Summer Aid
- Financial Aid offers for summer courses will be generated in Workday after students have registered for summer courses and have completed their summer aid application. A summer aid application is required only if the student wants to utilize federal student aid during the summer term. If they do not plan to use federal student aid during the summer, they do not need to complete the Summer Aid application. Students will receive information about how to complete the summer aid application shortly after they have registered for their summer courses via email.
- Must file the 2025-2026 FAFSA at StudentAid.gov by June 30, 2026 to be considered for summer financial aid
- You will be notified via email when your Summer Aid Offer is viewable in Workday
- If you are a new transfer student to ISU, your summer financial aid eligibility may be limited based on aid received at your prior school
Minimum Enrollment Requirements
Students must be enrolled in coursework that is considered at least half-time status to be eligible for financial aid. Full-time certification for internships or through Student Disability Resources does not guarantee financial aid eligibility. C-base graduate assistants who are on assistantships for the summer must be enrolled in one credit to receive federal student aid.
| Enrollment | Undergraduate | Graduate |
|---|---|---|
| Full Time | 9+ credits | 7+ credits |
| Three-Quarter Time | 7-8 credits | 5.5-6.5 credits |
| Half Time | 4.5-6.5 credits | 3.5-5 credits |
| Less than Half Time | 0.5-4 credits | 0.5-3 credits |
Please Note: If a student reduces their Summer credits after initial enrollment, their Summer aid may need to be reduced.
Sources of Summer Aid
Pell Grant
Students who are eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant during the Fall and Spring semesters of their 2025-2026 FAFSA may be eligible to receive Federal Pell Grant funds during the summer 2026 term. The amount awarded will be prorated based on enrollment intensity. The amount awarded will count towards the student’s maximum lifetime limit.
Summer Pell Grant eligibility is based on enrollment in courses towards the program of study on day one of summer session two or the first day of courses if registering after June 15th.
Loan Programs
Loan funds are available through the Federal Direct Loan, PLUS Loan, or Private Loan Programs. Maximum loan amounts for the Federal Direct Loan Program, based in part on the cost of attendance, are listed below:
- Freshmen: $2,750 (Dependent) or $4,750 (Independent)
- Sophomores: $3,250 (Dependent) or $5,250 (Independent)
- Juniors/Seniors: $3,750 (Dependent) or $6,250 (Independent)
- Graduate Students: $10,250
Additional Details
The Financial Aid Office calculates students’ eligibility and offers them aid packages through the Federal Pell Grant program, Federal Direct Subsidized Loan (interest paid by the government), and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan (borrower pays the interest). Parents of students may also borrow for their student using the Federal Direct PLUS Loan program.
Each Iowa State student will be sent an email after their summer aid has been processed. Students can then view their awards in Workday.
Students and their parents should consider all of their costs to determine how much money will be needed for Summer attendance. The Registrar’s Office lists Summer Tuition and Fees on its website.