Summer Financial Aid

Stony Brook University participates in the following summer financial aid programs:


You must be a matriculated Stony Brook student and have filed the appropriate forms as defined below for each program to be considered for summer financial aid. In addition, your financial aid application file must be complete with all requested documentation, including an official EFC from your FAFSA, no later than the last day of your summer enrollment.

Summer Federal Work-Study

The start date for summer employment through the Federal Work-Study Program is July 1 and goes 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 March 1st.
  2. Enroll for summer
  3. Login to Stony Brook's SOLAR System, select the "Summer Aid Request" link, and follow the directions (available mid-April).  IMPORTANT – students must complete the summer FWS request on SOLAR prior to May 1st to be considered for the program.

Eligibility for a Summer FWS Award may be reduced if you receive a Federal Direct Loan, a New York State TAP Grant, or any other form of financial assistance in the summer.

Summer Federal Direct Loan (Subsidized and Unsubsidized)

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. To ensure that your summer loan is processed by the start of Summer Session I, your FAFSA should be received by the federal processor no later than March 1st.
  2. Complete your summer registration. Note: A minimum enrollment of 6 credits is required to receive a Federal Direct Loan. Advanced graduate students engaged in full-time research must register for the appropriate course.
  3. Login to Stony Brook's SOLAR System, select the "Summer Aid Request" link, and follow the directions (available mid-April).

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. If you rely on student loans to help offset college costs during the academic year, you may be unable to meet your expenses because of this reduction. Please use this information to plan carefully and avoid unexpected financial difficulties.

Summer Federal Pell Grant

This program allows a Pell eligible undergraduate student a maximum annual award amount based on the student's expected family contribution (EFC) and on the student's credit load.

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. Login to Stony Brook's SOLAR System, select the "Summer Aid Request" link, and follow the directions (available mid-April)

Summer TAP

You may apply for TAP if enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) during Summer Sessions I and/or II.

If you file your FAFSA electronically (http://www.fafsa.ed.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.org to complete the application process.

You must either call HESC at 1-888NYSHESC 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 UNDERGRAD – 0875’ or ‘SUNY STONY BROOK GRAD – 5430’).

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. Students receiving summer TAP who enroll for 12 or more credits will be earning one of their full-time payments. Those receiving summer TAP who enroll for more than 6, but less than 12 credits will be earning one half of their TAP payments.

Summer PLUS loan for Parents of Undergraduate Students

Parents of matriculated Undergraduate students who are enrolled for a minimum of six credits may apply for 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.

Notification of summer awards to eligible students begins on May 1st.