Summer Session Frequently Asked Questions

Source: https://fas.ucsd.edu/resources/summer-session/faq.html Parent: https://fas.ucsd.edu/resources/summer-session/index.html

Unlike the regular academic year, UC San Diego Summer Session fees are charged based on units enrolled and sessions attended.
Fees (and financial aid) can fluctuate based on the number of enrolled units, unit adjustments and when they are adjusted in relation to campus fee refund deadlines.
For more information please visit the Summer Session Tuition and Fees.

Please review the applicable Summer Session overview presentations on the main page.

Prior to the initial summer financial aid disbursement you can review offered and accepted summer aid by logging into TritonLink and selecting 'Financial Aid', enter your UC San Diego User ID/PID and Password/PAC and then select year (for summer 2026 select “2025-26”).
To determine if you have enough accepted summer financial aid to cover the balance due take:
The accepted financial aid on the financial aid offer confirmation and compare against the balance for the Summer Session on TritonPay.
If you are attending multiple sessions, your aid will generally be split equally into multiple payments
This may not align with your per unit billing in each of the sessions
Please note that enrollment changes may affect the amount of financial aid received, and enrollment adjustments made after financial aid is disbursed may result in a bill.

Once disbursed, you may review your student account on TritonPay to determine if there is either:
A pending summer payment due (if the accepted financial aid does not cover the full balance).
No remainder balance due as the accepted financial aid is enough to cover the balance.
An account credit
- If the amount of accepted financial aid exceeds the balance due, a refund will be issued either through Direct Deposit (if enrolled) or as a refund check.
Reminders
Ensure all balances are paid in full by the published fee deadlines of the Summer Session in which you are enrolling, or you may be dropped from your classes.
If accepting a student loan, allow at least 3-5 business days once the loan is accepted and all applicable documents are completed to disburse to your student account.

Generally, refunds start to disburse for the enrolled term or session once instruction begins.

Summer is treated as one term for financial aid
Units of all sessions are combined to determine your rate of pursuit
The Federal Pell grant is pro-rated depending on enrolled and requires a total of 12 units for the summer to receive the full summer Pell amount.
Please note that the Pell Grant award is also subject to your remaining annual and lifetime eligibility.

Based on limited funding, eligible students are awarded on a first come, first serve basis based on an initial enrollment of a total of 6 units (Waitlisted units do not count as enrolled) and need as determined by the 2025-26 FAFSA / DREAM.
Students are advised to enroll in at least 6 units for Summer Session as soon as possible as funds may be exhausted based on later summer enrollment.

Please contact the financial aid office for that campus to determine your financial aid options through their campus. Students generally cannot receive concurrent financial aid when enrolled at multiple institutions.

How many units are you enrolled in?
Enrollment of at least 6 units for one or more Summer Sessions will generate an aid offer
- 12 units for Full Time Pell grant
Waitlisted units do not count as enrolled.
Are you are in multiple Summer Sessions?
Summer Session is considered one term for financial aid, generally aid is split equally over the multiple Summer Sessions of attendance.
Was there a recent enrollment change?
Enrollment changes can lead to changes in financial aid
Are there any Student Financial Solutions (SFS) or other holds?
If unsure please contact SFS or visit their website for additional instruction.

It depends on if you drop one or both sessions and the timing of when you drop the units as to the effect on your financial aid. Also, remember that financial aid is one piece of your student account, the overall balance may also be affected by the campus Summer Session refund schedule.
Once your financial aid is updated based on enrollment changes you will be sent an email to check the updates to your financial aid offer, and from there you can log into your student account to view the overall balance to determine if you owe a balance. For additional financial aid questions please contact our office.

The Department of Education requires that UC San Diego confirm that a student has commenced academic activity in a class for it to count towards eligibility for Title IV federal financial aid.
Similar to fall, winter, and spring quarters, UCSD Summer Session 1,2, and Special Session require confirmation of CAA to validate your units in each applicable session.
For more information please visit CAA.