Federal financial aid is available for qualifying students registered for a minimum of three (3) degree-applicable credits, which includes on-campus/online courses, externships, and study abroad programs. Living expense allocation is determined based on whether your courses are abroad or on campus and the dates of actual enrollment. Please review the cost of attendance (below) to learn how living expense refunds, if applicable, are calculated. The summer term has a separate cost of attendance and summer loans do not decrease eligibility in future terms.

Disbursement of summer financial aid is contingent upon satisfactory academic progress, which is evaluated after all spring grades are finalized, and typically occurs in early to mid-June. Living expense refunds, if applicable, are generally available 5-7 business days after financial aid has disbursed and cannot be released early for any reason.

Students enrolled at another institution visiting AUWCL for summer courses or programs are not eligible to receive financial aid through AUWCL and must work with their home institution to determine eligibility. Should the home institution require additional information related to the cost of attendance, please email finaid@wcl.american.edu. 

Please note: The following types of institutional financial aid are not available during the summer term: WCL Need-Based Grants; Admissions, Dean’s, Faculty, Judicial, Jurist, and WCL Merit Scholarships; full-time Capital Merit Scholarships; and WCL Achievement Scholarships.

Please see below for details on how to apply for financial aid for the summer term.

Federal financial aid is available to AUWCL students enrolled in an approved study abroad program (minimum of three credits). 

Students studying abroad receive an additional allocation for international travel and local transportation. Currency adjustments are considered for all study abroad programs. Housing for abroad programs is included in the tuition cost; in lieu of housing, students receive an equal allocation of additional personal and food expenses in the COA. Should an individual program cover any expenses within the COA, students will not be eligible to receive federal aid for those expenses. Please see the Cost of Attendance section below for more details.

FWS during the summer term provides a limited number of stipends to qualifying continuing students (JD only) working for an eligible off-campus public interest employer. Continuing JD students are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online, as well as a separate AUWCL Summer FWS Application (linked below). Only U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens are eligible to apply for FWS.

The Summer FWS Application is completed in the spring semester and announced when available. Award determinations are made by the AUWCL Financial Aid Office based on available funding and the number of qualifying applicants. Additional paperwork is required for off-campus employers and all deadlines must be met to maintain eligibility. 

Per federal regulations, FWS awards are included in the summer cost of attendance and reduce the amount that may be borrowed for summer living expenses. Students must enroll in degree-applicable summer courses (3 or more credits) for the full length of the summer term. Students may appeal with the AUWCL Financial Aid Office to waive the three credit enrollment requirement; however, if approved, the summer FWS earnings must be applied to the fall semester financial aid and reduces federal loan and living expense refund eligibility. 

FWS awards are earned during the term and received via paycheck beginning approximately two weeks after the employment start date. The hourly rate is determined by the D.C. minimum wage. Students are expected to work 35 to 40 hours per week for a pre-determined (by the AUWCL Financial Aid Office) 10 week period.

The 2025 Summer Federal Work Study application is now available online here.

The summer Federal Work Study policy can be viewed here.

The Summer 2025 Cost of Attendance is available to view online here.

The Cost of Attendance (COA) is the maximum amount of financial aid permitted. Costs are associated with and limited to the period of enrollment. Living expense allocation is determined based on whether your courses are abroad or on campus. Half-time enrollment (a minimum of three credit hours) is required to receive federal financial aid. 

To receive federal aid consideration for the Summer 2025 term, students must first complete the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For summer 2025, students are generally eligible to receive the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan up to $10,250.

We strongly recommend that students finalize their summer registration (3 credits minimum) before taking steps to apply for additional financial aid, below.

Students who wish to borrow additional funds beyond the Unsubsidized loan should complete a 2025-2026 Direct PLUS Loan application for the May 2025 to August 2025 loan period, indicating maximum. The Direct PLUS loan is available to qualifying students up to the cost of attendance (COA) minus all other aid received. The summer COA includes an allocation for tuition, fees, and living expenses. Please see the Cost of Attendance section above for more details.
Note: COA will be determined by your registration as reflected on your bill at time of processing.

Students are encouraged to submit all applications by the priority deadline of May 5, 2025, in order to allow for timely processing.

For eligible students who have completed all requirements, award notices are emailed in mid- to late May.

Please note: Summer registration must be complete before the AUWCL Financial Aid Office will process summer financial aid. Financial aid will be re-evaluated should enrollment change in a term and may result in a delay in living expense refund, if applicable.