• The academic year begins with fall and ends with summer.
• Summer is an optional period of enrollment.
• Students are awarded for the academic year. Awards begin with the fall semester.
• You are responsible for setting aside money from the fall and spring semesters for summer.
• Summer financial aid is whatever you do not use during fall and spring semester.

Here are some examples:

• If you are offered a loan for $3,500 for fall and spring, but only take out $1,500 for the year, after filing the summer application, you will be offered $2,000 for summer.
• If you are offered a loan for $3,500 for fall and spring and take out the full $3,500 for the year, then you will not be offered the loan for summer.
• If you have a Pell grant for the year, but attend half time fall and spring and use half your grant, then you will be eligible to use half the grant toward your summer classes.
• If you have a Pell grant for the year and attend full time fall and spring, then you will not have any eligibility for Pell for your summer classes.

Since summer is an optional period of enrollment, the Financial Aid office does not automatically set up financial aid for students for summer. A Summer Application must be completed to let the Financial Aid office know you are interested in aid for summer.

*CVO Students: If you are a student who uses Child of a Veteran or Public Safety Officer program, you must complete a Summer Application to set this program up for summer. You must also have the upcoming year’s FAFSA on file. (i.e., for summer 2008, you must have the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 FAFSAs on file).

New students to IPFW for the Summer Term

If you are a new student to IPFW and beginning classes in the summer term, you still have to complete a summer application. You also need to be aware of the following:

• You must be admitted to IPFW for the summer term.
• Financial aid for summer is determined the same way as a continuing student: if you were paid any financial aid during the fall and/or spring semester (at any school—not just IPFW), you may not have eligibility for summer.
• You must have the summer FAFSA filed as well as the FAFSA for the upcoming fall filed (i.e. if you are attending summer 2008, you must have the 2007-08 and 2008-09 FAFSAs on file).

If you do not have federal aid eligibility for summer classes, there are other payment options:

• Outside loans
• Payment arrangements with the Bursar’s office

Outside Loans

If you have used all of your eligibility for the academic year and do not have anything left for summer, you may apply for an outside loan (also called a private education loan or an alternative loan). This type of loan is applied for directly through your lender’s Web site, but there are some key facts to consider:

• Your lender may conduct a credit check for this type of loan
• Your lender may require you to have a co-signer
• Your lender can set the interest at whatever percentage they choose

Payment Arrangements

If you have no financial aid eligibility, you may make payment arrangements with the Bursar’s Office.