Skip to main content

Federal CARES Act

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund 

Boise State University has received its first installment of the HEERF from the U.S. Department of Education in the amount of $5.4 million.

These funds provide direct emergency assistance for Boise State students who have incurred unanticipated expenses due to the disruption of campus operations in response to COVID-19.  Boise State’s goal is to assist students with the greatest financial need, in accordance with federal guidelines.  Funds will immediately be offered to students who meet the following criteria:

  • Must have been enrolled through the end of the 2020 spring semester
  • Currently enrolled, degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate students, and not enrolled in an exclusively online program (on March 13, 2020)
  • Title IV eligible as determined by the FAFSA
  • Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
  • Have an official expected family contribution (EFC) between $0 – $10,000
  • Not receiving a senior citizen, faculty/staff/dependent waiver
  • Incurred unanticipated COVID-19 related expenses including, for example, additional childcare, technology or moving expenses.

Students enrolled in the summer semester will be considered for emergency funding based on the same criteria.  Summer funds will be distributed after June 9, 2020. Students enrolled in the fall term will also be eligible for funds under the same terms; fall funds will be distributed after September 14, 2020.

Students that do not meet the FAFSA EFC requirement above but who have incurred expenses due to the disruption of campus operations in response to COVID-19 had the opportunity to submit an application to be considered for funding. Unfortunately the deadline has passed to submit the secondary application at this time. The deadlines for submitting the secondary application were:

  •  Summer semester – June 9, 2020
  • Fall semester – September 9, 2020

All applications will be reviewed after the deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many students will receive HEERF and how much will they receive?

More than 5,400 students are receiving the funds for the spring semester.  The amount varies depending on the student’s financial situation, but most students will receive an amount ranging from $500 to $675.  Students will be notified of the exact amount in their 2019-20 financial aid package, through their BroncoMail, and their student financial account.

How quickly can students receive their HEERF?

Students signed up for direct deposit will receive the money directly to their bank account on file within a few days.  Students without direct deposit will be mailed a check to their address on file which could take 2 weeks to receive.  Students should ensure their address is up to date in the system to avoid delays in receiving checks.

The U.S. Department of Education has established eligibility criteria that relies heavily on the student filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  The initial distribution criteria used the expected family contribution (EFC) to select students; however, students who now meet the initial selection criteria may complete a secondary application along with the FAFSA to be considered for funds.  The deadline for these funds have passed.

Will funds be available for summer or fall semesters?

Yes, funds are available for students enrolled in summer semester.  If you meet the eligibility criteria for spring and enroll in summer courses, it is likely that you will also receive funds to assist with expenses due to the disruption of campus operations.  The distribution of funding in the fall will be determined based on the availability of funds.

Are these funds taxable?

These funds are not taxable according to the IRS.  See their HEERF FAQ website for more information.

I did not receive HEERF in the first selection group. Can I be considered for funding?

There was an application available to request funding but unfortunately the deadlines have passed at this time. We are still reviewing applications that were submitted for the fall semester.

Deadlines:

To request funding for summer expenses – June 9, 2020

To request funding for fall semester expenses – September 9, 2020

Which FAFSA should I file to be considered for HEERF?

If you’re seeking federal financial aid, including HEERF, for the summer semester, please complete the 2019-20 FAFSA.

If you are only filing the FAFSA to be considered for HEERF, please complete the 2020-21 FAFSA using your 2018 income.

Is other financial support available to students at this time?

Boise State has emergency funds through the Dean of Students Emergency Fund, short term loans, Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), alternative loans and a review of your existing financial aid packages due to special conditions. Please contact the Financial Aid office to discuss the available options.

We also recommend students review our private scholarships page and COVID-19 page for additional resources.

Further HEERF Information

Last Updated: October 3, 2022

Boise State University signed and submitted the Certification and Agreement for the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) on April 28, 2020.  Boise State University has already partially awarded and intends to continue to award no less than 50 percent of the total HEERF received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

Boise State University is scheduled to receive a total of $10,937,516 in HEERF.  No less than 50 percent ($5,468,758) must be spent on direct emergency funds to students.  The remaining amount is designated for institutional use.  

HEERF Institutional Expenditures through 09/30/20

HEERF Institutional Expenditures through 09/30/20 – revised 03/31/21

HEERF Institutional Expenditures from 10/01/20 through 12/31/20

HEERF Institutional Expenditures from 01/01/21 through 03/31/21

HEERF Institutional Expenditures from 04/01/21 through 06/30/21

HEERF Institutional Expenditures from 07/01/21 through 09/30/21

HEERF Institutional Expenditures from 07/01/21 through 09/30/21 – revised 11/12/21

HEERF Institutional Expenditures from 1/01/21 through 12/31/21

On May 6, 2020, Boise State University issued $3,447,600 in CARES Act HEERF funds to 5,448 students enrolled in the spring semester.  Future payments are planned for students enrolled in the summer and fall semesters.

HEERF Institutional Expenditures from 1/01/22 through 03/31/22

HEERF Institutional Expenditures from 4/1/2022 through 6/30/2022

HEERF Final Report

Fall 2020 CARES Act HEER Fund Distribution

Summer 2020 CARES Act HEER Fund Distribution

Spring 2020 CARES Act HEER Fund Distribution