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Coronavirus Updates

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF): Student Grant Programs I, II and III

American Rescue Plan Act 2021 (ARP)/Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III)

Loyola received federal funding under the American Rescue Plan Act 2021 (ARP) to provide financial aid grants to students that can be used toward any component of the cost of their attendance or emergency costs due to coronavirus such as tuition, food, housing, healthcare (including mental healthcare) or childcare.  The Department of Education directed Loyola to "prioritize grants to students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants.  The required Certification and Agreement documents remain in effect from the original issuance under the CARES Act process.  Under the ARP, Congress calculated amounts for the HEERF III funding for each institution of higher education.  Loyola was awarded $3,394,927 to be used for financial aid grants to students; and $3,394,769 was awarded for institutional use in responding to the COVID-19 crisis.

ARP Student Eligibility Criteria

The maximum estimated total number of Loyola students eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 314(a)(1) of the ARPA is 2,797. This estimate is based on the number of students who met the eligibility requirements outlined below.  To support as many undergraduate and graduate students as possible, Loyola awarded automatic grants based on the following eligibility criteria.  Students must meet all these criteria in order to receive a grant.   

  • Must have a 2021-2022 FAFSA or CSS Profile on file as of October 21, 2021;
  • Must be enrolled at least-part time as of October 21, 2021;
  • Must be a Loyola degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student; and
  • Must have an EFC of $69,999 or less.

Those students who met the above criteria automatically received a grant in the range of $2,150 to $250 for undergraduate students and $300 to $150 for graduate students.  Grant amounts were disbursed on a sliding scale that reduced the amount granted per student as the estimated family contribution amount increased to the maximum eligible EFC of $69,999 and enrollment status (full-time or part-time).

Students can use the funds for any component of their cost of attendance or emergency costs due to coronavirus such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental), and childcare. 

Students did not need to apply for these funds. Students who met the eligibility criteria as determined by the office of financial aid, were notified via email that they were receiving a grant and payments would be made by check and sent to the permanent/home address on record in WebAdvisor [OR] if the student has elected to receive “Refund, Reimbursement and Payment Deposits” via direct deposit then they will be processed as an ACH bank transfer.  Eligible students received an email once the payment has been processed confirming the payment format (bank transfer or physical check), the amount of the grant, and the processing date. 

ARPA Grant Disbursement Schedule

Grant disbursements were processed in batches prioritizing those with greatest demonstrated need (lowest EFCs in alphabetical order) starting on Thursday, December 16, 2021.  All disbursements were processed by no later than February 1, 2022.   If an eligible student has not received their disbursement by February 28, 2022, they should email heerf@loyola.edu.

Additionally, in order to confirm our intention to draw on the ARPA funds allocated to Loyola, the University was required to draw down at least $1 within 90 days of the allocation of the funds.  We did make one draw down of $500 which was provided to a Pell eligible student who exhibited the greatest need as determined by the estimated family contribution in their 2021-2022 FAFSA and Profile records.  The student had been Pell eligible since their first year at Loyola with no hiatus history and this amount was deducted from the grant processed in December of 2021 such that the total that the student will receive in HEERF funds is in line with the criteria noted above. 

All funds allocated through the ARPA emergency grant program have been disbursed.   The estimated number of students who are eligible to receive these grants is 2,797.  A total of 2,797 students have received grants totaling $3,394,927.  

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act 2021 (CRRSAA)/Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II)

Loyola received federal funding under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) to “emphasize support for students with exceptional needs” through grants via the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II). Students may use the funds for any component of their cost of attendance or emergency costs due to coronavirus such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental), and childcare.  The required Certification and Agreement documents remain in effect from the original issuance under the CARES Act process. 

Under the CRRSAA, Congress calculated amounts for the HEERF II funding for each institution of higher education.  The Department of Education provided guidance on the disbursement of these funds.  Loyola was awarded a total of $1,306,230 to be used “to emphasize support for students with exceptional need” through emergency relief funds; and $2,494,311 was awarded for institutional use in responding to the COVID-19 crisis.  

CRRSAA Student Eligibility Criteria 


To support as many undergraduate and graduate students as possible, Loyola awarded automatic grants of up to $750 based on the following eligibility criteria:  

  • Must have a 2020-21 FAFSA or CSS Profile on file as of February 8, 2021;
  • Must be enrolled at least-part time as of February 8, 2021;
  • Must be a Loyola degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student;
  • Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen as verified by the FAFSA; and
  • Must have need not exceeding the average cost of attendance as measured by the FAFSA or CSS Profile.

Grant amounts were disbursed on a sliding scale that reduces the amount granted per student as the estimated family contribution amount increases.   Students may use the funds for any component of their cost of attendance or emergency costs due to coronavirus such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental), and childcare. 

Additional consideration will be given to students who previously completed the COVID-19 Special Circumstances Appeal Form available thru the Office of Financial Aid website but were unable to receive assistance from that process.  Upon approval the maximum that a student could receive under the COVID-19 Special Circumstances Appeal program is $750.

Students did not need to apply for these funds. Students who met the eligibility criteria as determined by the office of financial aid, were notified via email that they would be receiving a grant and payments will be made by check and sent to the permanent/home address on record in WebAdvisor [OR] if the student has elected to receive “Refund, Reimbursement and Payment Deposits” via direct deposit then they will be processed as an ACH bank transfer.

Students were notified by the end of day Tuesday, April 13, 2021 if they were eligible to receive a grant.  The email was sent from Federal Student Relief Grants (heerf@loyola.edu). 

In order to ensure the timely delivery of grant disbursements, any updates to address information and/or banking information must be completed, and banking information must show as ‘verified’ in WebAdvisor by Friday, April 16, 2021.  Any updates to information after this date cannot be guaranteed to be applied prior to the processing of the student’s grant disbursement.   

This time was being provided so that eligible students could either make sure their permanent/home address is correct in WebAdvisor [AND/OR] that their banking information was updated/set up and verified to receive “Refund, Reimbursement and Payment” deposits.  For more information on how to confirm or update this information can be viewed at the links below: 

Confirm/update mailing address

Set up/edit banking information for direct deposit

CRRSAA Grant Disbursement Schedule

Grant disbursements were processed starting on Monday, April 19, 2021 with a projected conclusion by May 31, 2021. If an eligible student does not receive their disbursement by May 31, 2021 they should email heerf@loyola.edu.

All funds allocated through the CRRSAA emergency grant program have been disbursed.   The estimated number of students who are eligible to receive these grants is 2,555.  A total of 2,555 students have received grants totaling $1,306,230.  

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act/Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund I (HEERF I)

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act is federal legislation that provides financial support to individuals and organizations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). Funds received by Loyola under the CARES Act were authorized by Congress and signed into law by the President on March 27, 2020.  In regard to Loyola University Maryland's eligibility, the institution was allocated two separate grants under this federal program. One was to provide emergency grants to students for unexpected expenses and the second was to assist in covering unexpected institutional costs related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the CARES Act, Congress calculated amounts for the HEERF for each institution of higher education. Loyola was awarded a total of $1,306,230 to be used for emergency relief funds for students and $1,306,230 for institutional use in responding to the COVID-19 crisis. Loyola signed and returned the required Certifications and Agreements to the Department of Education.  Information on the specifics of how the funds have been disbursed is included in the reports that are linked below.

CARES Act Student Eligibility Criteria

A student was eligible for CARES Act funding through Loyola if they:

  • Were enrolled at Loyola on March 13, 2020 as a full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate student;
  • Experienced a financial hardship as a result of the disruption of education due to the coronavirus for expenses included but not limited to: food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses;
  • Were eligible for federal financial aid (this will be determined by either having been approved through the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 FAFSA process or if they had not completed a FAFSA form, students were asked to complete an attestation of eligibility of Title IV criteria as per recent rule making by the Department of Education. All information provided via FAFSA or the attestation form was reviewed by financial aid to confirm eligibility of Title IV criteria; and
  • Completed the Loyola certification form via Qualtrics.

Non-degree seeking students; students exclusively enrolled in online courses; and those who withdrew or took a leave of absence prior to March 13, 2020, were not eligible for CARES Act funding. 

All funds allocated through the CARES Act emergency grant program have been disbursed.   The estimated number of students who were eligible to receive grants under the CARES Act was 4,973.  A certification form was necessary in order to receive funds, therefore a total of 1,098 students completed the certification process and received grants totaling $1,306,230. 

Allocation and Disbursement Reports

Loyola University Maryland is required to provide regular reporting to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) on the use of funds authorized by the CARES Act, the CRRSAA and the ARP.   The first annual report on the Student Emergency Relief Grant Program and the Institutional Relief Grant Program funds that were distributed under the CARES Act was submitted to the Department of Education via an online reporting portal on February 5, 2021. 

Student and Institutional Grant Program (Combined Quarterly Report)

Student Emergency Relief Grant Program

Reports on the rationale and process for the disbursement of the student emergency grant funds can be found here:

Institutional Relief Grant Program

The report on the allocation and disbursement of the institutional relief grand funds can be found here:

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will I receive?

Loyola is committed to providing grants to all eligible students to the greatest extent possible with the funds available through the HEERF programs. These emergency grants are subject to eligibility, overall pool of eligible students, and availability of funds, among other things.  There is no guarantee that an emergency grant will be available or, if so, available in any particular amount.

How will I receive this money?

Emergency grants will be directly deposited into bank accounts for students who are enrolled in direct deposit (see information above on how to set this up). Students without direct deposit will receive a disbursement check in the mail.

Do I need to repay the money?

No. Students will not need to repay any money received through the HEERF fund.

Does this funding affect my other financial aid?

No. HEERF programs are emergency grants to help students manage unexpected expenses related to the coronavirus, and it will not have any impact on other financial aid a student may be eligible to receive.

What if I still have an account balance?

Grants disbursed from HEERF funds will not be applied to the student’s account.  Any outstanding balance owed to Loyola will remain the responsibility of the student.

Are Emergency grants taxable?

The IRS has issued guidance that the grants are not considered taxable income, but you may still need to report this information on your tax returns.  Please check with a professional about any tax implications.  

For more information, please visit this IRS site - FAQs: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund and Emergency Financial Aid Grants under the CARES Act (updated March 30, 2021).

I received an email stating that I was approved for a disbursement, however I have not yet received the check or deposit into my bank account. What should I do?

Checks are mailed via the U.S. Postal Service. If a student received an email confirming their eligibility for an emergency grant and were to receive a disbursement in the form of a check, but have not yet received the check in the mail should contact heerf@loyola.edu so that other arrangements can be made.

Who do I contact if I have additional questions?

Please contact heerf@loyola.edu.