By the Numbers: Community Colleges and Higher Education Emergency Relief in 2021 — Department of Education

Summary

Department of Education fact sheet on Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) money at community colleges in 2021. Congress provided more than $76 billion through HEERF, and the American Rescue Plan included more than $10 billion for community colleges. In 2021 community colleges delivered over $4.5 billion in emergency financial aid grants, with 3.5 million students receiving an average of $1,290 each, and spent $580 million, or 11% of their institutional funds, on additional emergency aid. 94% of community colleges said HEERF let them keep at-risk students enrolled, and 51% (631 institutions) spent $540 million discharging unpaid student balances. The estimate of nearly 6 million students aided since the start of 2021 includes a projection for 2022.

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         BY THE NUMBERS: Community Colleges and Higher
                Education Emergency Relief in 2021
The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) provided historic funding to institutions of higher
     education (IHEs) and their students to prepare for, respond to, and recover from the COVID-19
pandemic. Through HEERF, Congress provided more than $76 billion in emergency assistance, including
  one of the largest infusions of support ever provided through President Biden’s American Rescue Plan
 (ARP). The ARP included more than $10 billion to community colleges. Since the start of 2021, nearly 6
   million community college students are estimated to have received direct financial aid as a result of
                                              HEERF support. 1

              Here’s how HEERF helped community colleges and their students in 2021:

HEERF Provided Critical Direct Aid to Community College Students
          In 2021, community colleges delivered over $4.5 billion in emergency financial aid grants to
          students.
          Nearly one in two community college students received a grant, with a total of 3.5 million
          students receiving an average of $1,290 each.
          Community colleges spent $580 million, or 11% of their institutional funds on additional
          emergency aid to students.

HEERF Kept Community College Students Enrolled
          94% of community colleges said HEERF allowed them to keep students who were at risk of
          dropping out enrolled by providing financial support.
          88% of community colleges stated that HEERF enabled them to keep students enrolled by
          providing them with computers and internet access.
          51% of community colleges (631 institutions) spent $540 million on discharging unpaid student
          balances.




1
  This total includes the number of students reported to have received funds in 2021 and the projected number of students who will
receive funds in 2022. To get the projected number, the Department used HEERF spending data, including spending from student
aid funds in 2022, the percentage of institutional funds spent by institutions on additional emergency aid grants, and the average
student award. The projected number may include students that received funds in both 2021 and 2022.
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund: 2021 Annual Performance Report Fact Sheets                                                   2


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