Financial Aid - Summer Session

Summer financial aid can help you stay on track for graduation or even graduate early. Below is everything you need to know about Summer Pell and Summer TAP.

On this page you will find:

Year-Round Pell (Summer Pell)

Funding for Year-Round Pell allows eligible students to receive additional Pell Grant funding during the summer within the same academic year.

Students may receive up to 150% of their scheduled annual Pell award.

Basic Summer Pell Rule

If you received the full Pell amount in fall and spring, you must:

  • Enroll in at least 6 credits in summer
  • You have remaining Pell Lifetime Eligibility Usage (LEU)

Eligibility Requirements for Summer Pell

To qualify, you must:

  • Complete the FAFSA
  • Complete Verification (if selected)
  • Resolve all CUNYfirst “To Do List” items
  • Be Pell Grant eligible
  • Enroll in summer classes
  • Enroll in at least 6 credits (if required based on fall/spring enrollment)
  • Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
  • You have remaining Pell Lifetime Eligibility Usage (LEU)

Lifetime Pell Eligibility (LEU)

The maximum Pell eligibility is 600% (equivalent to 12 full-time semesters).

Each semester uses:

Credits Attempted

Lifetime Eligibility Used

Full-time enrollment (12 credits or more)

50.0%

Three Quarters time enrollment (9-11 credits)

37.5%

Half-time enrollment (6-8 credits)

25.0%

Quarter-time enrollment (3-5 credits)

12.5%

Minimum Credits for Summer Pell

  • If you enrolled full-time (12+ credits) and received the full-time Pell Grant amount for fall and spring, you must enroll at least half-time (6 credits) in summer classes to receive the remainder summer Pell Grant.
  • If you enrolled part-time fall or spring, there is no minimum credit requirement to receive a summer Pell Grant. You can use the remainder of your annual Pell Grant amount during summer with no minimum credit requirement.

Summer TAP

Summer TAP is separate from Pell and is based on New York State eligibility.

To apply:

  1. Complete the FAFSA

  2. Click “Apply for State Aid” on the FAFSA confirmation page OR

  3. Apply directly on the HESC site and select York College (CUNY) School Code: 1418

Summer TAP Requirements

You must:

  • Complete at least 24 credits during the previous Fall and Spring

  • Enroll in at least 6 degree-applicable credits in summer

  • Be a matriculated New York State resident for at least 1 year

  • Meet Program Pursuit and Academic Progress requirements

  • Maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA (after two years of TAP)

Please Stay Infromed

  • Summer TAP counts toward your lifetime TAP limit

  • 6–11.5 credits = counts as half TAP payment

  • 12+ credits = counts as a full TAP payment

  • Using summer TAP reduces future TAP eligibility

  • If you previously used TAP or APTS for summer, it may impact fall eligibility due to the TAP Progress Chart

  • Final award amounts are determined after the State budget is passed

Important Reminders

  • Summer aid is not automatic — you must be enrolled

  • Always check your CUNYfirst “To Do List”

  • Monitor your email for financial aid updates. Submission does not guarantee eligibility! Plan for the future! If you are close to Pell or TAP lifetime limits.

Revised: March 17, 2026