Summer Student Loans: How To Fund Your Summer Classes

Summer classes are a great way to knock out your course requirements faster. In some state university systems, like Florida, students must take some summer classes before graduation. While seeking out scholarships and grant opportunities to cover your costs is ideal, you may need to turn to student loans to pay for summer classes.

Here's a closer look at how to get summer student loans.

Current private student loan rates

Best summer student loans

Why you can trust our Credible experts

The Credible editorial team is independent and unbiased. Partners do not influence our editorial content. To help you find the best student loan for your situation, we conduct thorough research and analyze thousands of lender data points. Using data-driven methodologies, we score criteria that are important to you. This allows us to objectively rank student loan lenders and products. To learn more, read our methodology below.

Methodology

To determine the best student loan lenders for summer student loans, Credible collected more than 1,000 points of data on two dozen companies and evaluated them on several different categories: repayment options, eligibility, interest rates, loan terms, and customer support. We assigned a score out of five stars to each lender based on our findings. Below are the weightings assigned to the general categories for the best student loan companies — which comprise individual criteria that are also weighted.

• Repayment options: 30%
• Eligibility: 25%
• Interest rates: 20%
• Loan terms: 15%
• Customer support: 10%

While the best lender for you will depend on your unique needs and financial circumstances, these findings should help answer your questions and assist you in your search for the best student loan.

Learn more about our methodology.

Why take summer classes?

Taking summer classes offers a way to complete your course requirements at your own pace, which could mean lightening your load during the standard school year or possibly graduating early. You may also need to take a summer course if you failed the class during a previous semester.

For some students, taking a certain number of summer credits might be a graduation requirement. For example, the Florida Board of Governors requires students who enter Florida public universities with less than 60 semester hours to complete a minimum of nine summer semester hours before graduation.

How to get student loans for summer classes

If you need to take out student loans to cover summer college costs, you might be able to lean on federal or private student loans.

Federal student loan options

It's possible to get federal student loans for the summer semester. The catch is that you'll only be able to borrow up to the limit set for the academic year, including what you borrowed for the regular school year. You must also be enrolled at least half-time for the summer semester.

If you want to tap into summer school financial aid, you'll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). However, which FAFSA application applies to your summer semester varies based on your school. For example, some schools will use the FAFSA form from the previous academic year for the summer session. But other schools may need you to fill out a FAFSA form for the upcoming year to cover the summer session.

For students who qualify for federal loans to pay for summer classes, you might be eligible for a Direct Subsidized Loan or Direct Unsubsidized Loan. With a Direct Subsidized Loan, the government covers your interest payments while you're enrolled in school at least half-time, up until six months after graduation. However, only students who demonstrate financial need qualify for this loan type. A Direct Unsubsidized Loan accrues interest while you are in school and doesn't offer an interest subsidy, which makes it a more expensive option. On the plus side, there's no financial need requirement.

Keep in mind that federal student loans come with annual borrowing limits across all semesters. If borrowing for your summer classes will put you over the limit, you'll need to find another way to cover summer school costs.

Private student loan options

If federal student loans aren't an option, private student loans offer a way to pay for summer class costs. You can typically borrow up to the cost of attendance with private student loan companies, but they require a credit check and often have higher interest rates than federal student loans. This means you'll likely need a cosigner to qualify or get a lower rate.

It's best to exhaust your federal loan options before turning to private loans since federal student loans offer benefits and protections like income-driven repayment plans and access to loan forgiveness. However, if you've hit your federal student loan limits and need additional funding, you might need to take out a private student loan.

To apply for a private student loan, it's typically best to prequalify with a few lenders first — this allows you to find out what rate you can potentially qualify for without negatively impacting your credit. Compare the rate quotes side by side, considering factors like interest rates, repayment terms, and any discounts.

How to choose the right summer student loan

Before applying for summer student loans, weigh your options carefully. Here is the general order of operations for choosing the right summer student loans:

• Seek out scholarships and grants: Although scholarships and grants may be limited in the summer, it's worth applying for these opportunities for free money. For example, those who qualify for the Pell Grant may be able to use some of their grant funds for summer school. 
• Tap into Direct Subsidized Loans: If you qualify for Direct Subsidized Loans, consider maximizing this option due to the interest advantages. 
• Lean on Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Although Direct Unsubsidized Loans don't cover your interest payments, federal loans tend to offer lower rates than private student loans.
• Apply for private student loans: After you've used up your federal student loan options, compare lenders and apply for a private student loan. You'll miss out on federal borrower protections, but you'll have the funds you need to cover school costs.

Key deadlines for summer student loans

For students pursuing federal student aid, filling out a FAFSA is required. The federal deadline for the 2025-26 FAFSA is June 30, 2026. But colleges and states have their own deadlines, so be sure to find those out.

If you opt to work with a private student loan lender, you should generally apply for the loan about two months before the tuition due date. Check with your lender to find out when you should apply.

Tips to manage the cost of summer school

Summer school expenses can add up. Some tips for managing the costs include:

• Pick up a part-time job: If you are taking on additional courses during the summer, consider picking up a part-time job to offset some of your costs.
• Start a side hustle: If a traditional part-time job schedule doesn't work, a side hustle can be another good option. Some opportunities include dog walking, babysitting, or delivering food.
• Tap into a tuition assistance program: Some employers, like Target and Chipotle, offer tuition assistance programs to help employees pay for school while working. Strategically selecting an employer could lead to help paying for school.
• Apply for scholarships: Scholarship funds don't need to be repaid. Spend time and energy applying for college scholarships in the months leading up to your summer semester to maximize your chances of landing a scholarship.
• Limit summer travel costs: Although summer activities like a road trip or beach weekend might be fun, do your best to avoid unnecessary costs.
• Take your class near home: If you want to spend your summer in your hometown, possibly rent-free, consider taking your college course online or at a college nearby. Saving on living expenses can make a big difference in your budget.