Summer 2008 Financial Aid Guidelines and Information
Financial aid may be offered to degree-seeking students at Concordia College assuming you did not exhaust your financial aid eligibility during the fall and spring semesters, and are in good academic standing.
Summer I and Summer II sessions are treated as one term for financial aid purposes. Your financial aid is determined on your total enrollment for both sessions. If you request Financial Aid options for summer school we will determine your eligibility based on the number of courses you notify us of, if your enrollment changes from what you have notified us of, your Financial Aid options will likely change.
May Sem is not considered part of summer school; rather it is regarded as part of Spring Semester. May Sem financial aid must be applied for separately. If you are a senior and intend to graduate after the completion of spring semester you will need to delay your graduation until July if you want to be considered for financial aid funding for May Sem.
Application Process & Notification of Financial Aid Eligibility
What forms are required to determine my summer financial aid eligibility?
Two separate applications are required:
- The 2007-08 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); and,
- Concordia College’s Summer Financial Aid Request Form.
If your financial aid application is selected for verification or if there are unresolved edits you must submit the appropriate documents assuming this process was not completed earlier. Our office will notify you if additional documents or forms are required.
What deadlines relate to financial aid during summer school? Your financial aid file must be complete (i.e. all forms/documents submitted and error free) by the fifth day of classes to ensure timely processing.
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Summer Term
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Begin Date
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End Date
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Deadline Date*
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| Summer Session I (SSI)
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May 12, 2008
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June 6, 2008
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May 16, 2008
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| Summer Session II (SSII)
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June 9, 2008
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July 3, 2008
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June 13, 2008
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Any documents received after the deadline date listed will be processed, if time permits, but there is no guarantee of financial aid. No federal financial aid can be processed after your last date of enrollment.
Review the Enrollment Requirements section carefully to determine how your financial aid will be affected if you change your enrollment plans, withdraw, or do not have all necessary paperwork in by your last date of attendance.
*Deadline Date Exception: If you are eligible for the federal Pell Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG), or the National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant your eligibility is based on your enrollment status as of June, 10th. These funds are not adjusted for registration changes that occur after June, 10th.
When, and how, will I be notified of my summer financial aid eligibility?You will receive a paper notification of summer financial aid eligibility to your campus PO Box within approximately two weeks of submission of the summer application.
Financial Aid Options
What financial aid is available during summer school?Possible summer funding sources include:
- student loans—federal, state, and private
- federal grants—Pell, ACG and SMART grants
- Minnesota State Grant
- institutional student employment
Refer to the section entitled “Program Specific Requirements” for important program information.
NOTE: The main source of financial aid available for summer is loans. There are no institutional grant or scholarship funds available during summer sessions.
Eenrollment Requirements
How many courses/credits must I be enrolled in to receive financial aid?
Enrollment requirements vary for undergraduate and graduate students based on the aid you qualify to receive. The following chart identifies minimum enrollment requirements for specific aid programs.
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Financial Aid Program
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Undergraduate Enrollment
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Graduate Enrollment
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Federal Stafford Loan |
1.5 courses |
1 course |
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Private (Alternative) Loans |
Depending on program may receive for as few as a .25 course |
Depending on program may receive for as few as a .25 course |
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Federal Pell Grant |
.25 course |
Not Eligible |
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ACG/SMART Grants |
3.0 courses or more |
Not Eligible |
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Minnesota State Grant |
.75 course |
Not Eligible |
Even if you are enrolled in the minimum number of courses/credits listed above you still must have remaining eligibility from the 2007-2008 academic year, in order to qualify for the desired fund.
Are there any deadlines regarding registration?
The summer census date is June 10th. Your aid will be adjusted to the number of credits that you have on the census date. If you have dropped credits, you will have to repay any funds for which you are no longer eligible. If you have added credits, you may become eligible for additional aid.Your financial aid eligibility is initially determined based on the number of courses you reported on your summer financial aid application.
If I change the number of courses/credits I enroll in will it affect my financial aid?
Yes. You must enroll in the number of credits each term you initially reported to us to receive the aid offered. Any time your enrollment changes your financial aid will also change. The FAO will monitor your enrollment throughout the summer to ensure you are enrolled in the number of credits you initially reported to us. Any financial aid received may be reduced, returned or canceled if you enroll differently than initially reported, or drop/withdraw from a course and receive a tuition refund.
What happens if I withdraw from all course(s) during summer school?
If you are considering withdrawing from all your summer courses it is strongly recommended that you meet with a financial aid representative first to discuss your plans and the possible financial aid consequences. Federal financial aid guidelines dictate students must earn their aid based on the number of days they have attended class in a term. In some instances Concordia may be required to return more money to the federal government than a student receives in an institutional refund. In this situation, the student would then owe a balance to the college.
Does my financial aid need to be adjusted if I withdraw from only a portion of my courses during summer school?
If you do not receive a refund on your tuition for summer session, your aid would not need to be adjusted. However, if you are granted a tuition refund and you are a recipient of a Minnesota State Grant it could be adjusted or cancelled. If you are an undergraduate student and you withdraw to less than 1.5 courses (graduate students -- 1 course) and you have a Federal Stafford Loan, Federal PLUS loan, or SELF Loan that has not disbursed to your account you would not be eligible for the loan funds. If you are granted a 100% tuition refund on a course, or courses, during or after summer session, your financial aid will need to be recalculated. This may result in all your aid being reduced, returned, or canceled. Please contact the FAO if you plan on withdrawing from one or all your courses to determine if it will impact your financial aid award.Can I still have financial aid processed for summer school if I withdraw or if summer term has ended?
If Concordia has not received a valid 2007-2008 FAFSA at the time you withdraw or by your last date of attendance, you are not eligible for any aid. If a valid FAFSA has been received and you are selected for verification you will have until September 24, 2008, or 120 days from the day you withdraw to submit the necessary documents to complete verification, whichever is earlier. The Federal Pell Grant is the only aid for which you may be considered by completing the verification process. Once you withdraw from classes, you become ineligible for federal/state loans and Minnesota State Grant consideration for summer term.
If I take courses at another college, can Concordia determine my financial aid based on the combined credit load at both institutions?
No. A student who is enrolled at two post-secondary institutions simultaneously can request one school to process aid on behalf of both schools only if both schools have a policy in place that allows for consortium agreements. Concordia College will not act as the home school for purposes of consortium agreements.
Does the Tri-College University Agreement exist during summer school?
The Tri-College University Agreement does not exist during summer school; therefore, any courses taken at a Tri-College institution, or any other college, will not be considered when the FAO at Concordia determines your summer aid eligibility.
Is May Sem considered part of summer school?May Sem is not considered part of summer school; rather it is regarded as part of Spring Semester. There is no financial aid specifically for May Sem. May Sem financial aid must be applied for separately. If you are a senior and intend to graduate after the completion of spring semester you will need to delay your graduation until July if you want to be considered for financial aid funding for May Sem. You are still eligible to walk during spring commencement but your degree cannot be conferred until July.
Do I need to submit anything additional if I am doing a Summer Internships/Co-Ops?
Yes, if you are taking a Summer Internship/Co-op, please attach a budget letter outlining the costs of your program and verifying some additional information. You will need to include the starting and ending dates of the Summer Internship/Co-Op, number of course credits you are registering for, what summer session you are registered for, and the name and location of where you will be doing the Summer Internship/Co-Op. You will need to have this budget signed by you and your advisor/coordinator for the program certifying that the information provided appears to be accurate.
How is Summer Study Abroad treated and what do I need to do to apply?Summer study abroad will be treated the same as a summer course on campus for financial aid purposes. We are allowed to add to your budget the additional study abroad expenses, so you can receive financial aid to covert hem. You can complete the Summer School Request form, and we will notify you of your eligibility once we receive confirmation of the costs of the program from the Office of Global Education. The primary source of financial aid for Summer Study Abroad is loans.
Cost of Attendance & Billing InformationWhat is the summer tuition rate?
Undergraduate summer tuition is $2,450 per 1.0 course.
May I register for summer courses if my student account in not paid in full from the academic year?
No, your student account must be current or you will not be allowed to register for summer courses. If you are registered for summer school and your student account becomes delinquent you must make arrangements with the Business Office to pay your account in full, otherwise, your summer courses will be dropped.
What financial arrangements are available for summer school?
Tuition and fees are due the beginning of each summer session. When financial aid or other adjustments are expected, those adjustments may be deducted from the balance. Please do not delay payments while waiting for adjustments. Interest will be charged on unpaid balances that are outstanding 30 days or more. You should not expect to be registered for the next term if fees are not paid in full. The Tuition Management System Payment Plan is not available during summer school.
Program Specific RequirementsFederal Grant Programs:
You may be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, ACG, or Smart Grant during summer if you took less than 3.0 courses during fall and spring semesters in 2007-08 and received funding from the Pell Grant program during that time.
MinnesotaStateGrant Program:If you were eligible for Minnesota State Grant during the academic year and have not been enrolled full-time for at least 8 semesters, you may qualify for funding during summer school. If you are a visiting undergraduate student for summer and qualified for state grant at another Minnesota college during the academic year, please provide academic transcripts from that college and any other colleges previously attended. Once your 2007-2008 FAFSA is received we may require additional documents as well.
Student Employment:All students are eligible to work on campus during the summer months. It is your responsibility to locate a position on campus, you will need to complete and submit the necessary paperwork with the department you are working for.
Federal Stafford Loans: (requires a minimum enrollment of 1.5 courses) Please review the following bullets regarding Federal Stafford Loans as they may apply to you:
· Stafford loan eligibility for summer classes is determined by the amount of Stafford loans you borrowed for the 2007-2008 academic year.
· If you are a junior or senior, and you borrowed the maximum Stafford loan for your grade level during the academic year, you will not be eligible for additional Stafford loan money for summer.
· If you are a freshman or sophomore, and you will advance a grade level after spring semester 2008, you may be eligible for additional Stafford loan money for summer. We will not process any additional loans based on a grade level change until after grades are posted for spring semester.
· First-time Stafford loan borrowers must complete entrance loan counseling and select a lender before a loan will be processed. To apply on-line please go to the following website. http://www.cord.edu/Admissions/Costs/Types/Loans/stafford.php
· Federal Stafford loans will not be processed until you are registered in the number of credits you indicated on your application. You must register for all of your summer school credits at the same time to ensure your loans will be processed properly.
· Federal Stafford loans are required to be disbursed in two payments--one at the beginning of the loan period and one at the midpoint.
Federal PLUS Loan(requires a minimum enrollment of 1.5 courses or 6 credits)
· Parent PLUS loan eligibility for summer classes is determined based on the Cost of Attendance minus any other financial aid.
· You must be registered for at least 1.5 courses during Summer School in order to be eligible.
· To obtain additional information on this loan program and to apply please visit our website at http://www.cord.edu/Admissions/Costs/Types/Loans/plusloan.php
MinnesotaStudent Educational Loan Fund (SELF)(requires a minimum enrollment 1.5 courses)
· You and your cosigner can apply online at www.selfloan.org. Be sure to print and mail the signed promissory note. The SELF loan office will notify us that you have applied. If you are a first time borrower of a SELF loan, entrance counseling is required. You will be prompted to complete the counseling when applying on line.
Private/Alternative Loans:
· Concordia College strongly encourages you to borrow your full eligibility from the federal Stafford loan program before applying for private/alternative loan, because the Stafford terms are more desirable. If you are not eligible for Stafford loans for summer or must seek loan funds in addition to the Stafford loan program, a variety of private/alternative loans exist through private lenders. Private/Alternative loans will be processed based on the number of courses you indicated on your application. To see a listing of the available Private/Alternative loans please visit http://www.cord.edu/Admissions/Costs/Types/Loans/private.php
· If you are eligible for Private Educational Loans you must initiate the application process by applying directly with the lender of your chose on their website. http://www.cord.edu/Admissions/Costs/Types/Loans/private.php
· Many undergraduate students will enroll less than half-time (1.5 courses or less) for summer school, thus, many times private loans are your only financial aid option.
