Tracking the Reach of Emergency Relief Funds during the Pandemic
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| Title: | Tracking the Reach of Emergency Relief Funds during the Pandemic |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Sandra Perez, 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: | 13 |
| 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, College Students, Student Financial Aid, Resource Allocation, School Holding Power, Public Colleges, Private Colleges, For Profit Colleges, Minority Serving Institutions, Minority Group Students, Student Costs |
| Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: | Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, Pell Grant Program |
| Abstract: | The coronavirus pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to higher education, intensifying long-standing systemic inequities in college affordability and access. For many students, the total cost of attendance exceeds what they can afford, even with financial aid. 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. 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 used a publicly available dataset to analyze the allocation and disbursement of HEERF funds and explored the relationship between emergency aid disbursement and retention rates across various demographic and institutional contexts. This brief also explored how HEERF reduced common financial barriers to higher education and the strategies institutions employed to allocate funds equitably. Recommendations provided to higher education policymakers and decision-makers include prioritizing transparency, streamlining processes, and allocating resources equitably to address persistent challenges. |
| Abstractor: | ERIC |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | ED672513 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | The coronavirus pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to higher education, intensifying long-standing systemic inequities in college affordability and access. For many students, the total cost of attendance exceeds what they can afford, even with financial aid. 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. 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 used a publicly available dataset to analyze the allocation and disbursement of HEERF funds and explored the relationship between emergency aid disbursement and retention rates across various demographic and institutional contexts. This brief also explored how HEERF reduced common financial barriers to higher education and the strategies institutions employed to allocate funds equitably. Recommendations provided to higher education policymakers and decision-makers include prioritizing transparency, streamlining processes, and allocating resources equitably to address persistent challenges. |
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