To be considered for aid for the summer, be sure that we have a 2023-24 FAFSA on file for you and that you are enrolled in summer courses. Students who are Title IV eligible will automatically be considered for federal student aid for the summer. Students will continue to be considered for aid automatically throughout the summer until June 18. If you have not completed the 2023-24 FAFSA and are interested in being considered aid, use the checklist below to help you plan for the summer.
Summer Financial Aid Checklist
Complete the 2023-24 FAFSA on StudentAid.gov. Apply for an FSA ID if necessary to help you sign and submit the form.
If you did not attend during the fall and/or spring at USC, make sure that you add our school code to your FAFSA.
School Code: 003448
It could take one to two weeks to receive the results of your FAFSA. A completely processed 2023-24 FAFSA could take up to three weeks to process. Determine if there are any unsatisfied requirements in the Financial Aid Dashboard.
Read all terms and conditions associated with your awards. If you have any non-institutional scholarships to be applied towards your bill, send the scholarship check to the Bursar’s Office at 1244 Blossom Street, Suite 128, Columbia, SC 29208.
Determine if you will need to apply for additional assistance to help pay your tuition bill. PLUS, Graduate PLUS, and private loans are all available during the summer but a separate application process is necessary.
The application for Federal Direct PLUS Loans (Parent and Graduate) are on StudentAid.gov. For more information about the Direct Parent PLUS or Graduate PLUS Loans, see the Federal Direct PLUS section of our website.
For a comprehensive list of private loan lenders our students have used over the past five years, please visit the Private Loans section of our website.
Read all terms and conditions for your awards. If you have any non-institutional scholarships to be applied towards your bill, send the scholarship check to the Bursar’s Office at 1244 Blossom Street, Suite 128, Columbia, SC 29208.
Funding and Eligibility Requirements
Most types of aid require that you be enrolled at least half-time or six hours. If you were eligible for a Pell Grant for 2023-24, you may be eligible to receive additional Pell Grant funds during the summer. The financial aid office will determine your eligibility.
Use of Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, and General University Scholarships
Students may use their scholarship during the summer if they meet certain criteria and the financial aid office will determine eligibility.
For Palmetto Fellows and LIFE, students must meet the following requirements:
- Meet the general eligibility requirements of the Palmetto Fellows or LIFE Scholarship
- Be likely to meet the renewal criteria by the end of the spring semester
- For Palmetto Fellows, students must have earned 30 hours and a 3.00 USC Cumulative GPA
- For LIFE Scholarship, students must have earned 30 hours and a 3.00 LIFE GPA
- Must enroll at USC for the summer
- Must enroll in 12 hours at USC and be on track to graduate early
For General University Scholarships, students must meet the following requirements:
- Be likely to meet the renewal criteria for the scholarship by the end of the spring semester
- Must have a USC Cumulative 3.00 GPA or higher
- Must enroll at USC for the summer
- Must enroll in 12 hours at USC and be on track to graduate early
Education Abroad and Transient for the Summer
Students who enroll in an education abroad program or plan to study as a transient student must complete a prescreen form and the Special Enrollment Request Form. No additional application is required.
For education abroad, students should submit the Education Abroad Prescreen Form to our office. The deadline to submit this form is June 1. Please note that funds may not be available by the time fees are due with the host school or program provider. Other payment arrangements may need to be made.
Transient students should submit the Transient Prescreen Form. A copy of the Special Enrollment Request Form should be uploaded into the prescreen form. The deadline to submit the prescreen form and the Special Enrollment Request Form is June 1. Please note that funds may not be available by the time fees are due with the host school. Other payment arrangements may need to be made.
Learn more about education abroad and transient study.