/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/TL3SWAS2NVDPVCAACJW77I3OEQ.JPG "Walkways at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg were free of students on a Tuesday in October, during a school year defined by pandemic restrictions. The school, along with other colleges and universities, received another round of federal aid funds this week.")
The U.S. Department of Education announced Wednesday that more than $36 billion in emergency grants will be made available to more than 5,000 universities and colleges under the latest round of pandemic-related federal aid.
The money, including more than $250 million to Tampa Bay area schools, will be distributed through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III under the American Rescue Plan Act.
The act was signed into law in March and an additional $3 billion will be distributed later to historically black colleges and universities and other institutions serving underrepresented populations.
On Wednesday, the office of U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announced the University of South Florida would receive about $102.3 million, Hillsborough Community College nearly $61 million and the University of Tampa about $18.4 million. The funds come in addition to federal relief funds received earlier in the pandemic.
Half of each institution’s allocation must be used for emergency financial aid grants to students and the rest may be used for institutional purposes. Undocumented and international students will be eligible for financial aid, though the Department of Education “encourages institutions to prioritize domestic students, especially undergraduates, in allocating this funding.”
The funding “will directly benefit students at the University of South Florida who have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” USF president Steve Currall said in a news release. “A top priority for USF throughout the pandemic has been the continuity of academic instruction and critical services to support the success of our students. We are grateful to receive this additional support, especially through funding to offset the financial strain on our students.”
Hillsborough Community College president Ken Atwater said he hopes the aid will expand access for students impacted by the pandemic.
The news follows a Board of Governor’s meeting Tuesday, where officials said they expected a $137 million increase to their base budget, a better showing than anticipated during the pandemic.
Below is a breakdown of how local and state schools fared under the latest round of federal funding:
University of South Florida:
Total: $102,286,829
Minimum for student aid: $52,005,995
Hillsborough Community College:
Total: $60,701,920
Minimum for student aid: $31,375,426
University of Tampa:
Total: $18,395,344
Minimum for student aid: $9,197,672
Eckerd College:
Total: $4,024,678
Minimum for student aid: $2,012,339
Saint Leo University:
Total: $19,559,452
Minimum for student aid: $11,145,277
St. Petersburg College:
Total: $50,253,543
Minimum for student aid: $26,996,523
Stetson University:
Total: $9,319,255
Minimum for student aid: $4,660,216
University of Central Florida:
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/SFA5GAXLCZAUJOIDJCKMUZVQ7Q.JPG "Follow what’s happening in Tampa Bay schools")
Follow what’s happening in Tampa Bay schools
Subscribe to our free Gradebook newsletter
You’re all signed up!
Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.
Explore all your optionsTotal: $155,298,007
Minimum for student aid: $79,272,544
Florida International University:
Total: $120,768,382
Minimum for student aid: $62,758,318
University of Florida:
Total: $87,792,683
Minimum for student aid: $44,650,958
Florida State University:
Total: $80,031,431
Minimum for student aid: $40,187,282
Florida Atlantic University:
Total: $69,493,600
Minimum for student aid: $35,212,944
Florida A&M University:
Total: $36,545,028
Minimum for student aid: $18,272,514
University of North Florida:
Total: $35,059,046
Minimum for student aid: $17,699,018
Florida Gulf Coast University:
Total: $32,717,572
Minimum for student aid: $16,473,366
University of West Florida:
Total: $21,806,483
Minimum for student aid: $11,269,751
Florida Polytechnic University:
Total: $3,243,561
Minimum for student aid: $1,621,781
New College:
Total: $2,157,665
Minimum for student aid: $1,078,833
RELATED: How much is your Florida college getting from the second stimulus bill?
RELATED: Florida schools get $173 million in federal coronavirus aid
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/be501f58-b734-40f6-b74d-2a1b0c2a46d7.png "Divya Kumar - Higher Education and Nonprofits Reporter")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/Xh2ju9vEMqdqVjxLJhKn63aglaw=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/46LG45FQH27AWBMMQM44XCL3KI.jpg "DeSantis vows to restore the name of Fort Bragg, named for confederate")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/4-bmqmDwTedqZTmfuXlM-gyuxVg=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/W6DBAWJXWQTQZCYRLLZL76WEYM.jpg "Barack Obama’s limitations, Christopher Rufo’s ego and Trump on ‘woke’ | Readings and excerpts")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/YMmTIMcxCFNMUTjUKadvj1D1pfw=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/XFUM6ZOSCFDAZMM324L3XMDAZY.jpg "6-story condo in New Port Richey to replace aging hotel")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/3WWLSNAZV2BZIIK2C7JTW36SLA.jpg "Suspicions follow delay of Florida Black history conference")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/YYDAINSNTVENXBUOS3FATPZHYU.JPG "USF receives $10 million donation for entrepreneurship center")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/X6UPTQBCRBGBTLQBOUK3NKXE54.jpg "Late, skimpy, unsafe: St. Petersburg fires kids’ summer food vendor")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/H2RJDYRQ6JDSVHYKFDKHYDSG5U.jpg "USF lab will be the first in Florida to create human trafficking database")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/KCS2373LPVATDF7AT65HGYNPSI.png "Can USF afford the Bulls’ $340 million on-campus football stadium?")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/YO62HQP7SFCF3EWTGFCDE7VDCM.JPG "Florida teachers self-censor school books to deal with new state law")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/I5QFM2SZDJXZYSWWFOD4XU5R7U.jpg "Legislator with no higher education experience tapped to lead South Florida State College")