During the fall 2021 term, Rutgers University will be distributing $74 million in aid from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III), as authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP), signed into law on March 11, 2021. This additional aid is provided to assist students who are experiencing financial hardships due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Office of Financial Aid will be evaluating student eligibility for this funding via the COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Application. Funding is not guaranteed and will be granted in order of receipt of application.
Students who are eligible to apply for emergency assistance will receive an email with a link to the COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Application.
The application gives students the option to choose to have their funds applied directly to their term bill. This option is the fastest and easiest way to receive funding.
Students must complete the application within 5 days of receiving the application email in order to be considered for funding. If you are not deemed eligible or require additional assistance, click here to view alternative options for funding your education at Rutgers University.
Once you have completed the COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Application, please allow 14 business days for your appeal to be reviewed. If approved for funding, you will be contacted via email and your Rutgers Financial Aid will be updated accordingly.
If you do not opt-in to have your funds applied to your term bill, you will be required to complete an additional process to receive electronic payment through a third-party service service (please see Zelle Frequently Asked Questions below for more information), or you will receive your funding via paper check which may take up to an additional 30 days to process after your application is reviewed.
If you and/or your family have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, you can complete the 2021-2022 Change in Family Circumstances (CIFC) form , which will allow us to review the current financial situation in your household and consider changes to your aid. Those changes could increase your federal and/or state grant eligibility or, at least, reallocate your federal student loan to include more subsidized funds (which do not accrue interest while you are enrolled).
Please be aware, this appeal will not result in additional institutional scholarships or grants and will not result in additional money to students who are already eligible for maximum funding from federal and state grants. The Federal Pell Grant maximum is $6,495 for full-time students; NJ TAG maximum is $10,044 but may be more depending upon your program.
Changes to your financial situation may have occurred as a result of:
In addition, we can review excessive medical expenses paid by you/your parents in 2019 or 2020 that were not covered by your medical insurance plan.
You must have a 2021-2022 FAFSA on file with Rutgers to be eligible to complete this process. If you have not yet filed your FAFSA, please do so at studentaid.gov . Please note: The review process for the 2022-2023 CIFC will begin after July 2022.
Please visit our CIFC webpage to learn more about the process. If you have any questions, please contact your regional One Stop Student Services Center to speak with a financial aid representative.
Rutgers University was recently awarded funds from the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act and from the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund (NJPRF) to assist students who are experiencing financial hardships due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Office of Financial Aid will be evaluating student eligibility for this funding via the COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Application. These emergency funds are limited and restricted to one appeal at this time. Funding is not guaranteed and will be granted in order of receipt of application and based on documented financial need.
Students who are eligible to apply for emergency assistance under the CRRSA Act or NJPRF will receive an email with a link to the COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Application. If you are not deemed eligible or require additional assistance, click here to view alternative options for funding your education at Rutgers University.
Once you have completed the COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Application, please allow 14 business days for your appeal to be reviewed. You will be contacted via email once your appeal status has been determined.
The funds have been allocated to chancellors’ offices at Rutgers-New Brunswick, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Rutgers-Newark and Rutgers-Camden. Awards to students will be made by each chancellor-led unit on a first-come, first-serve basis. Funding amounts will vary based on a student’s demonstrated needs and required documentation.
Once an application is submitted, it may take up to two weeks for the financial aid office to determine eligibility. Once funds are awarded, it will take 10 to 14 days for students to receive the funds.
Students who receive CRRSA Act funds can choose to opt-in to have the funds applied to any outstanding balance on their term bill. Students who do not opt-in can choose to have their funds distributed via Zelle – an electronic transfer process or they can choose to receive payment by check. If you would like to receive your funds fast, safe and easy, enroll with Zelle ® using your Rutgers student email address(@rutgers.edu) at clearxchange.com/receive. Note: clearXchange ® is the online version of Zelle used for receiving payments from companies. For more information, visit www.zellepay.com/faqs.
Students who receive NJPRF funds will receive payment via check.
Only students receiving CRRSA Act funds will have the option to have their funds applied to any outstanding balance on their university account. Students must opt-in via the COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Application.
No, CRRSA Act grants do not impact previously awarded financial aid.