Limited summer financial aid is available to USC students. Students must meet certain conditions to qualify for the available programs. All programs, except Summer Federal Work-Study and some financing programs, require a minimum of half-time enrollment in the summer session. Contact your academic department directly for information on departmental aid which may be available for summer school. Review carefully the information below:
Summer Federal Work-Study
Summer enrollment at USC is not a prerequisite for the Summer Federal Work-Study program. Please note that due to the limited availability of funds, not all eligible applicants will receive awards. To be considered for a Summer Federal Work-Study award, a student must:
- be admitted to USC, be a continuing student in good standing and intend to register at USC for the fall 2005 semester;
- have met all initial financial aid requirements and deadlines for the 2005-2006 academic year, as published by the Financial Aid Office;
- meet all general eligibility requirements for financial aid, as published by the Financial Aid Office; and
- submit a Summer Federal Work-Study application (available February 28), completed by both the student and the prospective employer, to the Financial Aid Office by the deadline indicated on the application. Summer Federal Work-Study applications are available at the Financial Aid Office.
Summer Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Student Loans
To apply for a Subsidized or Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan for the summer session, a student must:
- be admitted to a USC degree program and be enrolled at USC for the fall 2004 semester and/or the spring 2005 semester;
- enroll for at least six undergraduate units or four graduate units if the student is in a master’s program or three graduate units if the student is in a doctoral program;
- complete the 2004-2005 application process for financial aid, including filing a 2004-2005 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with the federal processor by April 1, 2005;
- have not already borrowed the annual maximum Federal Stafford Loan limit during the 2004-2005 academic year;
- demonstrate eligibility; and
- submit a Summer Loan Request form and a loan application, if required, to the Financial Aid Office at least three weeks prior to the starting date for his or her first summer session. These forms are available from the Financial Aid Office Web site at www.usc.edu/finaid.
Summer Federal Parent Loans for Students (PLUS)
In order for parents to apply for a Federal Parent Loan for the summer session, a student must meet the following conditions:
- be admitted to an undergraduate USC degree program and be enrolled at USC for the fall 2004 semester and/or the spring 2005 semester;
- enroll for at least six units during the summer term;
- demonstrate eligibility;
- submit a loan application and a Summer Loan Request Form to the Financial Aid Office at least three weeks prior to the starting date for his or her first summer session. These forms are available from the Financial Aid Office at www.usc.edu/finaid; and
- submit a Parent Loan Request form and a PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note (if one is not already on file with the lender) at least three weeks prior to the starting date for his or her first summer session. These forms are available from the Financial Aid Office at www.usc.edu/finaid.
Summer Financing Programs
There are various private and federal financing programs available for the summer session. To apply a student must:
- Submit a Summer Loan Request Form to the Financial Aid Office at least three weeks prior to the starting date for his or her first summer session. This form is available from the Financial Aid Office Web site at www.usc.edu/finaid.
- Mail a completed loan application to the appropriate lender. Information for the various programs and applications may be found online at www.usc.edu/finaid.
Summer Federal Pell Grants
To be considered for a summer Federal Pell Grant, a student must:
- be admitted to an undergraduate USC degree program for the summer term, be in pursuit of a first undergraduate degree and be enrolled in at least six units;
- have completed the financial aid application process at USC and have demonstrated eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant for the 2004-2005 academic year;
- have not used his or her full 2004-2005 Federal Pell Grant eligibility either because he or she was enrolled for only one semester, or because he or she enrolled less than full time; and
- complete a Summer Federal Pell Grant application form available from the Financial Aid Office.
Summer Cal Grant Programs
Cal grants are not always available for summer payment. Current recipients who wish to inquire about information and deadlines for a summer grant must contact the California Student Aid Commission by calling (888) CA-GRANT. Students are cautioned that a summer session is equivalent to one semester of eligibility. We recommend that you use your award in such a way that you receive the most benefit from the program.
Withdrawal Implications for Recipients of Financial Aid
During the Drop/Add Period
During the university's published drop/add period, students who withdraw or reduce their enrollment may be eligible for a 100% refund of tuition for classes dropped. A financial aid recipient must immediately notify the Financial Aid Office in writing when he or she withdraws from one or more classes during the drop/add period if the student’s remaining enrollment differs from the enrollment plans on the student’s current Statement of Financial Aid Eligibility. The same applies if one or more classes are cancelled.
The Financial Aid Office will review the student’s new enrollment status and, if appropriate, will send the student a revised Statement of Financial Aid Eligibility based on the new enrollment status.
If a financial aid recipient withdraws from all classes or to less than half-time status during the drop/add period, all financial aid awards must be returned to their respective programs. If the student was given financial aid funds for other expenses, he or she will be expected to return those funds to the university.
After the Drop/Add Period
Students who are recipients of Title IV federal financial aid are also covered by federal policies. Title IV federal financial aid is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded and thereby “earn” the award. When a student ceases academic attendance prior to the end of that period, the student may no long be eligible for the full amount of federal funds that the student was originally scheduled to receive.
The federal policy requires the return of “unearned” Title IV federal financial aid to the U.S. Treasury if recipients withdraw from classes on or before the 60 percent point in the term based on the student’s last date of attendance, even if the student is not entitled to a refund of tuition.
A student is required to immediately notify the Registrar and the Financial Aid Office when he or she stops attending classes. If the student fails to notify either office, it is possible that the 50 percent point of the term will be used to determine the student’s last date of attendance, in accordance with federal regulations. If the student withdraws from all classes, the Financial Aid Office will determine whether that student’s period of attendance resulted in the earning of all of the federal financial aid that was originally awarded. If it is determined that not all of the scheduled federal aid has been earned, then the Financial Aid Office will calculate the amount to be returned to the federal financial aid programs.
The Financial Aid Office will bill the student on his or her university account for the amount returned. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Cashier’s Office about settling the bill.
Veterans Benefits
Veterans must register with the Office of Veteran Affairs each semester in order to receive benefits. Students may expect an educational allowance based only on courses which are a legitimate part of the degree program approved for veterans. The student must notify the Office of Veteran Affairs immediately upon any change in unit load or change of major. The office is located in John Hubbard Hall, Room 101, (213) 740-4619. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.