Planning for an Additional Semester or Academic Year

Students who enroll for an additional semester or academic year should be mindful of changes to their financial aid eligibility. There are limits to the amount of federal, state and institutional aid that a student can receive which will impact their eligibility in their additional semester(s).

Federal Aid Limits

The U.S. Department of Education places limits on how much aid a student can receive per year, but also over the course of their education.

  • Federal loans—Dependent undergraduate students are limited to borrowing no more than $31,000 in total.
    • There are also annual limits in place. Review the limits on the Federal Student Loans page for the annual maximums.
  • Federal Pell Grant—Undergraduate students (both independent and dependent) may receive the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters’ payments. Pell Grants disbursed in summer and at prior institutions count towards this figure.

Students attending for an additional year may see a reduced amount of Pell Grant and/or federal loans. Review your federal aid history at studentaid.gov. Students should also be aware that their dependency status may change, which can affect the types of federal aid they are eligible to receive.

State Grant

The Pennsylvania State Grant limits students to receiving the equivalent of eight (8) full-time semester grants. Grants received in summer count against this total.

Students attending for a fifth semester or full additional year may have exhausted their state grant eligibility. Contact SFS to review your eligibility.

Temple University Grants and Scholarships

Students are limited to receiving no more than eight (8) semesters’ payments of Temple University grants and scholarships. Students who complete four years and remain enrolled for an additional semester or academic year may exhaust their grant and scholarship eligibility.

Students can contact SFS to review their financial aid history and eligibility for an additional semester or year.

Additional Aid Options

Students who need additional funding for an additional semester or year should review their loan options and can contact SFS to discuss possible resources.