Summer Momentum Program

The Summer Momentum Program offers FREE academic credit hours to eligible students.

Any continuing student (defined above) who is enrolled in the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 term is eligible as long as they have a GPA of 2.0 or better at the end of the semester in May 2025.

Any first-time student (defined above) who is enrolled in the Spring 2025 term is eligible as long as they have a GPA of 2.0 or better at the end of the semester in May 2025.

Students must take hours within their program plans.

The Summer Momentum Program is a last-dollar scholarship that in most cases that will cover tuition and fees after all other financial aid resources have been awarded. Financial aid resources include grants, scholarships and aid for military families.

No paperwork will need to be completed. Eligibility is automatically determined as of May 2024 with the current GPA, even if all Spring 2025 grades have not been posted. Students will be contacted with eligibility details via email in May 2024.

For Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 students with a GPA of 2.0 or better as of May 2025:

Full-time continuing student, defined as one who enrolled at Hartnell College in Fall 2024 and attempted and completed 12 or more credit hours as of the census date, and enrolled at Hartnell College in Spring 2025 can earn up to 9 free academic credit hours in Summer 2025.

Part-time continuing student, defined as one who enrolled at Hartnell College in Fall 2024 and attempted and completed up to 11 credit hours as of the census date, and enrolled at Hartnell College in Spring 2025 can earn up to 6 free academic credit hours in Summer 2025.

First-time in college student who began classes for the first time in Spring 2025 at Hartnell College (and does not have previously earned college credits) can earn up to 3 free academic credit hours in Summer 2025.

Note that Hartnell College has the discretion to allow more courses under the Summer Momentum Program. For approval, a student should check with their counselor. Additional courses past the free credit hours earned will not be covered by the Summer Momentum Program, at which point the student will be financially responsible to cover costs.

Only credits earned at Hartnell College will be counted toward meeting eligibility.

Hartnell College credit courses attempted by the student will count toward eligibility. Transfer hours are not counted as earned credit hours.

Yes, students can split their free credit hours between the different summer start dates.

The Summer Momentum Program free hours cover only classes within a student's degree plan. Courses that do not count toward your degree or certificate will not be covered. The free earned summer semester 3/6/9 hours will be applied to academic courses only.

No. Students do not need to apply for financial aid to be eligible for the Summer Momentum Program. Student financial aid will extend from the previous year.

The Summer Momentum program is a last-dollar scholarship that will cover tuition and fees after all other financial aid resources have been awarded. Financial aid resources include grants (Pell and TPEG), scholarships and some aid for military families.

Yes. SMP eligibility is verified manually and there may be delays in eligibility verification.

To check eligibility, contact your college’s financial aid or business office.

No. Students who may be SMP-eligible will not be dropped for non-payment until their eligibility is confirmed or denied. To check awarding status, contact your college’s financial aid office.

Eligible students will receive an email confirming their eligibility for SMP once the credits have been applied. The student is responsible to make payments on any remaining balance at that point. Any unpaid tuition and fee balance may result in a student being dropped from all courses.

Tuition credits will be applied after the spring semester ends, once the following information is verified:

• Cumulative Hartnell College GPA of 2.0 or higher
• Total number of credit hours completed in Fall and Spring
• Chosen courses are part of the student's degree plan

Each student's eligibility is verified manually, so the exact date that tuition will be credited will vary.

The Summer Momentum Program will cover regular tuition, student activity fees, campus access fee and the international education fee.

It will not cover instructional materials fees and special program tuition

A student’s account will be charged as usual, and payment will be automatically applied.

There is no need to pay upfront unless you enroll in additional credit hours above your free (3, 6 or 9) credit hours which you are eligible for under the Summer Momentum Program.

The student is responsible to make payments on any remaining balance, according to the Registration/Payment Calendar.

Any unpaid tuition and fee balance may result in a student being dropped from all courses.

Yes. The Summer Momentum Program is a last-dollar scholarship that will cover tuition and fees after all other financial aid resources have been awarded. Exemptions/Waivers are applied on the student account first and any remaining eligible tuition and fee charges will be reduced by SMP accordingly.

Sponsored (3rd Party Billing) tuition assistance can be used for any remaining tuition and fee balance for the semester that is not covered by the 3/6/9 FREE credit hours with a few exceptions including VA education benefits.

A student’s Pell Grant award is not impacted.

In some cases, other federal aid such as loans or work-study may be adjusted when necessary if the student does not have sufficient “unmet need” to be compliant with federal regulations.

If you have questions about your specific situation, please contact your campus Student Financial Aid Office or visit the Financial Aid website.