Why Take Summer College Courses Online?

Why Spending Summer in the Classroom Might be Worth It

While summer brings a welcome break from the rigors of academics for most students, enrolling in online summer courses could be the ticket to improving your college experience—without sacrificing your summer vacation. Some students sign up to get ahead on the next semester or grab a seat in a popular class that has a waiting list during the regular schoolyear. Regardless, having the option to take summer classes online gives students freedom to enjoy the summer months and continue learning. Read on to learn why summer enrollment might be right for you.

How are Online Summer Classes Different?

There are plenty of benefits to enrolling in summer courses, but conquering condensed, concentrated classes with no break from the spring semester while the bulk of your peers are enjoying their time off might not be for everyone. Before enrolling, it's important to understand the difference between online summer classes and those offered during the regular semester — and to understand what to expect before you commit.

Online Summer Classes and Transfer Credits

If you are leaning toward summer enrollment, it's important to understand that you're not limited only to courses offered at your home school. In many cases, distance learners can save money and expand their academic options by enrolling in summer sessions elsewhere, from a local community college to Harvard. You may have to search for equivalent courses and apply for admission, but credits can be transferred to your home school. Take a look at why you might want to consider taking online summer courses at another school below, but remember, it's always best to speak with an academic advisor before making any final decisions.

• Take Community College Courses while Attending a 4-Year School

  Summer is a busy time for many community colleges because they welcome outside students from four-year colleges and universities to participate in online courses. Some online learners turn to community colleges for supplemental summer courses that aren't available at their home schools. Others take their preferred courses at a community college to save money. It's important to note that even when credits transfer successfully, grades earned at a community college generally don't affect a student's GPA at the home school.

• Expanded Options through Statewide Community College Networks

  Many community colleges operate as part of statewide networks, or consortiums. These consortiums open the state's entire network of community colleges to distance learners who enroll in any one college. The Mississippi Virtual Community College (MVCC), for example, is a 15-school consortium throughout the state. By enrolling for a summer course at an MVCC school like Mississippi Delta Community College, a student could participate in courses offered by any of the 15 schools within the network.

• Take a 'Practice Run' on a Tough Course

  The City University of New York is one of many colleges to report that their most popular summer courses are not fluffy electives, but hefty endeavors like math and science, which require a significant amount of work. That's because students on leave from pricier private schools often use summer online courses as test balloons for classes that require heavy lifting in the regular semester. Why? The logic is that even if they fail the course, it’s more cost-effective than re-taking it for full price twice.

• Use a Summer Course as a GPA Saver

  Many summer courses are offered on a pass/fail basis even when the same course is graded following a traditional structure during the fall or spring semesters. This way, students only have to pass an online course during the summer without any impact on their GPAs, which might otherwise have been lowered if the student passed the course, but with poor grade.

The Best Classes to Save for Summer Semester

What's the best online class to take in the summer? The short answer is, it depends who you ask. Take advice from students who have been there before. We’ve narrowed down a variety of student perspectives and experiences that might help you choose which methodology for taking online summer classes is right for you.

The Best Classes to Save for Summer if You Want to…

Paying for Online Summer Classes

Summer courses can be cheaper than regular semester offerings of the same course — particularly if a student paying private school or out-of-state tuition takes advantage of online offerings from a less expensive or in-state college or university for the summer. Beyond that, students interested in summer study have a range of options in the form of financial aid, grants, special discounts and other programs.

Special Summer Scholarships

Your school might offer a summer-specific scholarship program, like the one that is offered at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

What You Should Know:

• You might be required to apply through a process separate from FAFSA
• You might be required to apply through FAFSA and the school's aid department
• Some schools, like the University of Oregon, issue priority deadlines in May

Summer Pell Grants

Some students might be eligible for "year-round" Pell Grants, which award extra money to students who enroll in summer courses.

What You Should Know:

• Pell Grants are available only to undergraduate students who haven't already earned a baccalaureate degree
• "Year-round" Pell grants provide some students with up to 150 percent of their original award, meaning that a student who qualifies for $2,000 could receive $1,000 in the fall, $1,000 in the spring and $1,000 extra in the summer
• Contact your school's financial aid center to see if you qualify

State-Based Summer Aid Programs

Some states, such as South Carolina, offer financial assistance and incentives to take summer courses at the state level.

What You Should Know:

• There are different rules and regulations for each state-based financial aid program, however they are generally only open to residents of the state
• Your school's financial aid office will be able to tell you if your state has a similar program

Additional Discounts for Summer Students

Distance learners taking courses in the summer might be able to reduce costs beyond financial aid, scholarships and grants.

What You Should Know:

• Some schools offer "plateau tuition" in the summer, which allows students to take courses for free beyond a certain number of credits
• Some schools, such as the University of Wisconsin-Superior, offer dramatically reduced tuition in the summer compared to fall and spring semesters
• Some public colleges and universities, like the University of Colorado, offer in-state tuition rates to out-of-state distance learners year-round, while others offer the discount only during summer sessions.

Federal Work-Study

One of the biggest benefits of online learning is that it allows students to maintain a flexible schedule, which is especially important for students who work in the summer. Federal work-study programs can help students secure jobs that help them pay for their education.

What You Should Know:

• Both full-time and part-time students are eligible.
• The work program emphasizes civic education and, whenever possible, relates to your course of study.
• Students can only take advantage of the program if they attend a participating school.