Summer Financial Aid Requirements & Conditions

How to Apply for Summer Aid

Receiving Summer Financial Aid at Wichita State

  • Summer 2024 is the ending term for the 2023-2024 academic year. Any aid awards are based on your remaining annual eligibility, fund availability, and your enrollment. Enrollment changes to the number of financial-aid-eligible credit hours and/or the session period may result in changes to your Summer aid.
  • All Summer 2024 financial aid is subject to the requirements listed below, as well as the Financial Aid Terms and Conditions.
  • Summer 2024 financial aid is limited to degree-seeking students at Wichita State. Guest students who are transferring only for the Summer term and non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid.

Enrollment

  • You must be enrolled in Summer classes in order to be eligible to complete a Summer 2024 Financial Aid Application. The priority date to complete an application for aid for the Summer term is May 1, 2024. If you do not maintain the level of enrollment indicated at the time your application is processed, this could affect your financial aid eligibility and/or the amount of your awards.  Awarded aid is based on the eligible hours of enrollment on the last day for 100% tuition refund, June 7, 2024, known as the financial aid recalculation date (formerly census date), or the day your aid disburses, whichever comes later. Adjustments to your Cost of Attendance and awards may also occur as a result of an enrollment level that differs from the enrollment level initially used to determine your aid eligibility.
  • For the Summer term, full-time enrollment is twelve credit hours for undergraduate students and six credit hours for graduate students, while half-time status is six credit hours for undergraduate students and three credit hours for graduate students.
  • You must be enrolled at least half time to receive federal student loans. Federal Work-Study may be awarded to students enrolled less than half-time.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

  • If you do not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards after your grades have been reported for the Spring 2024 semester, your financial aid for the Summer 2024 session will be cancelled and you will need to make alternate plans to pay for your Summer charges.
  • If special, extenuating circumstances prevented you from meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, you may appeal for your Summer aid using the appeal form at wichita.edu/sapappeal.
  • You may review the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy at wichita.edu/sappolicy.

Scholarships

  • Any scholarships awarded for the Summer term are one-term, non-renewable scholarships.
  • The final date for disbursement of Summer scholarships is June 7, 2024.  Scholarships not disbursed by this date will be withdrawn.

Federal Pell Grant Recipients

  • Your Federal Pell Grant Award is based on your enrollment and eligibility.
  • The amount listed on your award is based on your financial-aid-eligible enrollment status. Any change made to your enrollment may cause an adjustment to your award.
  • Revisions may occur based on your financial-aid-eligible enrollment at the end of the 100% refund period (financial aid recalculation date - June 7, 2024). If your Pell Grant is not available until after the 100% refund period, the Pell Grant will be paid based on the number of financial-aid-eligible hours you are enrolled in on the date of your initial disbursement.
  • Once your initial Pell Grant has been paid, if you add classes after the end of the 100% refund period (recalculation date), no additional Pell Grant funds will be disbursed.

Important Year-Round Pell Grant Eligibility Information

  • You may be eligible for Year-Round Pell Grant (additional Pell) funding if you were eligible for Pell in 2023-2024 even if you used your full annual eligibility. This is only applicable if you have not received your first bachelor’s degree and have not met your lifetime eligibility limits for Pell.
  • You must begin attendance in at least half-time enrollment (six credit hours) to be eligible for Year-Round Pell.
  • Year-Round Pell will be automatically awarded to you if you are eligible, but if you fail to begin attendance in at least half-time enrollment, the entire Year-Round Pell Grant amount will be removed. This includes cases where our office is not able to confirm attendance with your instructor.
  • If you need to withdraw from classes during the Summer 2024 term, you should first discuss the potential consequences with a financial aid advisor.

Federal Work Study Recipients

  • Federal Work-Study wages are paid as earned, rather than in a lump sum. The time period covered by your work-study award for Summer 2024 is May 12, 2024 to August 3, 2024.
  • If you are not enrolled at least half-time, but receive a Summer work-study award, your Summer 2024 work-study earnings will count toward your work-study earnings in the 2024-2025 academic year.

Federal Direct Loan Recipients

  • If you have been offered a Federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Direct Loan and you have never received loans from Wichita State, there will be additional (electronic) paperwork that you must complete before receiving the funds.
    • Direct Loan Entrance Counseling
    • Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN)
    • These items can be completed online at studentaid.gov
  • The final date to accept Summer Direct Loan funds is July 24, 2024.

When Do I Receive My Financial Aid at WSU?

There are a few simple guidelines to keep in mind about the payment process at Wichita State:

  • You must pay your fees according to the Summer 2024 Schedule of Courses. If you do not have financial aid pending, you will need to make other payment arrangements to avoid any late charges.
  • Your financial aid (with the exception of Federal Work-Study) will be applied to your charges first and, if applicable, to your on-campus housing charges next.
  • Funds will be applied to your charges as they become available, but no earlier than the time listed in the Schedule of Courses, or no earlier than 10 days prior to your first scheduled course for Summer 2024. Students enrolled in eligible pre-session courses will receive their disbursement in accordance with the disbursement date in the Schedule of Courses.
  • If your financial aid is more than your total fee bill, you will receive the excess aid through direct deposit or a paper check. If you have completed direct deposit enrollment with the Accounts Receivable Office, direct deposits will begin on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Paper checks will be mailed beginning Thursday, May 30, 2024. These dates are subject to change. 
  • Funds cannot disburse between June 22, 2024 and June 30, 2024 due to end-of-year fiscal reporting requirements. Disbursements will resume on Monday, July 1, 2024. These dates are subject to change.

University Installment Payment Plan

  • If your financial aid is not available at the time of fee payment, there is a University Installment Payment Plan. The payment plan is intended to assist students in making tuition payments and is available when you pay for your classes. For more details on the University Installment Payment Plan, you may contact Accounts Receivable at 316-978-3333 or sign up online via your myWSU account >> myFinances tab >> Student Account Suite link >> Payment Plans tab.

 Summer Enrollment FAQs

What are the different enrollment status levels?

  • The table below describes the enrollment levels for the various credit hour options for domestic, undergraduate students during each of the fall, spring, or summer terms.
Enrollment Status/Level Required Credit Hours
Full-Time 12 or more credit hours
Three-Quarter-Time 9 to 11 credit hours
Half-Time 6 to 8 credit hours
Less-Than-Half-Time Less than 6 credit hours

Is there a minimum number of hours required to receive financial aid?

  • In most cases, you will have to be enrolled in at least six hours to receive any additional Pell Grant funds or Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans.

What if I was not enrolled full-time in the Fall and/or the Spring semesters?

  • If you were not enrolled full-time during the regular academic year and you are eligible for a Pell Grant, then you may be able to receive a Pell Grant during the Summer even if you are enrolled in less than six hours. The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships will make that determination automatically, even if you do not submit a Summer Aid Application. However, in all cases you must be enrolled at least half-time to receive federal student loans.

How do I apply for Summer Financial Aid?

  • First, enroll in Summer classes. After enrolling, complete the Summer Aid Application via your myWSU, myFinances portal.

Can I get a Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loan in the Summer?

  • Yes, you can receive a federal student loan if you have remaining loan eligibility for the academic year based on your grade level and if are enrolled in at least half-time hours (six or more hours). You may also have additional eligibility based on advancing to a sophomore or junior grade level prior to the start of the Summer term.

Can my parents still borrow a Parent PLUS Loan in the Summer?

  • Yes, your parents may borrow a Parent PLUS Loan if they apply, are approved, and accept the loan, but you still must be enrolled in at least half-time hours (six or more hours).

Can I still receive Federal Work Study?

  • Summer Federal Work Study does not require at least half-time enrollment, so if you are planning to continue to work your Federal Work Study job through the Summer, contact your supervisor for confirmation of summer employment.

Should I complete a Summer Aid Application even if I do not think I will qualify for anything?

  • Yes, if you have a 2023-2024 FAFSA on file and are enrolled for Summer classes, you should submit a Summer Aid Application. All students who submit an application will be reviewed to see if any aid eligibility remains for the aid year. If you do not have a 2023-2024 FAFSA on file but are interested in Summer Aid, you should first complete your FAFSA, enroll, and then submit the Summer Aid Application.
  • In most cases, if you have already exhausted your annual loan eligibility and are not eligible for grant aid, you will be notified within the Summer Aid Application about alternative summer funding options.

What other aid is available if I enroll in less than six hours?

  • In some cases, if you are eligible for the Pell Grant, then you may still be able to receive the Pell Grant in the Summer without being in six hours, but the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships will have to make that determination.
  • You may set up a payment plan with the Accounts Receivable office. Although we encourage you to explore non-loan options first, you may also apply for a private student loan, but you will need to confirm that the lender will provide a loan for less than half-time enrollment.