Academic year definition

For the purpose of awarding federal financial aid, the definition of an academic year is 24 credits and 32 weeks of instructional time. The academic year consists of a fall semester and spring semester. Specific dates of the semester can be found on the academic calendar. The financial aid award year runs from July 1 through June 30. A summer session is considered a trailer for the purposes of awarding federal Pell Grant funds and state aid. Fall and spring semesters may contain late start classes and mini-sessions of less than 16 weeks.