What Are the Pro's and Con's of Taking Summer Classes?

Summer classes in college can be a great way to stay ahead on your academic journey. Unlike in high school, summer school isn’t a sign of failure; it’s an opportunity to get ahead or catch up on credits.

However, before signing up for summer classes, there are a few key things to keep in mind. First, the pace is much faster. You'll be condensing an entire semester’s worth of material into a ten-week time frame, making it a more intense experience. It’s a great time to tackle general education requirements or retake any courses you may have struggled with during the regular school year, leaving more time for focus on major-specific classes.

If online summer classes are your only option, many colleges and universities offer these. Check with your school to see if the courses you need or want to take are available online. If certain classes are only offered during the summer and are essential for your graduation, make sure to enroll early to secure a spot.

Attending summer classes is one of the most effective ways to stay on track for graduation. By taking summer sessions, you can continue earning credits toward your degree and reduce the time it takes to graduate. Many colleges offer summer and intersession programs that make this possible.

Once you’re enrolled in your summer classes, it’s crucial to stay organized. Summer sessions move quickly, so be sure to attend classes regularly, complete your assignments on time, and keep up with the workload. Staying on top of your coursework is key to successfully completing your summer classes and advancing your academic progress.

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Do Summer Classes Benefit University Students?

Summer school can be highly beneficial for university students. Many students are willing to sacrifice some of their summer break to take classes, study, and take exams. If you want to graduate on time or even early, summer classes can help you retake a class you failed, missed, or one that’s required for graduation but offered infrequently. For first-year students or sophomores, summer school is a great way to complete prerequisites or knock out general education requirements.


Fewer students enroll in summer sessions, which means smaller class sizes and more attention from professors or graduate assistants. By taking a few summer classes, students can free up time during the fall or spring semesters for internships. Summer classes may also include study abroad opportunities, offering exposure to new languages, cultures, and practices.

There are also less academic reasons to take courses during the summer session. It may give students more opportunity to partake of recreational or social events during the school year such as concerts, swimming, art festivals, hiking, camping, or sports.

Incoming freshmen can join a summer academic and cultural engagement program designed to help them transition from high school to university life. The program helps students become familiar with their campus community, adjust to independent living in special housing, and interact with peers outside their families. Participants engage in retreats and orientations to ease their transition, while also earning credits toward their intended majors. Some programs may include study abroad experiences, offering students the opportunity to learn both on campus and internationally.

Taking summer classes can help students reduce their fall and spring course loads. Instead of taking 15 or more credits each semester, they may only need to take 12. Some universities have realigned their summer course offerings to include high-demand classes, allowing students to meet degree requirements and potentially graduate sooner. Summer sessions are especially beneficial for students who often find in-demand courses full during regular semesters.

If a student isn’t enrolled at the university offering summer courses they are interested in, they may still be able to take those classes and transfer them to their degrees at their university. If they are taking online classes, they may also expect a discounted tuition, which makes taking more than one or two classes a possibility.

Students can take advantage of a wide variety of classes during summer sessions, including courses in architecture, biology, math, psychology, journalism, English, education, writing, political science, criminal justice, public relations, Spanish, sociology, economics, accounting, marketing, business, chemistry, engineering, history, theatre production, and more.

While summer session classes mean that students can’t relax for the entire summer, they may make use of this opportunity to either stay on-schedule or get ahead. Graduate students, in particular, may benefit from summer courses, as they will be able to complete mandatory practicums or clinical internships during the regular semester.

Will Taking Summer Classes in College Shorten My Degree Program?

The longer you’re in school to earn your degree, the more you tend to pay for your classes. Taking longer to earn your degree also decreases your lifelong earnings. Thus, summer school might be a good solution for you if you’re looking to get into the workforce as soon as possible. Even if you go to school year-round, you’ll still have two or three weeks between semesters or sessions to take some downtime and relax. By taking the summer session equivalent of a full course load, you’ll be able to reach the culmination of your degree more quickly. While sitting in a classroom while the sun is shining and other students are playing isn’t ideal, you’ll benefit in the end.

One Texas community college system is offering free summer classes to help students avoid accumulating student loan debt or depleting federal financial aid. Students who earn 24 credits during fall and spring semesters are eligible for up to six free credit hours the following summer. With a total of 60 credits required for graduation, students can graduate within two years. This incentive of free college credits and the potential for earlier graduation may encourage more students to take one or two summer sessions and complete their degree programs sooner.

The benefit of attending full-time for students is the "momentum" it creates. By building up credits more quickly, students are motivated to continue attending full-time, including during the summer. Community colleges also benefit by retaining students who would otherwise leave after the spring semester (a phenomenon known as "summer melt"). How much money could students save with free summer classes? Around $186. While this varies by institution, summer tuition is often less expensive than during the fall and spring semesters.

Do’s and Don’ts

A few simple do’s and don’ts of summer classes:

  • Online summer courses offer convenience and flexibility. Students can keep their working hours and study in their off time.
  • Take your prerequisite and general education classes during summer sessions. You’ll be able to start on your major courses sooner.
  • Register for a different college so you can take courses that are no longer available at your university.
  • Don’t discount your ability to take summer courses. By taking one per session, you’ll be able to finish faster while still having time to relax.
  • If you take courses from another institution, verify that your credits will transfer to your university.
  • Just because summer sessions may be less expensive, don’t consider them to be of lower quality.
  • Don’t forget about your graduation goal. You’ll be able to graduate on time or even earlier.

Can I Make Up Classes I Failed During the Fall or Spring Semesters?

Mandatory general education classes might not align with your academic strengths. For example, you might struggle with algebra or another math class, despite your best efforts. Or, you might have failed a required prerequisite that’s needed to advance in your chosen major. However, you’re not stuck. While it will cost extra money, you can repeat those classes. Instead of retaking them during the fall or spring semesters when you’re juggling a full class load, consider taking them in the summer. This can help you avoid delaying your graduation by an entire semester.

Instead of waiting until fall or spring, consider signing up for classes you’ve failed during one or two summer sessions. Summer classes move quickly, so you’ll need to study more intensively. If necessary, find a tutor to help you grasp the material more effectively. One California university has created a program that allows students to retake failed classes during the summer. However, students must have at least 80 credits, bringing them closer to graduation. If your college has similar policies, you’ll likely only be able to retake major courses you’ve missed or failed in this way.

The second requirement for students to qualify is that they still have some time before they graduate; plus, their parents should not be able to contribute more than $4,000 toward their tuition fees. They must be in good academic standing and write a one-page paper that describes their financial need. And they must have their coursework approved by their adviser.

A second university offers summer session classes for students to make up a failed class, to address situations like taking a lighter course load in a previous semester, or after withdrawing from the university. Students can also take courses for enrichment purposes. However, students must seek prior approval from the associate dean, and departmental approval may be required if the course is needed to fulfill core, major, minor, or language requirements.

If you plan on taking summer courses to shorten your time in school, it's essential to understand each institution's specific requirements. While some schools are flexible and allow all students access to summer courses, others, as mentioned above, may have stricter rules governing who can enroll in summer sessions. Be sure to check with your school for their policies before signing up.

Are Summer Sessions Less Expensive than Fall or Spring Semesters?


This also depends on the individual school and the structure of its summer session offerings. One university charges $536 per credit for all undergraduate courses and $853 for all graduate courses. Additional fees, such as the enrollment fee, technology fee, online course fee, student activity fee, and late fees add to the total cost of the class for the student.

One school’s undergraduate tuition for New York state residents is $286/credit, while out-of-state tuition is $694/credit. In-state graduate tuition for the school is $462/credit, while out-of-state tuition is $944/credit. Fees include health service, technology, late registration, late payment, late add/drop, withdrawal, and transportation fees.

At this university, summer session tuition closely resembles tuition for a fall or spring semester with undergraduate programs costing $1,060/credit; Metropolitan School of Professional Studies is $915/credit; School of Arts & Sciences costs $500/credit hour; and professional and off-campus programs are $1,110/credit hour.

As you can see from this one example, many things can affect the cost of your summer session. Make sure that you check with your school as to the front-end cost and all other fees that may be associated with a summer session.

How Often Do Summer Session Classes Meet?

At most universities, students experience an intensive summer class schedule. Classes are more focused, meeting four or five days per week, for three to four hours at a time. These classes can last from two to 12 weeks; most classes are in session for six to eight weeks. The quality of summer classes is just the same as fall and spring classes.

Summer sessions typically last around 10 weeks and condense undergraduate coursework into a shorter period. One or two days of class equate to a full week of instruction during fall or spring semesters. Daily homework assignments, including readings, problem sets, and long-term projects, are given. Classes are often held Monday through Friday, with daily lunch breaks.

At California State-Fullerton, summer courses meet three times per week after 4 p.m. Each class lasts five weeks, with students progressing to a second class in the next session. Graduate students can enroll in up to 12 credits, but must submit an excess unit petition to the Admissions and Records office if they wish to take more.

For graduate students majoring in the Master of Public Health, two core competency courses are only offered during the summer. Most students opt to take these courses during the summer of their first academic year. If they choose not to do this, they will have to wait until the summer session of the next academic year to take these courses. Until they have completed these classes, they will not complete their MPH degree program.

Lake Forest College offers three summer sessions: May, June, and July. Classes meet four days a week for four weeks and are held on campus. The summer sessions are open to current students, future students, visitors from other colleges, high school students, and community members.

At Lake Forest College, small class sizes provide a major benefit, allowing students to enjoy field trips, debates, demonstrations, and small-group instruction. Current students who need to catch up on credits can take a course for $500. Additionally, summer internships are available for those seeking to fulfill required internship credits. Check with your chosen college to see what their summer sessions look like. They may even be available in classes that meet on weekends or evenings to allow you to attend around a job or internship schedule. Check around; you never know what you might find.

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