The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for Higher Education provides institutions of higher education Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) to assist with costs incurred due to COVID-19.
Additional allocated funds are to be used as direct grants to students to provide emergency relief aid for hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning in Fall 2021, students are able to request that their funds be used first to pay down any existing bills at the institution. For the 2021-2022 academic year, funds are distributed to eligible students after classes begin, and the amounts awarded depend on students' need and number of credits in which they are enrolled.
Previous Reports:
Revised Reports:
These funds can be used to help pay for cost of attendance needs such as food, housing, childcare, health care, course materials, technology, tuition assistance, and other critical needs.
Funds are automatically awarded to eligible students for the 2021-2022 academic year; no special application is required. CSU Pueblo identifies eligible students (per ED guidance) using a combination of need and spring 2020 enrolled credit hours.
Students may be asked to provide documentation to prove eligibility.
A calculation was performed to produce equitable and fair disbursements to all students who qualify for the Immediate Relief Fund. The average award for undergraduate students is $558.21, and $458.80 for graduate students. Below is the awarding structure used by CSU Pueblo:
| Undergraduate Students | |||||
| EFC Range/Credits | 1-3 | 4-6 | 7-9 | 10-14 | 15 and up |
| 0-6000 | $240 | $480 | $720 | $1,120 | $1,620 |
| 6001-15000 | $210 | $420 | $630 | $980 | $1,440 |
| 15001 and up | $180 | $360 | $540 | $840 | $1,080 |
| NA | $150 | $300 | $450 | $700 | $900 |
| Graduate Students | |||||
| EFC Range/Credits | 1-3 | 4-6 | 7-9 | 10-14 | 15 and up |
| 0-6000 | $300 | $600 | $900 | $1,400 | $1,800 |
| 6001-15000 | $270 | $540 | $810 | $1,260 | $1,620 |
| 15001 and up | $240 | $480 | $720 | $1,120 | $1,440 |
| NA | $210 | $420 | $630 | $980 | $1,260 |
Students who meet the criteria for the Immediate Relief Fund and can demonstrate additional financial hardship due to the COVID 19 pandemic related to their educational needs may make application for Emergency Aid Program funds.
Emergency Aid Program funds will disburse based on the need category in which the student is seeking assistance. All awards are based on the Cost of Attendance categories used by CSU Pueblo, with guidance from the Colorado Department of Education. Need categories and dollar amounts for awards is below:
| Funding Category | Award Per Application |
| Housing | $1,716 |
| Food | $906 |
| Medical | $200 |
| Technology | $550 |
| Childcare | $936 |
While it is encouraged for students to prioritize their needs and limit their selection to one need category on the Emergency Aid application, students who have experienced extreme financial hardship are eligible to apply for a maximum of two funding categories.
Funds will be distributed through the regular CSU Pueblo refund process. Effective Fall 2021, students can elect to have their funds applied to any outstanding university bill prior to receiving a refund. Students will receive funds based on the refund preference selected (direct deposit or to be mailed to the address on file).
Students can use any funds disbursed to pay any outstanding balance at CSU Pueblo and can now elect within PAWS to have funds applied directly to their bill. Students must select "Apply funds to my student bill" to have funds applied to their CSU Pueblo bill. The selection to either apply funds towards the bill or receive a refund is final and cannot be changed. Once you receive your refund, you may use the funds to pay through your PAWS account or by contacting our Cashier at 719-549-2131.
We have exhausted all funding from the CARES/HEERF Acts. You may be eligible for assistance via the CSU Pueblo Foundation. Please contact Student Financial Services for further assistance.
Request more information about our degree programs, activities, sports, application process, and more!
The PACK Center and HSB Advising are available to assist you. Stop by or call for support. PACK: 719-549-2584, HSB: 719-549-2142.
