Summer Aid

Summer is an excellent time to catch up or get ahead in your studies, make progress towards graduation, and explore new and interesting topics.

Stony Brook’s tuition rate is among the most affordable of all top-tier universities in the nation, and we support eligible students with financial aid in the form of grants which include the Federal Pell Grant and NYS awards such as TAP.  Students may also be eligible to use their Federal Stafford Loans along with Federal PLUS Loans or alternative private loans with private lenders.

It’s important to understand how summer financial aid will impact your award levels in the following fall and spring semesters, as there are limits to the amounts students can receive in Pell Grants and Direct Loans in one academic year. Our advisors are here to speak with you should you have questions about your eligibility for summer aid or financial decision-making.

For information on summer charges and bill due dates you can review the Summer Session Webpage from Registrar.

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SUMMER 2026 AID EXPENSE CALCULATOR

This calculator is designed to help you estimate what your total summer expenses will be based on the various options you select.

  • Be sure to read our section on Enrollment and your Aid to understand how changes in enrollment can impact your Eligibility for financial aid.
  • You can also view our Summer Aid Videos for a tutorial on how to use the summer aid expense calculator and for an overview of the summer aid process.

Notification of summer awards to eligible students begins in early May.

Students do not need to contact our office as students will be automatically awarded based on students summer enrollment and 2026-2027 FAFSA.

View our Summer Aid Timeline

Students who have submitted a valid FAFSA and who have also enrolled for summer classes will automatically be awarded a summer financial aid award package.  It is important to understand that receiving summer aid will likely reduce your fall/spring award package. 

In order to receive a summer financial aid award package the following must be in effect prior to the last day of your summer enrollment:

  • You must be a matriculated Stony Brook student.
  • We must have a valid 2026-2027 FAFSA on file.
  • You must not have any outstanding To Do List Items.
  • Must Meet SAP requirements.

Summer Financial Aid Programs

Funding for this program is limited. Federal Work Study will be awarded on a funds available basis.

The start date for summer employment through the Federal Work-Study Program is July 1 and continues through the end of the summer term (mid-August).

In order to be considered for this program, it is necessary to complete the following steps:

  1. File the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA for the upcoming aid year so that it is received by the federal processor no later than February 15th.
  2. Enroll for summer.
  3. Based on available funds, if you are eligible to receive Federal Work Study you will be considered for this award.

In order to be considered for this program, it is necessary to complete the following steps:
File the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA for the upcoming aid year.
Complete your summer registration. Note: A minimum enrollment of 6 credits during Summer Sessions I and/or II is required to receive a Federal Direct Loan. Advanced graduate students engaged in full-time research must register for the appropriate course.
If you are eligible to receive a loan one will be offered to you in your summer financial aid award package.

If a Master Promissory Note is required, a SOLAR System To Do List Item will be assigned.

Due to federally mandated maximum annual loan limits, students borrowing through the Federal Direct Loan Program during the summer term will have reduced eligibility to borrow during the upcoming academic year.

Example:

Student A is eligible for a combined annual total of $5,500 from the Federal Direct Loan Program. The scheduled disbursement for this loan would be $2,750 in the fall and $2,750 in the spring.

Student A enrolls for 6 credits in the summer, and accepts a $3,500 Federal Direct Loan.

Loan eligibility would change from:
  • Fall Loan: $2,750
  • Spring Loan: $2,750
To:
  • Summer Loan: $3,500
  • Fall Loan: $1,000
  • Spring Loan: $1,000
Important Information Regarding Summer Loan Disbursements: 
  • You must be enrolled and attending at least half time (6 credits) in order for your federal loan to disburse.  If a session hasn’t yet started, you would not yet be “in attendance” for that session.
  • Once you accept your loan, you can view the scheduled disbursement date by clicking on the "View Scheduled Disbursements" link on the Award Summary page.
  • You must maintain at least half-time status (6 credits per semester) throughout the summer term in order to maintain eligibility (advanced graduate students engaged in full-time research must register for the appropriate course).  If you drop or withdraw from credits at any time during the summer, the loan amount(s) may be reduced or cancelled.

This program allows a Pell eligible undergraduate student a maximum annual award amount based on the student's student aid index (SAI) and on the student's credit load towards degree progress. 

Eligible students can receive up to three full-time payments (150% of their maximum annual award) in one academic year (summer, fall, spring).

Example:

Student A is eligible for a $4,000 annual Pell grant which is scheduled to disburse $2,000 in the fall and $2,000 in the spring. Student A enrolls for 6 credits in the summer and 12 credits for both fall and spring terms. The payment of their Pell would be:
  • Summer Pell: $1,000
  • Fall Pell: $2,000
  • Spring Pell: $2,000
If student A was enrolled in 12 credits in the summer, fall, and spring terms, the payment of their Pell award would be:
  • Summer Pell: $2,000
  • Fall Pell: $2,000
  • Spring Pell: $2,000
NOTE: Students who enroll full-time in the summer and fall terms must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) in the spring term to qualify for the third payment.

Summer application steps:
  1. File the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA for the upcoming aid year and have a resulting Pell eligible Student Aid Report.
  2. Enroll for summer.
  3. If you are eligible to receive a Pell award, one will be offered to you in your summer financial aid award package

You must meet the general TAP eligibility requirements (NY State Resident, Citizen, or Eligible Non-Citizen, etc...). You may apply for TAP if enrolled at least half-time (6 credits that are applicable towards your degree program, Primary Major and/or DEC/SBC requirements) during Summer Sessions I and/or II. Additionally, you must also meet the following conditions:

  • Must have full-time enrollment status in the prior semester and
  • Must have earned a combined credit total of 24 credits the prior two terms at Stony Brook. Transfer credits do not apply to this requirement.

If you file your FAFSA electronically ( https://studentaid.gov/) you will be able to link to your on-line TAP application at the end of the FAFSA session. If you missed the NYS link, or you filed a paper FAFSA, go to New York State Higher Education Services at http://www.hesc.ny.gov  to complete the TAP application process.

You must either call HESC at 1-888-NYS-HESC to request summer TAP, or apply for summer TAP using the HESC web site. If ‘SUNY STONY BROOK’ does not appear for the upcoming summer term, add the appropriate ‘SUNY STONY BROOK’ code from the drop-down box (‘SUNY STONY BROOK - 0875).

Please be aware that students enrolled in a 4-year undergraduate program are eligible to receive 8 full-time (semester) TAP payments. Students enrolled in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) are eligible to receive 10 full-time (semester) TAP payments.

Undergraduate Students

Parents of matriculated Undergraduate students who are enrolled for a minimum of six credits may apply for a PLUS loan. A FAFSA application is required prior to applying for the PLUS loan. Parents whose PLUS Loan is denied based on credit history should contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Services for alternative financing options. Visit the Federal Parent PLUS page to learn more about applying for the Parent PLUS loan.

Graduate Students

If you are eligible for a Graduate PLUS Loan for the summer term you will be offered your award on your financial aid package.  You will be able to accept the loan via your SOLAR Account in Campus Financial Services.