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How Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding Shaped Student Experiences during the Pandemic

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Title: How Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding Shaped Student Experiences during the Pandemic
Language: English
Authors: Sandra Perez, Jinann Bitar, EdTrust
Source: EdTrust. 2025.
Availability: EdTrust. 1250 H Street NW Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005. Tel: 202-293-1217; Fax: 202-293-2605; Web site: https://edtrust.org/
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 7
Publication Date: 2025
Intended Audience: Policymakers
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: COVID-19, Pandemics, Emergency Programs, Higher Education, Federal Aid, Grants, Student Experience, College Students, Paying for College, Student Financial Aid, Noninstructional Student Costs, Academic Persistence, Barriers
Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund
Abstract: The affordability gap between college costs and available financial resources was a barrier to college access before COVID-19, but the pandemic deepened basic-needs insecurity and highlighted unmet need--the shortfall between students' total costs and the funds available to them through grants or family support. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) provided a crucial financial lifeline to students during the pandemic, helping ease financial stress and allowing them to focus on their education. Students who received HEERF aid were more likely to stay enrolled, prioritize academics over work, and afford essentials like housing, food, and technology. This report is one of two EdTrust reports that aim to paint a clearer picture of the impact of HEERF aid, providing insights into its effectiveness, students' ongoing need, and recommendations for improving future emergency aid funding. This report highlights the experiences of 247 students across the country as they applied for emergency funding and how they used the funds they received. Together, these two reports suggest that there is room for improvement to ensure that students from low-income backgrounds and students experiencing economic uncertainty can obtain a college degree. Recommendations provided to higher education policymakers and decision-makers include maximizing emergency funding eligibility by minimizing requirements, simplifying the application process, and clarifying whether the funds are grants or loans.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: ED672511
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: How Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding Shaped Student Experiences during the Pandemic
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  Data: EdTrust. 1250 H Street NW Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005. Tel: 202-293-1217; Fax: 202-293-2605; Web site: https://edtrust.org/
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22COVID-19%22">COVID-19</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pandemics%22">Pandemics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emergency+Programs%22">Emergency Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Federal+Aid%22">Federal Aid</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grants%22">Grants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Experience%22">Student Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Paying+for+College%22">Paying for College</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Financial+Aid%22">Student Financial Aid</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Noninstructional+Student+Costs%22">Noninstructional Student Costs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Persistence%22">Academic Persistence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink>
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  Data: The affordability gap between college costs and available financial resources was a barrier to college access before COVID-19, but the pandemic deepened basic-needs insecurity and highlighted unmet need--the shortfall between students' total costs and the funds available to them through grants or family support. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) provided a crucial financial lifeline to students during the pandemic, helping ease financial stress and allowing them to focus on their education. Students who received HEERF aid were more likely to stay enrolled, prioritize academics over work, and afford essentials like housing, food, and technology. This report is one of two EdTrust reports that aim to paint a clearer picture of the impact of HEERF aid, providing insights into its effectiveness, students' ongoing need, and recommendations for improving future emergency aid funding. This report highlights the experiences of 247 students across the country as they applied for emergency funding and how they used the funds they received. Together, these two reports suggest that there is room for improvement to ensure that students from low-income backgrounds and students experiencing economic uncertainty can obtain a college degree. Recommendations provided to higher education policymakers and decision-makers include maximizing emergency funding eligibility by minimizing requirements, simplifying the application process, and clarifying whether the funds are grants or loans.
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 7
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: COVID-19
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pandemics
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      – SubjectFull: Emergency Programs
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      – SubjectFull: Higher Education
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      – SubjectFull: Federal Aid
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      – SubjectFull: Grants
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      – SubjectFull: Student Experience
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      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Paying for College
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      – SubjectFull: Student Financial Aid
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Noninstructional Student Costs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic Persistence
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      – SubjectFull: Barriers
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      – SubjectFull: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund
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      – TitleFull: How Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding Shaped Student Experiences during the Pandemic
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