Summer Financial Aid

Grant aid is available to undergraduate students only, including those classified as P.5 in the professional pharmacy program. At this time, we anticipate the following grants will be available for the 2024 summer semester:

1. Federal Pell Grant
   • Option 1: “Remaining” Federal Pell Grant funds
     Students who were not enrolled full time for the 2023 fall and/or 2024 spring semesters may have remaining eligibility from the 2023-2024 academic year scheduled Federal Pell Grant award.
     • Half-time enrollment is not a requirement to receive remaining Federal Pell Grant funds.
   • Option 2: “Additional” Federal Pell Grant funds (Year-Round Pell/Crossover Pell)
     Student who received 100% of their scheduled Federal Pell Grant award during the 2023-2024 academic year may be eligible for additional Federal Pell Grant funds for the summer semester.
     • Half-time enrollment (6+ credits) is required as of the last day the student can add or drop classes on Campus Connection.
     • Students who receive a Federal Pell Grant and do not attend or participate in the summer classes for which they are still enrolled at the end of the semester may be subject to repayment of any Federal Pell Grant funds they received.
     • Review the examples in the additional Year-Round Pell Grant section below.
2. North Dakota State Grant
   • Students who graduated from a North Dakota high school and are enrolled for at least 3 credits might be eligible for a ND State Grant for the summer semester.
   • Funds are limited and eligibility is determined by the North Dakota University System Office in Bismarck.
   • Only students offered a ND State Grant during the 2023 fall and/or 2024 spring semester will be considered for a ND State Grant for the summer semester.
3. TEACH Grant
   • The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program is for students who intend to teach full time in an elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families for at least four of the eight years after their degree completion.
   • Students who would like to apply for the TEACH Grant may complete the form and submit to NDSU One Stop.

The year-round Federal Pell Grant allows eligible students to receive up to 150% of a regular Pell Grant award over the course of the 2023 fall, 2024 spring and 2024 summer semesters so they may finish their degree faster.

To be eligible for the additional Year-Round Pell Grant, students must:

• Be otherwise eligible to receive Federal Pell Grant funds based on the 2023-2024 FAFSA; and
• Be enrolled at least half time (6+ credit hours) during the summer semester; and
• Be meeting the standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress; and
• Not have earned a bachelor’s degree.

• Student was enrolled full time for the 2023 Fall and 2024 Spring semesters
• Scheduled Federal Pell Grant award for 2023-24 academic year is $7,394 based on maximum FAFSA eligibility (with an EFC of $0)

Federal and private student loans are available to undergraduate, graduate and professional pharmacy students who qualify. Parents interested in borrowing a loan on the student’s behalf may apply for the Federal Direct PLUS Loan. The following loan programs will be available for the 2024 summer semester:

1. Federal Direct Loans

A Federal Direct Loan may be subsidized, unsubsidized, or a combination of both. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education as opposed to a bank or credit union that you choose. There is no credit check or co-signer required, and the interest rate is typically lower than private student loans. Eligibility requirements for Federal Direct Loans include:

• Half-time enrollment or equivalent (6+ credits for undergraduate and professional pharmacy students and 5+ credits for graduate students); and
• Have remaining annual eligibility from the 2023-2024 academic year based on grade level as shown below; and
• Have not reached the aggregate/lifetime Federal Direct Loan borrowing maximums as shown below; and
• Be in an eligible, degree-seeking program

ANNUAL LOAN LIMITS FOR FEDERAL DIRECT LOANS:

AGGREGATE LIMITS FOR FEDERAL DIRECT LOANS:

Dependent Undergraduate Students - $31,000
Independent Undergraduate Students - $57,500
Graduate Students - $138,500
Professional Pharmacy Students - $224,000

Example: Jeanne, a dependent sophomore (27-59 credits), can receive $6,500 per year in the Federal Direct Loan program. If she borrowed $3,000 during each of the fall and spring semesters, she would have $500 remaining for the summer, providing she enrolls for at least 6 credits. Additionally, if she earns enough credits during the spring semester to advance to a junior grade level (60-89 credits), she would be eligible for an additional $1,000 for the summer semester.

2. Private Student Loans

Private student loans are non-federal, interest-bearing loans through private lenders that typically require a co-signer with good credit. A credit check is performed by the lender, and if pre-approved, the application is forwarded to NDSU to certify eligibility for the amount requested. Private student loans are generally more expensive than federal student loans, and usually have a higher interest rate. Please refer to the chart here for a summary of the main differences between federal and private student loans.

• There are a variety of private student loans available. New applicants are encouraged to use the FASTChoice loan comparison tool to help choose the loan program that best suits their needs. Students who have previously borrowed a private loan are advised to use the same lender when possible to avoid repayment to multiple lenders.
• The maximum loan amount cannot exceed the student’s educational costs for the summer semester less other financial aid resources.
• Approved private student loans have a mandatory holding period of up to 8 business days before loan funds can be released to NDSU. During this time, the borrower may exercise their right to cancel the loan. The approximate time from application to disbursement of a private student loan is 3-4 weeks.
• Some lenders will borrow to students who are enrolled less than half-time, are non-degree seeking or not meeting the required standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress. FASTChoice can identify lenders with the features that are important to the student and their co-signer.

Federal Work-Study will not be available for the 2024 summer semester.

NDSU Financial Aid and Scholarships establishes a date each semester for which the enrollment status of the student will be locked for purposes of determining aid eligibility. For the 2024 summer semester, the census/aid recalculation date is June 20, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. The census date for anyone who initially registers for classes after 6/20/2024 will be same date the financial aid offer is posted to Campus Connection.

• Credits added after the census date will not be considered for an increase in the Federal Pell Grant or North Dakota State Grant.
• Federal Direct Loans require undergrad and professional students to be enrolled for 6+ credits and graduate students to be enrolled for 5+ credits when the loan is disbursed. If credits are added after census, resulting in the student reaching half-time status, they may contact NDSU One Stop to request that the Federal Direct Loan be to their financial aid offer.

Example: Bob is a junior who registers for 12 credits (full time) on 5/10/2024 and subsequently receives a financial aid offer based on full-time enrollment. He drops 6 credits on 6/15/2024 so his enrollment at census on 6/20/2024 at 11:59 p.m. is 6 credits (half time). Bob’s cost of attendance will be reduced to reflect 6 credits of enrollment instead of 12 and his financial aid award will be reduced accordingly.

Please refer to the information below to determine the expected date summer aid will disburse (be applied to the student’s NDSU billing account).

Federal Pell Grants

• Class attendance/academic activity is required and documented for all Federal Pell Grant recipients.
• Dropping classes, even before they have begun, can affect the Federal Pell Grant amount. Students awarded a Pell Grant are encouraged to contact 701-231-6200 to discuss possible implications prior to dropping any classes.      

Federal Direct Loans

• First time borrowers must have completed Entrance Counseling and the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement requirements and have signed a Master Promissory Note at StudentAid.gov before funds will disburse.
• Students who received the full maximum annual loan award during the 2023-2024 academic year will be notified if they become eligible for a summer loan as a result of advancing a grade level after completion of the 2024 spring semester. This applies only to students enrolled for 6 or more credits who advance from a freshman to sophomore, or from a sophomore to junior grade level. 

Scholarships

• Students should review their scholarship notification or contact the funding department or external agency for specific enrollment requirements.

• You have not completed the Master Promissory Note (MPN) at StudentAid.gov
• You have not completed Loan Entrance Counseling at StudentAid.gov 
• The Verification process has not been completed
• You are on financial aid disqualification for not meeting satisfactory academic progress
• You have not met the enrollment requirements
• Final high school transcript not received (contact Office of Admission)

Jim registered on 5/1/2024 for four classes (12 credits) including one 3-credit class in the 12-week session and three 3-credit classes in the second 8-week session. His financial aid offer is as follows:

On the financial aid census date of 6/20/2024 at 11:59 p.m., Jim’s enrollment shows that he dropped two of the courses he was enrolled in during the second 8-week session. His enrollment is now 6 credits total, one class in the 12-week session and the other in the second 8-week session. Jim’s financial aid is revised as follows:

Awarding of summer semester financial aid begins for eligible enrolled students with a 2023-2024 FAFSA on file: April 22, 2024

NDSU Bookstore allows summer book charges beginning mid-April, 2024.

Census/Aid Recalculation Date: June 20, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

Financial Aid Disbursement: Begins June 25, 2024 and varies based on enrollment requirements and the start date of the student’s classes. For details, refer to the Financial Aid Disbursement section above.

2023-2024 FAFSA Submission Deadline: June 30, 2024

1. For consideration of maximum financial aid eligibility, students should register for ALL summer courses on the same day.  Partial registration followed by adding classes later could result in not being awarded the maximum grant aid.
2. Official notifications from our office will be sent via the student’s NDSU email address, so the student should check it daily.  
3. Federal Pell Grant awards are based on remaining eligibility from the 2023-2024 academic year, and/or additional Year-Round Pell Grant eligibility for undergraduate students enrolled for at least 6 credits.
4. Dropping below half-time enrollment prior to disbursement of financial aid may result in becoming ineligible for all non-disbursed aid. Additionally, if class attendance is not established, the student will have to repay any Federal Pell Grant funds that were disbursed.
5. Students who register for summer classes and decide not to attend must notify NDSU One Stop immediately to begin the official withdrawal process.
6. If a student withdraws to zero credits prior to the 60% point of the summer session(s) he or she may owe a repayment of financial aid funds to the programs from which they were awarded.
7. Failure to officially withdraw may result in the receipt of failing grades and immediate repayment of financial aid funds thereby owing a debt to NDSU and resulting in disqualification from future financial aid.
8. Standards of Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress apply to all semesters, including summer. Students are responsible for reading and knowing the academic requirements that must be met in order to receive financial aid.
9. The cost of room and board (rent/food) and miscellaneous expenses cannot be included in the cost of attendance for students who are enrolled less than half time during the summer.  This means that federal, state or private aid cannot be used for housing, food or miscellaneous expenses for undergraduate or professional students enrolled in less than 6 credits, or graduate students enrolled in less than 5 credits for the summer semester.