American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Am I eligible to apply for an emergency financial aid grant under the American Rescue Plan?
A. Based on the U.S. Department of Education’s guidance, any student who is or was enrolled at Embry-Riddle on or after March 13, 2020 is eligible to apply for an emergency financial aid grant.
Q. What types of expenses can an emergency financial aid grant be used for?
A. Emergency financial aid grants may be used by students for any component of their cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care. Students determine how they will use their emergency financial aid grant within the allowable uses.
Q. What would be examples of components of the cost of attendance?
A. Cost of attendance (COA) includes tuition, room, board, books, supplies, fees, and miscellaneous expenses (student's living costs while attending school).The COA is determined by the University, using federal guidelines.
Q. How will the emergency financial aid grant amounts be determined, and how will students be selected?
A. In adherence with the U.S. Department of Education’s guidance, Embry-Riddle is prioritizing students with exceptional financial need. Beyond Pell eligibility, other types of exceptional need could include students who may be eligible for other federal or state need-based aid or have faced significant unexpected expenses, such as the loss of employment (either for themselves or their families), reduced income, or food or housing insecurity.
Please note that not every eligible student may receive funding, and selected students may receive only a portion of their eligible expenses. Grants will be awarded to students for the duration that resources are available.
Q. I didn’t file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); may I apply for an emergency financial aid grant?
A. Yes, if you meet all other eligibility requirements, you may still apply for an emergency financial aid grant. However, students will be prioritized based on exceptional financial need. Therefore, filing a FAFSA is recommended if you are seeking additional financial assistance for any component of the cost of attendance. You can file for the current school year: 2021-2022 FAFSA. If you are applying for an emergency financial aid grant for unmet financial need related to the cost of attendance (tuition, room, board, books, supplies, fees, and miscellaneous expenses (student's living costs while attending school)), and the description of your unmet financial need is not supported by your current FAFSA (or if you do not have a FAFSA on file), you will be asked to document your exceptional financial need in the grant application.
Q. I filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), but my or my family’s financial situation has changed. May I apply for an emergency financial aid grant under the American Rescue Plan?
A. If you or your family’s financial situation has changed significantly from what is reflected on your federal income tax return (for example, if you’ve lost a job or otherwise experienced a drop in income), you may be eligible to have your financial aid adjusted. Contact your campus Financial Aid Office to discuss how your current financial situation has changed.
As mentioned above, students who are or were enrolled at Embry-Riddle on or after March 13, 2020 are eligible for emergency financial aid grants from the American Rescue Plan, regardless of whether they completed a FAFSA. However, the University, in adherence to the U.S. Department of Education’s guidance is directed in awarding emergency financial aid grants to prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants or undergraduates with extraordinary financial circumstances.
Q. Can international students apply for an emergency financial aid grant under the American Rescue Plan?
A. Yes, international students are eligible for emergency financial aid grants. However, the University is required under the U.S. Department of Education’s guidance to ensure ARP grant awards be disbursed to students who have exceptional need. Further, the U.S. Department of Education is encouraging institutions to prioritize domestic students, especially undergraduates, in allocating the funding.
Q. If I am a Worldwide student, do I qualify for an emergency financial aid grant under the American Rescue Plan?
A. Yes; based on the U.S. Department of Education’s guidance, any student who is or was enrolled at Embry-Riddle on or after March 13, 2020 is eligible to apply for an emergency financial aid grant. This definition encompasses Worldwide students.
Q. The coronavirus has impacted my personal financial situation (e.g., I am concerned about my ability to continue my education due to financial challenges, etc.) – can the University assist?
A. Emergency student financial aid grants provided under ARP may be used towards a student’s cost of attendance. With a student’s written (or electronic), affirmative consent, the grant may be applied to a student’s outstanding account balance. Please note, however, that such consent, is not a condition of receipt of or eligibility for an emergency financial aid grant.
Also, the University’s Financial Aid offices are always willing to look at each student’s unique situation and may be able to offer some assistance through University loans, external scholarships, or other sources. Please refer to the Financial Aid webpages (Daytona Beach, Prescott, and Worldwide), or contact your Financial Aid Office using the information provided at the bottom of this FAQ.
Q. May I apply for an emergency financial aid grant under the American Rescue Plan if I don’t have receipts for my expenses?
A. Yes, but if you are applying for an emergency grant for exceptional need, determinations will be made by the University on a case-by-case basis, and receipts will help support your application. You will be asked to include on the application a brief statement describing your unmet financial need resulting from the coronavirus.
Q. I am a graduate student; may I apply for an emergency financial aid grant under the American Rescue Plan?
A. Yes, graduate students who meet all of the criteria are eligible to apply for an emergency financial aid grant. However, the U.S. Department of Education is encouraging institutions (Embry-Riddle) to prioritize domestic students, especially undergraduates, in allocating the funding.
Q. If I do not receive an emergency financial aid grant under the American Rescue Plan, or did not receive the full grant amount of the expenses I incurred and submitted on my application, can I appeal the amount of my emergency financial aid grant?
A. Unfortunately, due to the limited amount of funding, you were awarded the highest amount available. However, you may reach out to your campus Financial Aid Office to see if you are eligible for other assistance.
Q. If I have an additional question regarding the emergency financial aid grants (e.g. is a particular expense allowable?) that is not answered in the FAQs, who should I contact?
A. Please contact your campus Financial Aid Office; please see Financial Aid webpages (Daytona Beach, Prescott, and Worldwide), or contact them using the information provided at the bottom of this FAQ.
Q. When may I submit my application for an emergency financial aid grant?
A. For priority consideration, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. Based on funding availability, the application process will close when all funds have been disbursed. You may access the application here (application closed).
Q. When will I find out if my application has been approved, and when/how will I receive my emergency financial aid grant award?
A. The University will begin reviewing applications as they are received and will prioritize students with exceptional need. Disbursements will begin as funds are awarded and will be processed weekly. We ask for your patience as awards will be made after reviewing applications and submitted documentation, and they will be made over time based on volume and need. Grants will be awarded until the allocated funding is exhausted.
Q. If there are funds available, could I receive more than I did in the initial emergency financial aid grant award?
A. Initial grants may be capped to ensure the University can meet the greatest number of students with exception need. If there are remaining funds, eligible students may receive an additional grant – this will be communicated via email; the timing of the notification is yet to be determined.
Q. If I receive an emergency financial aid grant and have an outstanding student account balance, will the funds be applied to those charges?
A. You will receive an email from Financial Aid (Daytona Beach campus) giving you opportunity to make an election for the application of the grant award. You may select the option to apply the approved grant funds to your student account with the understanding that, if there are any remaining funds after your outstanding account balance has been satisfied, these funds will be disbursed to you. Alternatively, you may request a direct disbursement of the grant for emergency costs you incurred as a result of the coronavirus.
If you have not already signed up for direct deposit, we encourage you to do so at: https://ernie.erau.edu/Departments/bursar-daytona/Pages/Making-Payments.aspx.
Q. Aside from the emergency financial aid grant, am I eligible to receive any additional assistance from the American Rescue Plan Act?
A. The ARP Act does provide some relief to students, borrowers and parents. As each student’s specific situation may be different, we encourage you to visit the Federal Student Aid website at https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/coronavirus.
Please contact the University’s Financial Aid offices with questions regarding the emergency financial aid grants under the American Rescue Plan Act or other financial aid assistance:
Daytona Beach Campus:
Email: dbfinaid@erau.edu
Phone: (800) 943-6279
Hours: M-F 8AM - 5PM EDT
Prescott Campus:
Email: prfinaid@erau.edu
Phone: (928) 783-0397
Hours: M-F 8AM – 5PM MST
Worldwide Campus:
Email: wwfinaid@erau.edu
Phone: (866) 567-7202
Hours: M-F 8AM – 5PM EDT