ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

Below are the cost of attendance budgets for students attending only one 5-week session for Summer 2026. 

The figures used for all categories (except Tuition & Fees and On Campus Room & Board) represent the average expenses reported by Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ students in the 2021 Student Expenses and Resources Survey (SEARS), conducted by the California Student Aid Commission.  The figures have been adjusted for 5 weeks (2 month budget). 

Summer Cost of Attendance for one 5-week session

Tuition and Mandatory Fees will be based on the actual amount of tuition and fees you are charged for Summer 2026. Refer to the Student Accounting and Cashiering Services website for details on the tuition and fee charges for Summer 2026.

Below are the cost of attendance budgets for students attending 10 weeks for Summer 2026.  This could be students who are enrolled in any of the following combinations:

• 10 week session
• 5 Week Session 1 + 5 Week Session 2
• 5 Week Session 1 + 10 Week Session
• 5 Week Session 2 + 10 Week Session

The figures used for all categories (except Tuition & Fees and On Campus Room & Board) represent the average expenses reported by Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ students in the 2021 Student Expenses and Resources Survey (SEARS), conducted by the California Student Aid Commission.  The figures have been adjusted for 10 weeks (3 month budget). 

Summer Cost of Attendance for 10 weeks

Tuition and Mandatory Fees will be based on the actual amount of tuition and fees you are charged for Summer 2026. Refer to the Student Accounting and Cashiering Services website for details on the tuition and fee charges for Summer 2026.

A standardized set of budgets is used as the basis for determining the cost of attendance at Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½. The figures used for all categories (except Tuition & Fees and On Campus Room & Board) represent the average expenses reported by Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ students in the 2021 (SEARS), conducted by the California Student Aid Commission.  1,500 students from Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ were contacted regarding the survey – and the response rate was 32.47%. 

Amounts are updated annually based on inflation and the Consumer Price Index for non-surveyed years.

No distinction is made with respect to the mode of instruction in determining costs – students enrolled in online courses or a fully online program have the same elements included in their cost of attendance budget.

• Tuition & Mandatory Fees: Cost paid to Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ for courses, includes mandatory campus fees.  This figure is based off your actual enrollment & charges for the summer. Refer to the Student Accounting & Cashiering Services website for amounts.
  
  
• Food & Housing: The average cost per academic year to live in the ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ / LA County area while attending Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½. Actual costs may vary by individual choices related to location and circumstances (on-campus, off-campus, living at home)
   
  • Commuter Food & Housing reflects the lower costs of living at home. 
  • Off-Campus Food & Housing is based on the average amount reported by Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ students on the 2021 SEARS survey.  These figures assume a roommate.
    • Food =  $827 per month
    • Housing = $1,314 per month
      
      
• Books, Supplies, Course Materials: The average amount students spend on books, supplies and course materials.
  
  
• Transportation:   The average transportation cost between campus, residences, and place of work (includes bus fare, gasoline, tolls, parking, etc.).  Amount does not include car payments, insurance, repairs or license fees.
  
  
• Personal Expenses:   The average amount for personal expenses which includes clothing, personal care, cell phone plan, and health care costs not covered by insurance.
  
  
• Federal Direct Loan Fees:   For students who borrow a Direct Loan, the average cost of the loan origination fee; for parents who borrow a Direct PLUS loan on behalf of their dependent student, the actual cost of the PLUS loan origination fee.

AB990 and SB467 Information - Housing Costs within 5-mile radius of Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Campus (as of February 1, 2026):

• 1 bedroom: $2,331
• 2 bedroom: $2,906
• 2 bedrooms - renting own room: $1,453
• 3 bedrooms - renting own room: $1,229
• 4 bedrooms - renting own room: $1,025

(Data source - within a 5-mile radius of Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ campus)

The above housing costs are updated yearly on February 1st. It is important to understand the above average cost is for rent only and does not include cost of food, utilities, garbage, rental deposit, and other necessary expenses for housing. Most students share an apartment to reduce their housing cost.

In addition to the elements included in our standard Summer COA Budgets, the following elements can be included on a case-by-case basis, using our Cost of Attendance Adjustment Request form (available through the ):

Computer Purchase: Reasonable costs related to the rental or upfront purchase of a personal computer.

Study Abroad Expenses:  Reasonable costs (including travel, visa, passport, etc.) for students participating in a study abroad program approved for credit by Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½.

Dependent care:  Expenses incurred for dependent care, based on the number and age of the student’s dependents.

• The period for which dependent care is required includes, but is not limited to, class-time, study-time, field work, internships, and commuting time.
• Such allowance must not exceed the reasonable cost in the community in which the student resides for the kind of care provided

Disability-related expenses: Expenses associated with a student’s disability, including special services, personal assistance, transportation, equipment, and supplies that are reasonably incurred and not provided for by other agencies.

Cooperative education cost:  Students engaged in a work experience under a cooperative education program, an allowance for reasonable costs associated with such employment.

Additional Room costs:  Students whose housing costs are in excess of the amount included in the standard budget can submit a cost of attendance appeal (and documentation) to have their budget increased to account for the additional costs.

Additional Transportation costs:  Students whose transportation costs are in excess of the amount included in the standard budget can submit a cost of attendance appeal (and documentation) to have their budget increased to account for the additional costs.

Federal Pell Grant - Summer Eligibility

If you received a Federal Pell Grant during the academic year, you may be eligible to receive Pell funding for the summer - even if you're enrolled less than half-time (1 - 5 units).

Summer Pell can be a helpful way to reduce your out-of-pocket costs while staying on track with your degree.

Any Pell Grant disbursement you receive during the summer semester will be applied towards your overall . Please log in to the site to view your current Pell Grant usage and to determine the amount of eligibility you have remaining. 

How Summer Pell Eligibility is Determined

Your Summer Pell Grant amount depends on:

• The number of units you are enrolled in
• Your remaining

Students may receive up to 600% (the equivalent of six full-time years) of Pell Grant eligibility over their lifetime. Any Pell Grant you receive during the summer will count toward this limit.

We encourage you to log in to the website to review your current Pell Lifetime Usage and remaining eligibility.

Enrollment Matters

Your Pell Grant is based on your actual enrolled units.

• Your initial Aid Offer will show a Pell amount based on full-time enrollment (12 units)
• The amount you actually receive (disbursed) is based on your actual enrollment and enrollment intensity.
• If you enroll in fewer than 12 units, your Pell Grant will be prorated accordingly.
• If you change your enrollment during the summer, you Pell Grant will be adjusted to reflect your updated unit count.

You can always review your current aid and disbursement details in .

Important to Know

• If you did not use your full Pell eligibility during fall or spring, you may be able to use the remaining amount in summer (with at least one unit of enrollment)
• If you were full-time in both fall and spring and received your full Pell, you may still qualify for additional summer Pell, depending on your remaining lifetime eligibility.

If you're considering summer classes and have questions about how Pell applies to you, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is here to help.

State University Grant - Summer Tuition Support

Cal Grant - Summer Eligibility

• Your remaining Cal Grant eligibility
• Your number of enrolled units (minimum 6 units required)

Federal Direct Student Loans - Summer Eligibility

If you are enrolled in at least 6 units this summer and did not borrow your full Federal Direct Loan eligibility during the 2025-26 academic year, you may be able to use your remaining loan eligibility to help cover summer costs.

Summer loans are not additional funds beyond your annual limit - they are any unused loan eligibility from the academic year.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for a Summer Federal Direct Loan, you must:

• Must have a 2025-26 FAFSA Application on file with Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½
• Have no outstanding items on your To Do List.
• Must meet the general financial aid eligibility requirements
• Have a financial aid eligible SAP Status (Meets, Warning, Probation)
• Be enrolled in at least 6 degree-applicable units
• Have unused Direct Loan eligibility remaining from the 2025-26 academic year

How Much Can I Borrow?

The amount you can borrow for summer depends on:

• Your annual
• How much you already borrowed during fall and spring
• Your summer cost of attendance
• Your remaining

You can review your annual and lifetime loan limits by logging into the .

Your summer loan eligibility is generally the difference between:

• Your annual loan limit, minus
• What you already borrowed during the academic year

Your total summer financial aid (including loans) cannot exceed your summer cost of attendance.

Example
If you were offered:

• $3,500 in Subsidized Loans
• $2,000 in Unsubsidized Loans

And you only accepted $2,000 of your Subsidized Loan during Fall and Spring, you could be eligible to borrow up to:

• $1,500 remaining Subsidized Loan
• $2,000 Unsubsidized Loan

For a total of up to $3,500 in summer loans - if otherwise eligible.

If You Borrowed the Maximum Already

If you already borrowed your full annual Direct Loan eligibility, you would not have remaining loan funds available for summer.

Dependent students may consider having a parent borrow a as an alternative option.

If you're unsure how much loan eligibility you have remaining or whether borrowing for summer is the right choice for you, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is here to help you review your options.

Parent PLUS Loans - Summer Option

If you are a dependent undergraduate student, your parent may apply for a  to help cover your summer educational costs.

Parent PLUS Loans can help bridge the gap between your summer cost of attendance and any other financial aid you receive. Approval is based on the parent borrower not having an adverse credit history.

Student Eligibility Requirements

For a parent to apply for a Summer Parent PLUS Loan, the student must:

• Have a 2025-26 FAFSA Application on file with Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½
• Have no outstanding To Do List items
• Meet the general financial aid eligibility criteria
• Have a financial aid eligible SAP Status (Meets, Warning, Probation)
• Be enrolled in at least 6 degree-applicable units

How Much Can Be Borrowed?

The maximum Parent PLUS Loan amount cannot exceed:

• Your summer cost of attendance, minus
• Any other financial assistance received

How Your Parent Can ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

To apply for a Summer Direct Parent PLUS Loan, your parent must:

1. Visit the
2. Log in using their  (not the student's)
3. Complete the Parent PLUS Loan Application
4. Submit the application for a credit check

If approved, the eligible loan amount (based on the requested amount and your remaining eligibility) will be added to your financial aid offer.

For additional guidance, please refer to our Parent PLUS Instructions Guide (PDF) for step-by-step instructions.

Additional Requirement: Master Promissory Note (MPN)

Loan funds cannot be disbursed until the parent borrower completes a PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN.

After loan approval, your parent must:

1. Log into the with their
2. Select "Complete Loan Agreement (Master Promissory Note)"
3. Choose "PLUS MPN for Parents" and complete the process
   
   

Application Deadline

Parent PLUS Loan requests must be submitted before the end of your summer classes. 

For Summer 2026:

• Session I only:  ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ by June 26 (if approved, funds will not be released until July 2)
  
• Sessions I and II (enrolled in BOTH): ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ by July 31
• Session II only: ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ by July 31
• Full Session (10 weeks): ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ by July 31

We encourage families to apply early to allow time for processing and completion of all requirements.

If you and your family would like help understanding whether a Parent PLUS Loan is the right option for your summer enrollment, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is here to help you review your options.

Private Education Loans - Summer Option

If you have explored all other financial aid options and still need additional assistance to cover your summer costs, you may consider applying for a private education loan through the lender of your choice.

Private loans can help cover remaining educational costs, but they are different from federal student loans and should be considered carefully.

While Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ cannot recommend specific lenders, general loan comparison information is available on our Loan Information page to help you make an informed decision.

Before ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ing for a Private Loan

We strongly encourage you to

• Exhaust all federal financial aid options first
• Consider a private loan only if you have reached your federal loan limit or are not eligible for federal aid
• Understand that private loans often have higher interest rates
• Be aware that interest typically accrues while you are enrolled in school
• Plan for a co-signer, as most lenders require one with strong credit
• ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ for only one private loan at a time

How to ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ for a Summer Private Loan?

To request a private loan for the summer:

• ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ with the lender of your choice
• After applying, complete the Summer Private Loan Request form in the 

The Summer Private Loan Request Form will be available beginning March 17, 2026.

Your loan cannot be certified by the university until both steps are completed.

Application Deadline

Private Loan requests must be submitted before the end of your summer classes.

For Summer 2026:

• Session I only:  ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ by June 26 (if approved, funds will not be released until July 2)
  
• Sessions I and II (enrolled in BOTH): ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ by July 31
• Session II only: ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ by July 31
• Full Session (10 weeks): ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ by July 31

We encourage you to apply early to allow time for lender processing and university certification.

If you're unsure whether a private loan is the right option for your situation, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is here to help you review your options and understand your responsibilities before borrowing.

State University Grant - Summer Tuition Support

California Dream Loan - Summer Eligibility

If you are enrolled in at least 6 units this summer and did not borrow your full CA Dream Loan eligibility during the 2025-26 academic year, you may be able to use your remaining loan eligibility to help cover summer costs.

Summer loans are not additional funds beyond your annual limit - they are any unused loan eligibility from the academic year.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for a Summer California Dream Loan, you must:

• Have an approved AB540 / Non Resident Tuition Exemption on file with Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½
• Have a 2025-26 CADAA on file with Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½
• Have no outstanding items on your To Do List.
• Must meet the general financial aid eligibility criteria
• Have a financial aid eligible SAP Status (Meets, Warning, Probation)
• Be enrolled in at least 6 degree-applicable units
• Have unused California Dream loan funds remaining from the 2025-26 academic year

If eligible, your available loan amount will be included in your summer financial aid offer.

How Much Can I Borrow?

California Dream Loan limits are:

• Up to $2,000 per semester
• Up to $4,000 total per academic year

If you borrowed less than your maximum eligibility during the 2025-26 academic year, you may be able to borrow the remaining amount for summer.

In addition, your total summer financial aid, including Dream Loan funds, cannot exceed your summer cost of attendance minus any other financial assistance received.

If you're unsure how much CA Dream Loan eligibility you have remaining or whether borrowing for summer is the right choice for you, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is here to help you review your options.

Private Education Loans - Summer Option

If you have explored all other financial aid options and still need additional assistance to cover your summer costs, you may consider applying for a private education loan through the lender of your choice.

Private loans can help cover remaining educational costs, but they are different from the CA Dream Loan and should be considered carefully.

While Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ cannot recommend specific lenders, general loan comparison information is available on our Loan Information page to help you make an informed decision.

Before ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ing for a Private Loan

We strongly encourage you to

• Exhaust all other financial aid options first
• Consider a private loan only if you are not eligible for other forms of financial aid
• Understand that private loans often have higher interest rates
• Be aware that interest typically accrues while you are enrolled in school
• Plan for a co-signer, as most lenders require one with strong credit
• ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ for only one private loan at a time

How to ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ for a Summer Private Loan?

To request a private loan for the summer:

• ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ with the lender of your choice
• After applying, complete the Summer Private Loan Request form in the 

The Summer Private Loan Request Form will be available beginning March 17, 2026.

Your loan cannot be certified by the university until both steps are completed.

Application Deadline

Private Loan requests must be submitted before the end of your summer classes.

For Summer 2026:

• Session I only:  ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ by June 26 (if approved, funds will not be released until July 2)
  
• Sessions I and II (enrolled in BOTH): ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ by July 31
• Session II only: ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ by July 31
• Full Session (10 weeks): ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ by July 31

We encourage you to apply early to allow time for lender processing and university certification.

If you're unsure whether a private loan is the right option for your situation, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is here to help you review your options and understand your responsibilities before borrowing.

Summer Boost Program - GE (State Summer) Support

More information about the Boost Program is available from the Office of Student Success Summer Boost webpage.

Summer Completion Program and Grant

For full details and application information, please visit the Office of Student Success Summer Completion Grant webpage.

If you have questions about whether Summer Completion is the right option for you, we encourage you to connect with your advisor and explore this opportunity.

General Eligibility Criteria

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will automatically review students who meet the following criteria for Summer Financial Aid - beginning the week of March 23, 2026:

• Enrolled in at least one unit of coursework in Summer 2026
• Does not have a May 2026 Graduation Check-Out on file
• Have an official 2025-2026 FAFSA or CADAA on file with Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½
• Have no outstanding To-Do List items.
• Have an aid-eligible SAP Status during Spring 2025 (Meets, Warning, Probation)

After satisfying all of the eligibility criteria listed above, students should allow up to ten business days to be reviewed for summer financial aid. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will notify students who are reviewed and packaged with summer financial aid through their Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ email address.

We recommend that students be enrolled in all intended summer classes no later than April 30, 2026 in order to be accurately packaged with Summer Financial Aid. Each type of aid has specific enrollment requirements. We will package you for the full amount of aid you are eligible for; if you drop below the enrollment requirements for a specific type of aid, the aid will not be released.

Details for Specific Types of Aid

• The Pell Grant will be packaged at the full-time (12 unit) amount.  If you are enrolled in less than 12 units, the amount of your grant will be adjusted. Review our Understanding Enrollment Requirements page for more details.
• The State University Grant will be packaged at the highest state tuition amount (10+ units) amount.  If you are enrolled in less than 10 units, the amount of your grant will be adjusted.  If you later reduce your GE (State Summer) course enrollment, the grant will be adjusted based on your revised systemwide tuition charges. The State University Grant cannot be applied to any charges for Major (Self-Support) coursework during the summer. 
• The Cal Grant will be packaged only by request.  The Grant will be packaged based on your anticipated enrollment amount.  If you later drop classes but remain enrolled in at least 6 units, the amount of your grant will be adjusted.  If your enrollment drops below 6 units, the grant will be canceled.
• Federal Direct Loans for the summer will only be released when you are enrolled in at least 6 units of summer coursework.

The anticipated initial release date of financial aid for Summer 2026 is May 26, 2026 (if enrolled classes that begin on June 3rd).

Summer Financial Aid will begin to be released to your account up to 8 days prior to the first day of your first summer class as long as you meet all other eligibility to receive financial aid including having no open To Do items, enrolled in minimum units required for the aid, and having an aid-eligible SAP Status.

Examples:

• Student A is enrolled in three units during the 1st 5 Week Session (Start date of June 3) and three units during the 2nd 5 Week Session (start date of July 9). This student’s Federal Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loans will release on May 26.
  
  
• Student B is enrolled in six units, all during the 2nd 5 Week Session (start date of July 9). This student's Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loans will release on July 2, which is the earliest date funds can be released due to fiscal year end close.

If your current SAP Status during the Spring semester is Financial Aid Warning or Financial Aid Probation, your summer financial aid will not be released until after we have completed our review of Spring grades and academic performance.

Details for Specific Types of Aid

• The Pell Grant will be packaged at the full-time (12 unit) amount.  If you are enrolled in less than 12 units, the amount of your grant will be adjusted. Review our Understanding Enrollment Requirements page for more details.
• The State University Grant will be packaged at the highest state tuition amount (10+ units) amount.  If you are enrolled in less than 10 units, the amount of your grant will be adjusted.  If you later reduce your GE (State Summer) course enrollment, the grant will be adjusted based on your revised systemwide tuition charges. The State University Grant cannot be applied to any charges for Major (Self-Support) coursework during the summer. 
• The Cal Grant will be packaged only by request.  The Grant will be packaged based on your anticipated enrollment amount.  If you later drop classes but remain enrolled in at least 6 units, the amount of your grant will be adjusted.  If your enrollment drops below 6 units, the grant will be canceled.
• Federal Direct Loans for the summer will only be released when you are enrolled in at least 6 units of summer coursework.

All offers of summer financial aid are contingent on students successfully completing courses for the Spring 2026 semester. We will review grades and academic performance at the end of the Spring semester and if you do not meet the requirements of our Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy, your summer financial aid will be canceled. If any summer financial aid funds have been disbursed prior to the SAP review, you will be responsible for the resulting balance on your account.

If your current SAP Status during the Spring semester is Financial Aid Warning or Financial Aid Probation, your summer financial aid will not be released until after we have completed our review of Spring grades and academic performance.

The decision about whether or not to drop a class is an academic issue; however, it is your responsibility to understand the financial implications of this decision.  Dropping a class may impact your aid eligibility for the current and future semesters.

Before you drop a summer class, read the refund and withdrawal policies in the Summer Class Schedule.

Dropping some of your courses

If you receive financial aid for summer and you drop one or more classes but not all classes before the end of the session, you may be required to repay part or all of the funds you received. If the withdrawal results in enrollment in fewer than 6 units for summer, your financial aid may be subject to cancellation.

Dropping all of your courses

If you receive financial aid for summer and you withdraw from all courses before the end of the term, you will most likely be required to return a portion of your aid. A calculation will be performed based on when you last attended and/or withdrew from your courses.

Your Satisfactory Academic Progress status will be affected if you drop a course during the summer and it results in a grade of W.

Review our Financial Aid Policies page for more information about Withdrawal, Refund, and Repayment - and the impact that withdrawing from courses can have on your aid.