general information
A limited amount of financial aid is available for the summer session. To qualify, you must meet all general financial aid eligibility requirements, as well as additional conditions described on this page. All grants and loans (but not Federal Work-Study) require summer enrollment at USC.
Some academic departments also offer financial assistance for summer enrollment. Contact your department directly for more information.
applying for summer financial aid
To qualify, you must:
- Meet all general financial aid eligibility requirements.
- Be enrolled in classes at least half-time to receive most loans and/or grants. (Federal Work-Study, however, does not require enrollment in classes.)
- Adhere to the following deadlines:
- Apply at least six (6) weeks before the start of your earliest summer class.
- Allow up to three (3) weeks to process a Summer Loan Request Form.
Early application allows us to determine your eligibility for loans before the end of the summer session Drop/Add period.
Receiving Your Funds
Be sure to follow all instructions provided with your Financial Aid Summary Letter.
Summer financial aid will be posted to your student account no sooner than a week before your earliest summer class. Loans will be disbursed after you start classes.
IMPORTANT: Tuition and fees for summer classes are assessed at the time of registration and due when billed, regardless of the class start date(s). To avoid late fees, you may be required to pay any outstanding balance on your student account before your financial aid funds can be posted. If you have applied for financial aid and need to defer your billing balance until financial aid funds are available, please contact the financial aid office at www.usc.edu/contactfao. Please visit the Student Financial Services website for more information on fee settlement.
summer loans
The following loan programs may be available to eligible students who enroll for the USC summer session at least half-time (4 units for master's candidates, 3 units for doctoral candidates) and follow the application instructions below.
If your loan is based on your plans to enroll in two (2) summer sessions:
If you do not complete both sessions and your total enrollment drops to less than half-time for the entire summer, your loan could be cancelled. For document submission instructions, please visit www.usc.edu/contactfao. Your summer loan application will be reflected online in your 2011-2012 Document Status.
Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans
- Submit a completed Summer Loan Request Form (SLRF) to the Financial Aid Office.
- Submit a completed Summer Loan Request Form (SLRF) to the Financial Aid Office.
Private Loans
Loan Advisory: Prior to applying for private loans, students should exhaust all Federal Title IV assistance available, including the Federal Direct Stafford Loan and the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan. The repayment terms of federal loan programs may be more favorable than those for private loans.
Private student loans may not be included in Federal Direct Consolidation Loans; are not eligible for Federal Income-Based Repayment Plans; and are not eligible for Federal Economic Hardship Deferments.
For more information about private loans, click here.
- Available to students enrolled less than half-time to full-time.
- Submit a completed Summer Loan Request Form (SLRF) to the Financial Aid Office.
- Contact your lender directly to apply for the loan.
summer federal work-study
Continuing students can earn up to $3,500 through Summer Federal Work-Study. You are not required to be enrolled in summer classes. Funds are awarded to students with the greatest financial need who:- Intend to enroll at least half-time at USC for the fall 2012 semester;
- Meet all general eligibility requirements for financial aid, including Satisfactory Academic Progress;
- Demonstrate financial need for both the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 academic years;
- Are on-time applicants for 2012-2013 financial aid; and
- Submit a Summer Federal Work-Study Application (completed by both you and your prospective USC employer) to the Financial Aid Office by March 30, 2012.
For document submission instructions, please visit www.usc.edu/contactfao.
Potential Effect on Your Future Financial Aid Eligibility
The federal government requires that summer Federal Work-Study earnings—minus any employment-related expenses—be considered when determining your financial aid eligibility for the following academic year. As a result, your eligibility for other financial aid programs may be reduced.