Summer Student Aid FAQs

Financial aid options are limited during the summer. If you have not exhausted your annual eligibility for federal student financial aid, then you may be considered for a Federal Pell Grant and/or a Federal Stafford Loan depending on your enrollment status (you must be enrolled at least half-time*).

If you have no additional Stafford eligibility remaining, you may finance your summer classes through a private loan by contacting the respective lender. If you identify another lender offering private loans, Rider will gladly work with you and your chosen lender. In addition, please be advised students generally need to apply with a credit-worthy co-signer.

PLUS loans are also available for parents of undergraduate students and graduate students who filed the FAFSA and are enrolled at least half-time*. You may also be eligible for NJ Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) for summer as well, based on your enrollment status.

_{*Half-time = 6 credits for undergraduate students and 4.5 credits for graduate students}

In order to utilize a Stafford loan during summer, undergraduate students are required to take a minimum of 6 credits and graduate students are required to take a minimum of 4.5 credits for the combined summer 1 & 2 sessions. If you are only taking 3 credits during the entire summer session, you will not be eligible for a Federal Stafford loan.

You may apply for a private loan using a lender that permits borrowing for students enrolled less than half-time. Rider will gladly work with you and your chosen lender. In addition, be advised students generally need to apply with a credit-worthy co-signer.

You will be notified via your Rider email if you are eligible for financial aid during the registration period.

Follow the instructions in the email notification. Additionally, if you have already accepted a Stafford loan, you do not need to fill out any additional document unless this is your first time borrowing a Stafford loan. If it is your first time, you need to fill out a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and also complete Entrance Counseling on the Federal Student Aid website.

If you are applying for a private loan, you need to complete an application with the lender and be credit approved. The lender will then notify Rider that you have a loan awaiting school certification and your funds can be processed.

Scholarships and grants generally are not offered during summer school, except Pell grants or NJ Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) for eligible students.

No, financial aid does not transfer to other schools. In order to receive financial aid at a school you need to be degree seeking at that institution.

If you have not completed a FAFSA, then you need to submit the FAFSA application for 2024 - 2025 and 2025 - 2026. The 2024-2025 FAFSA will determine your eligibility for summer and the 2025 - 2026 FAFSA will determine your eligibility for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026.