J-Term Aid

Overview

The J-Term is a three week mini-term that occurs during the first three weeks of January. For federal financial aid processing, the J-Term is considered part of the Spring semester.

Quick Facts

If you are expecting a large refund in Spring 2025 and it is enough to cover your J-Term charges you do not need to submit a J-Term aid application.
If you do not have sufficient aid to cover your J-Term charges your Spring 2025 bill will include J-Term charges (and any applicable late fees).
If you have questions about aid for J-Term, contact the Financial Aid Office and seek guidance from a Financial Aid Advisor via finaid@buffalostate.edu or at (716) 878-4902.

Tuition and Fees

Students are charged per credit hour for J-Term (in addition to their Spring charges). Unlike the traditional Fall and Spring semesters, students attending more than 12 credits during J-Term will be charged for each additional credit hour above 12 credit hours. To estimate your tuition and fees, use the calculator below:

Disclaimer: This calculator is an estimate only and does not provide estimates for housing costs or course-specific fees. Log in to Banner to view your actual bill once it is available.
Contact Residence Life regarding housing rates for J-Term.
For more information on billing and charges, refer to the Student Accounts webpage.

J-Term Aid Application Process top

Complete the J-Term Aid Application after you have registered for your J-Term course(s).
Have the FAFSA and TAP applications on file for the current school year.
For students applying for PLUS (Parent PLUS or Grad PLUS) or alternative loans, you must complete separate applications.

Please allow at least one (1) week for the Financial Aid Office to review and process your J-Term aid application.
Students must accept any federal loans in Banner.
Please notify the office at finaid@buffalostate.edu with any updates and changes to your J-Term enrollment.

Available J-Term Aid top

Federal Pell Grant
- A student's J-Term credit hours will be added to their Spring semester credit hours to determine their Pell Grant eligibility. Students that are already enrolled full-time for Spring will not be eligible for an additional Pell Grant for J-Term.
- Students that are graduating in January may receive a Pell Grant for the J-Term, even with no Spring registration.
Federal TEACH Grant
- Must meet the eligibility requirements (e.g. 3.25 cumulative GPA and in an eligible major) for TEACH GRANT
- Must have completed the current year Agreement to Serve and Entrance Counseling at studentaid.gov.
- Must not have received $4,000 in TEACH Grant funds between the previous Fall and upcoming Spring semesters (prior to the sequestration reduction).
- Must be below the TEACH Lifetime Limits: $16,000 as an undergraduate and $8,000 as a graduate student.
Federal Direct Student Loans (subsidized/unsubsidized)
- Direct Student Loans are available to students that have not already borrowed their full annual loan eligibility during the previous Fall and upcoming Spring semester. A student's class level is based on the number of earned credits on their academic transcript after Fall grades post.
- Students' total Direct Loan debt must also be within the federal aggregate/lifetime limits.
- Students must be enrolled in at least 6 credits that are applicable to their degree program to be eligible (the 6 credits can be across J-Term and/or the Spring semester).

Federal Direct PARENT PLUS Loans
- Available to parents of dependent students. Parents must apply at studentaid.gov.
- Review the Parent PLUS Loan page for detailed information about the PLUS loan process.
- Students must be enrolled in at least 6 credits that are applicable to their degree program (the 6 credits can be across J-Term and/or the Spring semester).

Federal Direct GRADUATE PLUS Loans
- Available to graduate students. Students must apply at studentaid.gov.
- More information about Graduate PLUS loans
- Students must be enrolled in at least 6 credits that are applicable to their degree program (the 6 credits can be across J-Term and/or the Spring semester).

New York State TAP Grant
- Students are not eligible for TAP during J-Term.
- J-Term credit hours are not added to Spring to determine full-time status and TAP eligibility for Spring.

New York State Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS)
- Students must be part-time (less than 12 credit hours) between J-Term and Spring to qualify for APTS.

Private Student Loans
- Available to all registered students that have credit or a credit-worthy cosigner.
- Review the Private Loan webpage for more information.

Estimated J-Term Disbursement Dates top

The following chart represents estimated disbursement dates provided the student completed all his/her J-Term aid related tasks in a timely fashion.

Type of Aid	Estimated Disbursement Dates
Federal Pell Grant	Tentatively: Beginning week of March 3, 2025
Direct Student Loans (subsidized/unsubsidized)	All Direct Student Loans must be accepted in Banner and the MPN and Entrance Counseling must be on file with the U.S. Department of Education. Enrolled in 6 or more credits in J-Term - starting January 14, 2025 Enrolled Less Than Half Time in J-Term & enrolled in Spring - starting February 13, 2025
Direct Parent PLUS Loans	Same as Direct Student Loans above. Parent must have also completed Parent PLUS MPN.
Direct Graduate PLUS Loans	Same as Direct Student Loans above. Student must have completed Graduate PLUS MPN and Graduate Entrance Counseling if this is their first Graduate PLUS Loan.
Federal TEACH Grant	End of February
New York State TAP Grant	Not applicable for J-Term.
Private Alternative Loans	Disbursement date will vary by lender and depending on when the student applied. Students should not expect their private loan to disburse until at least 3 weeks after they began the process.