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Summer Financial Aid
Summer enrollment is an excellent opportunity to accelerate program completion, and to progress to the next grade level in your academic career. Enrollment may even limit student loan debt by helping you graduate earlier. To learn how to enroll and other important tips, visit our Lynx Central webpage.
Summer Steps to Success
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Review Your aid Options
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Enroll in Maymester or a Summer Term
Eligibility Requirements
- File the FAFSA
- File the 2022-23 FAFSA. If you received financial aid at CU Denver during the Fall 2022 or Spring 2023 semesters, your FAFSA should already be on file
- To be considered for summer work-study, also file the 2023-2024 FAFSA
- Meet the requirements to be eligible for Federal Student Aid
- Be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits). You may enroll in either Maymester or summer courses, or a combination of both
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements
Pell Grant
If you received the Federal Pell Grant in the current fall or spring terms and enroll half-time during the summer (6 credit hours), you may be eligible to receive a Pell Grant during the summer term.
If you enroll less than half-time in the summer and were enrolled less than full-time (12 or more credits) in the current fall and spring terms, you may be eligible to receive the Pell Grant during the summer term.
The maximum Pell Grant lifetime eligibility does not increase if a student receives year-round Pell. Each Pell recipient is still only eligible to receive the equivalent of twelve full‐time semesters (or 600%) and then is no longer eligible for Pell Grant funds.
Learn how to review the amount of Pell Grant you have used.
Example: Student is eligible for a scheduled Pell award of $6,895.
| Fall | Spring | Summer | % Total | |
| Student attends full-time (12+ credits) and receives $,3447.50 (50%) | Student attends full-time and receives $3,447.50 (50%) | Student attends full-time and receives $3,447.50 (50%) | ||
| Student attends full-time (12+ credits) and receives $3,447.50 (50%) | Student attends full-time and receives $3,447.50 (50%) | Student attends 6 hours and receives $1,724.00 (25%) | ||
| Student attends full-time (12+ credits) and receives $3,447.50 (50%) | Student attends full-time and receives $3,447.50 (50%) | Student attends 3 hours and receives $0 (0% because student is not enrolled half-time) | | |
| | Student attends half-time (6-8 credits) and receives $1,724.00 (25%) | Student attends full-time and receives $3,447.50 (50%) | Student attends 6 hours and receives $1,724.00 (25%) |
Pell Grant eligible students may
receive up to 100% of the scheduled award for which they are eligible in
the fall and spring. If enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours) in
the summer, you can receive up to 150% of the scheduled award.
CU Denver Grants
- University Need Grant - Awarded to eligible CU Denver undergraduates with documented financial need. Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours to receive the University Need Grant
- Lynx Grant - Awarded to eligible CU Denver undergraduates with documented financial need. Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours to receive the Lynx Grant
The University Need Grant and Lynx Grant are offered based on funding availability and are not guaranteed.
Student Loans
If you enroll in at least six credits during the summer and did not borrow your allowed annual loan limits during the fall and spring terms, may have Federal Direct Loan available to borrow during the summer.
To estimate your summer loan eligibility, subtract the amount of loans you received during the fall and spring from the maximum annual borrowing limit for your grade level. The amount will generally be the portion of loans you have remaining for summer.
Direct Loan Borrower Annual and Lifetime Aggregate Loan Limits
Dependent Student Direct Loan Annual and Lifetime Aggregate Limits
| Year | Academic Credits Passed | Annual Subsidized Limit | Annual Unsubsidized Limit |
| Freshman | 0 - 29 | $3,500 | $2,000 |
| Sophomore | 30 - 59 | $4,500 | $2,000 |
| Junior+ | 60+ | $5,500 | $2,000 |
Lifetime Limit: $31,000, of which, no more than $23,000 may be subsidized.
Independent Student Direct Loan Annual and Lifetime Aggregate Limits
| Year | Academic Credits Passed | Annual Subsidized Limit | Annual Unsubsidized Limit |
| Freshman | 0 - 29 | $3,500 | $6,000 |
| Sophomore | 30 - 59 | $4,500 | $6,000 |
| Junior+ | 60+ | $5,500 | $7,000 |
Lifetime Limit: $57,500, of which, no more than $23,000 may be subsidized
Parent PLUS Loan
Dependent undergraduates may also have access to a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan if a parent is willing to borrow the loan and passes the required credit check. Find more information about the Federal Parent PLUS Loan.
Work-Study
Summer work-study is limited and priority is given to students currently earning work-study. To be eligible for work-study, you must meet the below criteria.
- File your 2023-2024 FAFSA before April 15, 2023
- Enroll at least half-time (6 credit hours)
- Enroll at least half-time for Fall 2023
- If you did not earn work-study in Spring 2022, complete a Work-Study Request Form
Summer Work-Study employment begins May 28, 2023 and ends August 5, 2023.
Eligibility Requirements
- File the FAFSA
- File the 2022-23 FAFSA. If you received financial aid at CU Denver during the Fall 2022 or Spring 2023 semesters, your FAFSA should already be on file
- To be considered for summer work-study, also file the 2023-2024 FAFSA
- Meet the requirements to be eligible for Federal Student Aid
- Be enrolled at least half-time (3 credits). You may enroll in either Maymester or summer courses, or a combination of both
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements
Federal Student Loans
Graduate Student Direct Loan Annual and Lifetime Aggregate Limits
| Annual Loan Limit | Lifetime Aggregate Limit |
| $20,500 (unsubsidized only) | $138,500 (The graduate aggregate limit includes all federal loans received for undergraduate study) |
- If you did not borrow the $20,500 in an Unsubsidized Direct Loan during the fall and spring terms, you may be eligible for an Unsubsidized Loan for summer
- If you borrowed $20,500 in an Unsubsidized Direct Loan during the fall and spring terms, you will be offered only Graduate PLUS Loan
- The PLUS Loan is a credit-based loan and requires a credit check. To learn more and apply for a summer PLUS loan, visit studentaid.gov
- First-time borrowers will need to complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) before loans can be applied to your tuition bill
Summer work-study is limited and priority is given to students currently earning work-study. To be eligible for work-study, you must meet the below criteria.
- File your 2023-2024 FAFSA before April 15, 2023
- Enroll at least half-time (3 credit hours)
- Enroll at least half-time for Fall 2023
- If you did not earn work-study in Spring 2022, complete a Work-Study Request Form
Summer work-study employment begins May 28, 2023 and ends August 5, 2023.