Georgia State University students were informed by email, texts and website messaging that the U.S. Secretary of Education, in response to the CARES Act, notified colleges and universities that financial resources are available to provide grants to students for expenses related to disruptions to their educations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students were also notified in accordance with recommendations from the U.S. Secretary of Education, Georgia State has distributed funds received through the CARES Act by prioritizing students with the greatest levels of financial need using established processes that the university has developed to distribute need-based institutional aid.
Georgia State University requested resources from the CARES Act and created two distribution methods for providing this additional support to our students. The CARES Act provided Georgia State University $45,243,852.00 in additional support. Of which, 50%, or $22,621,926, of this amount is earmarked for student relief. This relief is provided in two direct distributions and through an emergency grant application process.
Original estimates indicated approximately 38,000 students may be eligible to receive support from the CARES Act funding. This estimate is decreased to 26,000 students based on the remaining fund availability. This assistance is provided either through a direct-grant distribution method determined by EFC and Financial Aid eligibility or through an emergency assistance application process, as described below.
The first direct-grant distribution occurred at the end of April 2020. Students were awarded grants ranging from $200 to $700. Students selected for this grant had an EFC that fell below $5,577, were enrolled in the Spring 2020 term, were not previously taking online courses and met all eligibility criteria for CARES Act funding. These direct grants were provided to both graduate and undergraduate students.
The second direct-grant distribution occurred in June 2020. Students were awarded grants ranging from $400 to $700. Students selected for this grant had EFC that fell below $5,577, were enrolled in the Summer 2020 term, were not previously taking online courses and met all eligibility criteria for CARES Act funding. These direct grants were provided to both graduate and undergraduate students.
Students who are experiencing financial hardship resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic may apply for assistance regardless of their EFC. Students must have completed a 2019-20 or 2020-21 FAFSA and be otherwise eligible to receive Title IV financial aid. Students may apply for CARES Act assistance through the Emergency Assistance Application link located on the Coronavirus Update page on the Georgia State University website. Awards are granted up to $1,500 per application with a maximum lifetime award not to exceed $6,195. Approximately $3 million dollars has been reserved to provide support to students though this method of distribution.
CARES Act Distributions as of 07/11/2022
Quarter | Students | Amount |
April 2020 - June 2020 | 25,425 | $21,592,399 |
July 2020 - September 2020 | 679 | $477,386 |
October 2020 - December 2020 | 432 | $264,966 |
January 2021 - March 2021 | 462 | $122,593 |
April 2021 - June 2021 | 342 | $164,582 |
July 2021 - September 2021 | 1 | $-700 |
October 2021 - December 2021 | 2 | $600 |
January 2022 – March 2022 | 2 | $800 |
April 2022 – June 2022 | 0 | $0 |
Total Disbursed | $22,622,626 |
Note: Disbursement data organized to comply with quarterly reporting requirement. Students may be included in multiple quarters if a disbursement was received in each quarter.