CARES (HEERF) Reporting
CSUN Cares for Students Grant Summary
August 14, 2020
The CSUN Cares for Students Grant is made possible through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provides financial support to eligible students who have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. CSUN signed and returned the Certification and Agreement and is eligible to receive a total of $22,326,164 for use in providing emergency financial aid grants to students. Through July 21, 2020, the university has awarded $17,869,089 to 25,787 students who responded affirmatively to the university’s invitation to receive a grant.
- Eligible students were invited to apply for a grant by the initial priority deadline of May 15, 2020.
- Students applied online at myNorthridge portal under Financial Matters in the CSUN Cares Grant Application pagelet. Eligible students had the option to accept a pre-approved grant amount or provide justification to request a higher amount.
- To be eligible, students were required to be enrolled at CSUN during Spring 2020 in an undergraduate, graduate or professional program; be eligible to receive federal financial aid; and not be enrolled in a completely online degree program.
- During the priority award period only current Title IV financial aid recipients were identified as eligible to receive the CARES grant. A total of 26,819 students were so identified and invited to apply for a CARES grant.
- Eligible expenses included food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and other college expenses incurred as a result of COVID-19 related disruption of campus operations.
- Grant awards ranged from $154 to $1,568 based on family income as reflected by the applicant’s official Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to the student’s cost of attendance. Students with the lowest (i.e., “0”) EFC received the highest grant award. Students attending less than full-time received half the designated amount.
The university opened a second application period for other eligible students as well as students who failed to apply during the initial application period.
- Eligible students were notified by email on July 7, 2020 and were encouraged to apply by July 16, 2020.
- During the second award period only Title IV eligible financial aid recipients were identified to receive the CARES grant. Over 12,000 students were so identified and invited to apply for a CARES grant.
- Eligible expenses included food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and other college expenses incurred as a result of COVID-19 related disruption of campus operations.
- Grant awards ranged from $154 to $1,568 based. Students attending less than full-time received half the designated amount.
The university is preparing to open a third application period in early Fall 2020.
Here you will find valuable information that will connect you to various resources regarding the basic needs of students in the CSUN campus community.
As a supplement to the Verification Worksheet, the verification guide provides answers to common questions, important links and work sheet samples.
Your guide to the financial aid award process — learn about the types of funds available, average costs, and important rights and regulations.
Review the easy-to-understand loan acceptance and anticipated aid tutorials, so there isn’t a delay in receiving your financial aid funds.
Step-by-step instructions on how to obtain tax transcripts and submit proof of Selective Service registration, citizenship status, and eligible noncitizen status.
Financial aid terminology can seem like a language unto itself. Get the meaning behind the monetary jargon by looking up terms in this simple glossary.
Do you keep a personal budget? When was the last time you checked your FICO score? Let us help you get the essentials in order and answer these questions with ease.
If you need help filing your tax return, check out the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at CSUN. If you plan to prepare your own tax return, take a look at comparison reviews of online tax software before you begin the process.
Industry expert Andrew Poulos compares online tax software and reviews six leading products.
Take a look at specialized programs aimed at erasing student loans after graduation. If you're willing work in a certain area as a teacher or nurse, you may have a chance of kissing those loans goodbye.
These outside resources will help navigate your financial aid journey. Take a look at these links for further assistance.
See how many CSUN students in the 2018-2019 school year were affected by financial aid.
