COVID-19 Updates and Guidance > FAQs > Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II)

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II)

On Dec. 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) was signed into law. The act provides more than $81 billion in emergency support to elementary, secondary and postsecondary education. Over $21 billion of that total is allocated to higher education, including public, private nonprofit and proprietary institutions and their students. Building on the structure of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of March 2020, the U.S. Department of Education designated these additional higher education support funds under the CRRSAA as HEERF II.

To receive funds, students must meet the following:
  • The student was actively enrolled student on or after Dec. 27, 2020
  • The student must have a Social Security Number on file
  • The student must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen  
The Department of Education requires the university prioritize the disbursement of the funds to the students with highest need. DePaul has chosen to use the results from FAFSA application to select students with the highest need. The FAFSA application also addresses all of the other requirements as specified by CRRSAA.

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​Students can use funds towards:
  • Any component of their cost of attendance including but not limited to tuition and fees, book costs, supplies, transportation, miscellaneous personal expenses (e.g. computer), and room and board
  • Emergency costs due to coronavirus such as, tuition, food, housing, health care or childcare

Students are eligible to receive between $500 and $1,000. DePaul will determine the amount based on a review of each student's FAFSA application. ​

Eligible students received an email on March 29, 2021 with a required questionnaire that must have been completed by April 12. The questionnaire​ asked​ eligible students to indicate how they would like to receive their funds. 




DePaul is waiting for more guidance from the Department of Education to determine what the new federal stimulus plan may mean for student aid. When that information is available to us, we will share more about our plan for selection and distribution of HEERF III funds.

For questions, contact DePaul Central at dpcl@depaul.edu or 312-362-8610.

​​Submit a question

If you can’t find an answer that you’re looking for, submit a question to our COVID-19 response team.

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