Updated as of 12/11/2023

During the COVID-19 pandemic various acts were passed by Congress that provided emergency relief funding for students.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law to provide economic relief from COVID-19. One section of the CARES Act established the Higher Education Emergency Relief fund and sent money to schools to use for emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the pandemic.

The 2021 Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) was passed by Congress and signed into law to provide economic relief from COVID-19.  One section of the CRRSAA established the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) II and sent money to schools to use for emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the pandemic.

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) is authorized by the American Relief Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2, signed into law on March 11, 2021 for emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the pandemic.

Reports and Disclosures