Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Reporting

Emergency Financial Aid Grants for Students

The following information is provided to comply with the Department of Education's CARES Act Reporting requirements. This information is limited to CARES Act funding and does not include grant programs utilizing institutional funds.

Reporting as of: March 31, 2021 (FINAL REPORT)

Carnegie Mellon University submitted a Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to the Department of Education that was approved and available beginning May 12, 2020. Pursuant to this agreement, Carnegie Mellon assures that no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(A)(1) of the CARES Act are being used to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

Carnegie Mellon was allocated $2,867,543 from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a) (1) of the CARES Act as of March 31, 2021 is $2,867,543. On March 10, 2021, Carnegie Mellon awarded the remainder of its CARES allocation for emergency financial aid grants to students. Therefore, the March 31, 2021 quarterly update will be our final report.

The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(a) of the CARES Act is 6,239. Such estimate is based on the number of students who have submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) consistent with the Title IV eligibility methodology announced in the U.S. Department of Education’s "Eligibility of Students at Institutions of Higher Education for Funds Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act" final rule, published in the Federal Register on June 17, 2020 (the "Final Rule").  (In the Reporting of June 11, 2020, the estimated number of eligible students was 8,809, which was based on a Title IV eligibility interpretation made prior to the publication of the Final Rule.)

The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to Students under Section 18004(a) (1) of the CARES Act is 3,266. Carnegie Mellon will continue to award emergency grants until all allocated funds are exhausted.

Carnegie Mellon has established an application process for students to request funds for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.  As defined in Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, this includes cost of attendance items such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses. The application is available to all students, and the goal is to reach as many eligible students as possible with the funds available. Award amounts are determined by Carnegie Mellon based upon a review of the student emergency grant application and students demonstrated financial need from their FAFSA. Award amounts are distributed on a tiered approach to assist those students who are most in need. Generally, students receive between $500 and $1,000 in grants. As of March 31, 2021, the average amount awarded to a student is $878.

Carnegie Mellon announced the availability of emergency grants in a message sent to all enrolled students on June 9, 2020. Additionally, the university amplified awareness to our student body by adding links to the Financial Assistance Related to COVID-19 page across a number of our student-focused websites and through various communication efforts. All notifications indicated that funds may be used for allowable expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care expenses.

On March 9, 2021, the university updated our websites and communications to reflect changing guidance from the Department of Education. At that time, students received follow-up messaging to indicate that emergency grant funds could also be used to assist with tuition and that awards could be applied directly to a student account, with the student's affirmative consent.

Carnegie Mellon students can visit the Student Financial Services COVID-19 Assistance webpage for additional information and specific guidance regarding Emergency Financial Aid Grants, including eligibility requirements and directions for submitting an application.