UMD Student COVID Relief Grant

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) was signed into law on December 27, 2020. This law provides the U.S. Department of Education federal funds for higher education institutions to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II. As part of the CRRSAA, the relief fund was created to provide universities with funds for financial aid grants for students and cover institutional expenses related to the pandemic. The University of Maryland’s (UMD) approach to distributing these funds is student-centered.


UMD has received $10,745,357 funds from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund to distribute to eligible students as UMD Student COVID Relief Grants. These grants can be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to the pandemic, such as:

  • assistance with food purchases,
  • needs related to housing/rent/utilities,
  • assistance with health care (including mental health care) or child care expenses,
  • the payment of tuition or purchase of course materials, and/or
  • technology-related needs. 

**We are no longer accepting applications at this time.

The UMD Student COVID Relief Grant is offered using two methods:

  • A portion of the funding is provided based on financial need to eligible students using information from the 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  • Another portion of the funding is provided to eligible students using the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant Application.

A student must meet all the criteria listed below to qualify for the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant:

  • A student must use the funds to cover unexpected expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic that have impacted their educational experience, including the allowable expenses listed above.
  • An undergraduate or graduate student who was enrolled on or after March 13, 2020.

How many UMD Student COVID Relief Grants have been distributed to students?

For details on the number of students who have received the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant, please refer to the Student Grant Reporting tab on this page.


How many UMD students are eligible to receive a UMD Student COVID Relief Grant under HEERF II?

For details on the number of eligible UMD students, please refer to the Student Grant Reporting tab on this page.


What emergency relief funds are available for students who are not eligible for the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant?

Students who do not meet eligibility criteria may still seek financial assistance for emergency circumstances through the Student Crisis Fund through the Division of Student Affairs.


How much is each grant?

Grant amounts will vary based upon student need and availability of funding. We will attempt to provide as many grants as possible to eligible students.


Can a student request COVID relief funds more than once if the need arises?

Yes, students may apply for COVID relief funds more than once. However, the funds are limited and will be awarded to students on a rolling basis until the funds are exhausted.


Do students have to repay their UMD Student COVID Relief Grant?

Students who receive a UMD Student COVID Relief Grant are not required to repay the grant.


Can a student use COVID relief funds to cover an outstanding balance on their UMD student bill?

Yes, students can use approved and provided COVID relief funds to cover any outstanding balance on their UMD student bill.


What will be required as justification for the grant? Will students be asked to show evidence that they have been adversely affected by COVID-19?

Students who wish to apply for the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant will be asked to submit the application.

Applicants will be asked to provide a statement about how the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unexpected financial hardship.


How quickly will students have access to their grant funds once they have been approved to receive them?

Approved grants will be paid through the student billing process.

Students who apply for the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant will be reviewed and decisions will be released 7 to 10 business days after receipt of the application. Applicants will receive an email once their application is reviewed. If an application is approved, eligible students can view the offer using the student financial aid portal.

If you haven’t already done so, please sign up for a direct deposit. This will allow faster access to funds.

1. UMD acknowledges that the institution signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and assures that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide COVID Relief Grants to students. UMD acknowledges receiving two supplemental grants: The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA/HEERF II), 2021 Supplemental Agreement (CFDA 84.425E) ((a)(1) Student Aid Portion); and the America Rescue Plan (ARP/HEERF III).

2. UMD has received $10,745,357 funds from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund to distribute to eligible students as UMD Student COVID Relief Grants.

3. The chart below records the amount of funds UMD has distributed, the number of students that are eligible to receive the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant, and the number of students that have received the grant per quarter.

Funds Report Period # Recipients for the period $ paid for the period # Total Recipients $ Total Paid # Cumulative Federally Eligible
CARES Act (HEERF I) 2020 1st 30 Days (5/15 to 6/15) 7,296 $8,834,087 7,296 $8,834,087 34,000
CARES Act (HEERF I) 2020 Q2 (6/16 to 6/30) 1,140 $1,325,650 8,094 $10,159,737 34,000
CARES Act (HEERF I) 2020 Q3 (7/01 to 9/30) 400 $384,250 8,359 $10,543,987 36,335
CARES Act (HEERF I) 2020 Q4 (10/01 to 12/31) 3 $3,000 8,361 $10,546,987 36,335
CRRSA (HEERF II) 2021 Q1 (1/01 to 3/31) 2 $2,400 8,363 $10,549,387 34,897
CRRSA and ARP (HEERF II-III) 2021 Q2 (4/01 to 6/30) 8,279 $18,778,723 12,404 $29,328,110 34,897
CRRSA and ARP (HEERF II-III) 2021 Q3 (7/01 to 9/30) 10,045 $18,040,288 16,222 $47,368,398 36,699
CRRSA and ARP (HEERF II-III) 2021 Q4 (10/01 to 12/31) 1,247 $1,752,601 16,598 $49,120,999 36,699
ARP (HEERF III) 2022 Q1 (1/01 to 3/31) 368 $743,550 16,639 $49,864,549 35,143

4. UMD used the following methods to offer the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant:

  • Federal Pell Grant recipients who were enrolled during the Spring 2021 semester were identified and automatically offered emergency grant funds using the block awarding method.
  • Students were directed to an online application system for the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant. Within the application, students were required to attest which federally approved conditions for funding they met and answer self-certification questions about the financial impact they experienced.
  • Students who were initially offered emergency grant funds using the block awarding method could also be considered for additional emergency funding by submitting the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant Application. Student grant amounts varied based upon student need and availability of funding. UMD attempted to provide as many grants as possible to eligible students.

5. Students who received emergency grant funds using the block awarding method were notified via email and instructions were provided to view their offer through their financial aid portal. Students were informed that the emergency funds provided were not applied to any outstanding balance with UMD but they could choose to make a payment toward their student bill using the Student Financial Services and Cashiering website. Students were also encouraged to sign up for direct deposit through the Student Financial Services and Cashiering website in an effort to receive funds as quickly as possible.

The Office of Undergraduate Studies and the Graduate School assisted with sharing information with the UMD campus community by sending an email encouraging eligible students facing financial distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to apply for assistance through the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant Application. Students who submitted the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant Application were notified of their decision via email and provided instructions to view their offer through their financial aid portal. Students were also encouraged to sign up for direct deposit through the Student Financial Services and Cashiering website in an effort to receive funds as quickly as possible.