CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund
To fulfill the Department of Education’s guidance, USC issued grants to students across all levels as determined by the FAFSA, with amounts ranging from $400 to $800. Pell Grant recipients received $800 and all other eligible students received $400. In early September, any CARES funding that had been declined by awardees was reallocated to students who accepted an initial CARES award and maintained eligibility for Title IV federal student financial aid. This additional award was $162 per recipient. The grants must be used for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care). The grants may not fully cover the expenses a student has incurred due to the disruption.
The grants were awarded to students that met the following criteria:
- USC has received an official 2019-2020 FAFSA of May 12, 2020
- Enrolled degree seeking for spring 2020 term as of May 12, 2020
- Not enrolled exclusively in an online program, defined as an educational program that has no residential classes over the course of the entire program
- Meet Title IV Federal Financial Aid eligibility requirements
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements
Frequently Asked Questions about the UofSC CARES Grant
Expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care are included as part of the criteria. Students must have incurred these expenses Spring 2020.
Eligible students will have the awarded posted to Self Service Carolina. After acceptance of the award, it will be sent as a refund through direct deposit if you have direct deposit set up or you will receive a refund check in the mail.
Eligible students are selected automatically based on their enrollment during the Spring 2020 semester and they must meet the additional criteria as stated above.
The UofSC CARES grant will be refunded regardless of any outstanding balance on your account.
No, this award will not affect your eligibility for aid for Fall 2020 or Spring 2021.
CARES Reporting