Summer Momentum Plan

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Save time and money with free summer classes!

The Summer Momentum Plan (SMP) makes it easier than ever to advance your education over the summer by covering required tuition and fees for 3 to 9 credit hours. 
 
The free credits can be applied to any Summer 2025 semester term and must be used for courses that are part of your degree plan or certificate program. After all other financial aid resources have been applied, SMP credits will automatically be applied to eligible students' accounts. 

Take advantage of this opportunity to accelerate your progress and achieve your goals while saving money with the Summer Momentum Plan! 

3 FREE Credit Hours

for Alamo Colleges students who attended college for the first time in Spring 2025.

6 FREE Credit Hours

for Fall 2024 students* who enroll part-time (11 or fewer credits) in Spring 2025. 

9 FREE Credit Hours

for Fall 2024 students* who enroll full-time (12+ credits) in Spring 2025. 

*Cumulative Alamo Colleges District GPA of 2.0 or better at the end of Fall 2024 required. 

 

Who's Eligible for the Summer Momentum Plan? 

  • "Continuing" students who completed courses in Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 at one of the Alamo Colleges AND have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better at the end of Fall 2024.

  • "First-time" college students who began classes for the first time in Spring 2025 at one of the Alamo Colleges.  

    Note: Students are considered “first-time” if they have not previously earned college credits before enrolling at ACD. Credits earned before high school graduation do not count as previously earned credits. 

Who's NOT Eligible for the Summer Momentum Plan?

  • "Transfer" students who began their college journey elsewhere and began ACD classes in Spring 2025.

  • "Visiting/Transient" students currently pursuing a degree at another institution and enrolled at one of the Alamo Colleges in Spring 2025 to take classes toward their degree.

  • "Returning/Former" students who attended ACD in the past and return in Spring 2025 after a break of one year or more.

 

Eligibility FAQs

Can out-of-district and non-resident students participate in the Summer Momentum Plan?

Yes. In District, Out-of-District, Non-Resident/International students are eligible to participate.

I am a High School Dual Credit Student; do I qualify?

Students participating in high school programs (traditional dual credit, academies, Early College High School) with 10 or more remaining hours to earn an associate degree, early admit and visiting (transient) students are not eligible for the Summer Momentum Plan.

Early College High School students with 9 hours or below remaining to graduate with an associate degree are eligible to participate in the SMP.

How do students know if they qualify for Summer Momentum?

Students do not need to be approved for the Summer Momentum Plan. They just need to meet the earned credit hour and GPA requirements outlined above. Students will be notified about their eligibility via their student email.

If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact your assigned academic advisor. 

If you are getting credit from a study abroad institution and only transferring the hours in, does that count?

No, transfer hours are not counted as earned credit hours; these include the study abroad courses paid through the Alamo Marketplace.

Is there a waiver/paperwork that needs to be completed with the Financial Aid/Bursars Office?

No paperwork needs to be completed. Eligibility is automatically determined based on Fall GPA and Spring enrollment status.

How will my courses be counted toward my full-time/part-time status?

Students will be determined as full-time (12+ hours) or part-time (11 or less hours) based on the number of credit hours enrolled as of April 10, 2025. 

Can the free hours be carried over to future Summer semesters?

No. The free hours must be taken during Summer 2025.

View semester dates

Are students allowed to split the terms? (For example, take 3 credit hours in Summer I and 3 in Summer II.)

Yes, students can split their free credit hours between the different parts of term. 

Which classes are eligible for the Summer Momentum Plan free hours?

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

Please contact your assigned academic advisor for specific questions related to your degree plan and summer enrollment. 

Do I have to complete the FAFSA/TASFA in order to be eligible for the Summer Momentum program?

No. Students do not need to apply for financial aid to be eligible for SMP.

What does “last-dollar scholarship” mean?

The Summer Momentum program is a last-dollar scholarship that will cover required 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. 

Will Summer Momentum cover my Maymester course(s)?

Yes, earned Summer Momentum credits can be applied to Maymester courses. 

Student Account

When will my tuition be paid if I am eligible for the Summer Momentum Plan?

Tuition credits will be applied after April 10, 2025 once the following information is verified:

  • Cumulative Alamo College District GPA of 2.0 or higher after Fall 2024
  • Total number of credit hours attempted in Spring as of April 10, 2025
  • Summer 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. 

Are there any fees that will not be covered?

The Summer Momentum Plan will cover regular tuition, textbook rentals through AlamoBOOKS+, student activity fees, campus access fee and the international education fee.

It will not cover special program tuition, 3-peat, 27 HR Rule, etc. Learn more about these fees. »

Who can answer billing questions related to the Summer Momentum Plan?

Please contact your Campus Business Office or send an email to dst-vbo2@alamo.edu.

If a student is registered for more than the free 3/6/9hours, will they be able to use the payment plan option for the balance they are paying out of pocket? Will the student need to wait to set up the payment plan until after their account has been credited to avoid paying for the free hours?

Students with a minimum balance of $100 in eligible tuition and fee charges may sign up for a Payment Plan. Students with a balance of less than $100 will need to pay in full.

Students are encouraged to visit the Registration/ Payment Calendar for payment deadlines and payment plan availability, etc.

A payment plan initiated prior to the Summer Momentum Plan payment, will be inclusive of all tuition and fee charges owed, for the term, at the time the payment plan is executed.

Once the Summer Momentum Plan is applied to the student’s account, the Payment Plan will adjust accordingly, followed by an automated email sent to the student.

What if I still owe money after the Summer Momentum Plan is applied?

The student is responsible to set up a payment plan or pay their tuition in full 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.

Will students be reimbursed or not charged upfront?

A student’s account will be charged as usual, and eligible free credits 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.

If I qualify for an exemption/ waiver to reduce my tuition, will I be able to use the Summer Momentum Plan?

Exemptions/Waivers are applied on the student account first and any remaining eligible tuition and fee charges will be reduced by SMP accordingly.

Will I be able to use my sponsored (3rd Party Billing) tuition assistance?

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.

If a class is not successfully completed, will students have to pay tuition back?

The Summer Momentum Plan is a program where awarded tuition is not eligible for reimbursement or refund, and a student may owe money back for a course dropped prior to the census date or during any part of the term. All Adds/Drops should be completed prior to the start of the related term.  Refer to the Registration/Payment Calendar.

Course drops after the start of class will have SMP Scholarship adjustments resulting in a balance on the student account. The award can be reinstated if the student registers for a class in the latter part of the term.

Lack of academic success in the summer class(es) may not result in a repayment obligation. Students should be aware that not successfully completing courses might impact their Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid or their Academic Standing.

Will the Summer Momentum Plan have an impact on other Financial Assistance?

A student’s Pell Grant award is not impacted. However, other types of federal financial aid, such as loans or work-study, might be adjusted if required to comply with federal regulations. These adjustments occur when the student does not have enough unmet financial need—a calculated difference between the cost of attendance and the financial aid already received.


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