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# Department of Education Releases New Data Showing the American Rescue Plan and Other Pandemic Relief Funds Kept Millions of College Students Enrolled in School

# Department of Education Releases New Data Showing the American Rescue Plan and Other Pandemic Relief Funds Kept Millions of College Students Enrolled in School

February 1, 2023

**Contact:  **press@ed.gov

                                    -        
Today, the U.S.  Department of Education (Department) released new data estimating that more  than 18 million students have received direct financial aid under the Higher  Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) since the start of 2021. Over that  period, nearly 6 million community college students received direct financial  aid, along with more than 450,000 students at Historically Black Colleges and  Universities (HBCUs), more than 24,000 students at Tribally Controlled Colleges  and Universities (TCCUs), and nearly 8 million students at Minority Serving  Institutions (MSIs), such as Hispanic Serving Institutions.  The new data shows that  these funds helped millions of students remain in school, kept costs down so  students could stay enrolled, and helped keep faculty and staff employed. The  Department also released a detailed report today showing that in 2021 alone,  12.7 million students received direct financial aid grants from HEERF funds,  which served as a critical lifeline to these students.  According to the report,  ninety-four percent of community colleges said HEERF allowed them to keep  students enrolled who were at risk of dropping out by providing financial  support in 2021.

“Today’s report makes clear that, for millions of college students, the  financial lifelines delivered by President Biden through the American Rescue  Plan’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund are what made it possible to stay  enrolled and on track during the pandemic,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel  Cardona said. “The positive impact of the Biden-Harris Administration’s  investments cannot be overstated, especially for students from the communities  hit hardest by the pandemic, including our communities of color and low-income  urban and rural communities. As I travel the country, I’ve been heartened to  hear from students on how the American Rescue Plan helped them stay enrolled  and from colleges and universities who said American Rescue Plan funds have helped raise the bar in how  they support students, from forgiving debts, to addressing food and housing  insecurity, to expanding mental health supports, and so much more.”

Institutions of higher education  (institutions) are required to submit annual reports to the Department  detailing how HEERF has been used to support their institutions, students and  communities. The Department used that data and 2022 spending to estimate the  overall impact of HEERF funds during the Biden Administration. According to Department  estimates, more than 18 million students have received direct financial aid  under HEERF since the start of 2021.

The Department used the 2021 annual report  data to identify key findings and state-specific impact data from the HEERF  program. In 2021 alone, HEERF funds:
- Helped students afford basic       needs and remain enrolled in school.  In 2021, institutions       distributed $19.5 billion in Emergency Financial Aid Grants to 12.7       million students, including 80 percent of Pell Grant recipients .         Approximately 9 in 10 institutions reported that HEERF enabled them to       keep students enrolled who were at risk of dropping out due to       pandemic-related factors. 
- Kept student costs down,       including reducing unpaid balances owed to the institution.  Roughly 3 out of 4       institutions indicated that HEERF enabled them to keep student net prices       similar to pre-pandemic levels. More than 1,400 institutions spent nearly       $1.5 billion on discharging unpaid student balances.
- Kept colleges open and faculty       and staff employed.  More than 2 in 3 institutions indicated that HEERF       allowed them to keep faculty, staff, employees, and contractors at full       salary levels.
- Helped slow the spread of the       pandemic.  Nearly       3 in 4 institutions stated that HEERF enabled them to purchase COVID tests,       provide health screenings, and provide the healthcare necessary to help       support students, faculty, and staff.

The Department remains committed to  providing support, resources, and guidance to institutions, students, and  communities. The 2021 Annual Report illustrates how HEERF grants provided  institutions and students the necessary resources to navigate responding to and  recovering from the pandemic.

The full 2021 Higher Education Emergency  Relief Fund report can be found HERE.  A state-by-state breakdown of HEERF grants  and students impacted by state can be found HERE.  Highlights of how HEERF helped community  colleges and their students can be found HERE.  Highlights of how HEERF helped HBCU  students and colleges can be found HERE.  Highlights of how HEERF helped other  Minority Serving Institutions and their students can be found HERE.Highlights of how HEERF helped TCCU  students and colleges can be found HERE.
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