What Is a Summer Session?

A summer session is a term that colleges offer in the summer, between the spring and fall terms. It is usually shorter than a regular semester, with classes that meet more often so that the same material fits into fewer weeks. Students use it to catch up, get ahead, lighten later loads or take courses that are hard to fit into the year.

How it works

Sessions may be four, six, eight or twelve weeks, sometimes overlapping, and courses can be on campus, online or hybrid. Because the pace is fast, a three-credit course might meet several days a week. Class sizes are often smaller, and the range of courses is more limited than during the year.

Tuition may be charged per credit at a different rate. Financial aid for summer depends on your eligibility and your remaining aid for the academic year, and some forms of aid are not available. Housing may also be limited and priced separately.

Why take summer courses

• Graduating on time or early, by adding credits.
• Retaking a course you struggled with, to fix your GPA or meet a requirement.
• Lightening your load in a difficult semester by moving a course to summer.
• Fulfilling prerequisites in time for fall.
• Exploring a subject in a lower-pressure setting.

Taking courses at another college

Many students take summer courses at a community college near home because of lower cost and convenience. Before you do, get written approval from your home college that the course will transfer and count for the requirement you need. Check accreditation, course equivalence, the minimum grade for transfer and how the grade is treated in your GPA.

Tips

Treat the pace seriously, since missing a day is a large share of the course. Keep your workload realistic if you also work. Check refund deadlines, which are early, and the effect on financial aid.

Related terms

See semester, intersession, transfer student, credit hour and academic calendar.