Costs & Aid

Summer Session awards aid to pre-college students based on demonstrated financial need on a first-come, first-served basis. Students who require aid to attend should apply by the Priority Deadline, as the number of awards is limited. In general, admitted students whose annual household income is $125,000 USD or below are eligible for financial support. There is space on the application to provide additional context for the additional aid requested.

To be considered for need-based financial aid, students must complete the Financial Aid section of the application and submit all required supporting documentation when they apply. Awards cannot be made after an admissions decision has been released.

Financial Aid for 2-8 Week Programs

Aid will be applied toward the program fee (e.g., tuition, housing, and dining) only. Students are responsible for costs related to their travel to and from UChicago, required course materials, and any incidental expenses. International students should also budget for visa-related costs. Students applying for financial aid in 2-8 Week Programs need to upload financial documents on the Financial Aid section of the application.

• Only partial aid awards are available and need-based aid is not guaranteed. We are unable to offer full aid awards.

• U.S. citizens and permanent residents: submit your parents' most recent 1040s (including all schedules and attachments) and W2s. Proof of eligibility for public assistance such as TANF or SNAP may be submitted instead of 1040s and W2s; see the Financial Aid section of the application for more information.

• International students: provide your parents' most recent income tax forms, a letter from their employer stating their position, annual salary and benefits, and years of service, and a bank statement showing available funds. All information must be translated into English.

• If you have any questions about what to provide, please contact us at summersession@uchicago.edu.

Aid amounts vary based on program cost and household income. No full aid awards are available.

Depending on their financial eligibility and the availability of funds, students may be awarded the following amounts:

*Cost and Aid information for students who are residents of the Chicagoland area and wish to commute to campus can be found on the Commuting to Campus page.

Financial Aid for 1 Week Enrichment Programs

In general, domestic students whose annual household income is $125,000 or below are eligible for the following financial support for 1 Week Enrichment programs:

Students applying to 1 Week Enrichment programs only do not need to upload financial documentation in support of the request for aid; if applying to 2-8 week programs as well as 1-week programs, supporting documentation will be required. If students or families need support beyond what is provided here, there is space on the application to provide additional context for the additional aid requested.

*Domestic students who are admitted and awarded this funding will be notified with instructions on how expenses will be covered. Travel expenses for students coming from outside of the U.S. are not covered except for students admitted to Emerging World Leaders.

Students who apply through external scholarship partners and community-based organizations (CBOs) will have varied scholarship opportunities. Accepted partner organization scholarships include:

• Chicago Public School & UChicago (CPS-UC) Program

• Garwin Foundation

• Mawhiba Foundation

• Minds Matter

• OSSE

• Providence St. Mel School

• Questbridge

• Squash + Education Alliance

• Success Academy Charter Schools

• Summer of a Lifetime

• UChicago College & Career Readiness (CCR) Programs

• UChicago South Side College & Career Catalyst (C3)

Students applying through an external scholarship partner or a community-based organization do not pay an application fee or complete the financial aid portion of the application. However, they must indicate their partnership program on the application, and the organization must confirm the student's affiliation with the Summer Session Office separately.

We invite current 9th, 10th, or 11th grade CPS high school students with annual household incomes below $125,000 to apply for a CPS-UC Summer Scholarship.

• CPS-UC Summer Scholarship recipients participate in either 2-week Experience or 3-week Immersion courses as commuter students; lunch in the dining hall is provided when students are on campus for class, but other meals and campus housing are not available.

• To apply for the CPS–UC Summer Scholarship, complete the financial aid portion of the application and submit the supporting documentation requested (for example, your parents’ or guardians' 1040s and W-2s). Your application fee will be waived.

• This scholarship program is highly competitive and spaces are limited; students should apply by the priority deadline.

Award amounts are:

Dependent children of full-time, benefits-eligible University of Chicago faculty, academic appointees, and staff admitted to Summer Session programs offered by the College receive a 25% tuition discount for up to two courses. For more details, visit the Summer Session Tuition Benefit page.

Students must accept their offer of admission and submit a non-refundable $1,000 deposit within one week of admission to hold their place in the program. This deposit can be paid via credit card and will be credited to the student's UChicago Account. The full balance must be paid within four weeks of admission. If the balance is not paid, students will forfeit their place in the course.

Withdrawing

Students who accept their offer of admission and pay the $1,000 enrollment deposit are registered for their course(s). If you decide to withdraw after you have sent in your confirmation form and deposit, you must send an official withdrawal request via email to summersession@uchicago.edu. You will be billed for the program fee if you have not officially withdrawn. Verbally informing an instructor or not attending classes does not constitute an official withdrawal.

Refunds

All requests for refunds must be made in writing to summersession@uchicago.edu.

• The program fee (minus deposit) can be refunded until Monday, May 4, 2026. After May 4, no refunds will be issued.

• Application fees and enrollment deposit are non-refundable for all programs.

• Students who must leave the program due to a medical or serious family situation that prevents them from completing the program should contact summersession@uchicago.edu to discuss financial obligations.

• A full refund of program fees, including enrollment deposits, will only be issued if a course or program is cancelled and the student does not choose a replacement.