SFS Announcements
You can find important updates and announcements below. Information is updated periodically, so be sure to check back.
Join SFS for a Virtual Town Hall
SFS will be holding a Town Hall Tuesday presentation covering information on the Financial Aid To Do List on September 26, 2023 at 7pm.
Student Loan Pause Extension and Debt Cancellation
Student Loan Debt Relief Is Blocked
Courts have issued orders blocking the student debt relief program. As a result, at this time applications are not being accepted. If you’ve already applied, they will hold your application. The student loan pause may be coming to an end in the coming months, check back for updates as the situation progresses.
On August 24, 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a Student Debt Relief Plan that includes one-time student loan debt relief targeted to low- and middle-income families. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) will provide up to $20,000 in debt relief to Federal Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 in debt relief to non-Pell Grant recipients. Borrowers with loans held by ED are eligible for this relief if their individual income is less than $125,000 (or $250,000 for households).
Refer to this page for details about the process and answers to the most common questions, such as the following:
- How Do I Know If I Ever Received a Federal Pell Grant?
- Which Loans Are Eligible?
- How do I know what kinds of loans I have?
Please be aware of scammers taking advantage of the federal student loan debt relief.
Here’s how to avoid student loan scammers:
- Don’t pay anyone to help you apply for loan forgiveness. Nobody can get your loans forgiven faster, even if you pay them. This program is completely free — and the only way to apply is at StudentAid.gov. Sign up for Department of Education updates to find out when the application officially opens.
- Don’t give away your FSA ID login information. If anyone says they need your FSA ID to help you, that’s a scam. Don’t do it. They can cut off contact between you and your servicer — and even steal your identity.
- Don’t trust someone who contacts you saying they’re affiliated with the Department of Education. Scammers use official-looking names, seals, and logos. They promise special access to repayment plans. None of that is real. If you’re not sure if the “offer” is legit, hang up and call your federal student loan servicer directly.
Billing Timeline for 2023 Summer Session
| Billing Notification Sent |
Full Payment |
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All Students
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Mid-May | Session I: June 5 |
Apply for Financial Aid
U.S. citizens/permanent resident students interested in applying for financial aid for academic year 2023-2024 should submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid using UD's school code of 001431.
Student Health Insurance
Full-time undergraduate, non-contracted full-time graduate, contracted graduate, and international students are required to have health insurance, and UD provides a student plan into which they can be enrolled automatically.
Health insurance charges are billed to the student account, but can be waived. Visit University Health Plans to waive the UD Health Plan or to enroll. Fall 2023 Semester waiver deadline: September 15.
ARP HEERF III Emergency Financial Aid Grant to Students
The University of Delaware is estimated to receive $16,130,671 in HEERF funding for the allocation of ermergency grants to students.
Students who are or were enrolled at an eligible institution of higher education on or after March 13, 2020, the date of declaration of the national emergency due to the coronavirus are eligible for emergency financial aid grants from HEERF, regardless of Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) filing status.
Institutions are directed to prioritize students with exceptional need (such as those receiving Pell grants) in the allocating of ARP funds. Exceptional need may also include eligibility for other federal or state need-based aid, reduced income or loss of employment for the student or student's family, or food/housing insecurity.
International, DACA, and undocumented students may receive HEERF funding, if exceptional need is demonstrated. The Department of Education encourages institutions to prioritize domestic students, especially undergraduates, in allocating this funding.
Institutions may not
- condition the receipt of emergency financial aid grants to students on continued or future enrollment in the institution,
- use the emergency financial aid grants to satisfy a student's outstanding account balance unless it has obtained the student's written or electronic affirmative consent, or
- require such consent as a condition of the receipt of or eligibility for the emergency financial aid grants.
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 the coronovirus emergency, such as food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care.
Emergency financial aid grants are not financial aid, and they are provided to the students to determine how the grants are used. An institution must receive affirmative written or electronic consent from a student before applying any portion of an emergency financial aid grant to the student's outstanding account balance. An institution may not compel a student to use any portion of his/her grant to satisfy any existing debts.
If a student does not request a refund of the emergency financial aid grant by a reasonable date communicated to the student by the institution, the institution may reverse the grant from the account and redistribute the funds to other eligible students. Institutions should engage in reasonable attempts to contact a student prior to reversing grant funds, and should document the procedures, policies, and student contact efforts as part of its HEERF grant administration.
Initial
As of July 19, 2021, the University awarded $10,129,300 to 16,617 students.
30 Day
The University's total HEERF III awarded to students was $10,424,150 as of August 18, 2021. This money was spread across 16,800 student accounts. As of that date, 3,158 students had accepted $2,281,017 in HEERF funds.
Quarter 3 2021
HEERF III was awarded to 21,653 UD students and amounted to $13,581,700 as of September 30, 2021. Of those funds, $8,423,866 has been accepted by 11,999 students.
75 Day
HEERF funding in the amount of $13,581,700 has been awarded to 21,653 students as of October 2, 2021. A total of 14,827 students have claimed $10,102,276 of that amount.
120 Day
The University's total HEERF III awarded to students was $13,079,921 as of November 16, 2021, and this was offered to 16,581 students. As of that date, 16,603 students had accepted $12,653,871 in HEERF funds.
165 Day / Quarter 4 2021
HEERF III was awarded to 17,761 UD students and amounted to $14,149,171 as of December 31, 2021. Of those funds, $13,401,121 has been accepted by 17,385 students.
210 Day
The University's HEERF III expenditures as of February 14, 2022 was $16,270,071 awarded to 18,920 students. There were 17,665 students who claimed $14,234,071 in HEERF III funds as of that date.
255 Day / Quarter 1 2022
As of March 31, 2022, $15,862,252 in HEERF III funds have been offered to 18,227 students. Of those funds, $14,700,552 has been accepted by 17,898 students.
300 Day
HEERF III was awarded to 18,231 UD students as of May 11, 2022. Total amount awarded was $16,121,352. The number of students accepting HEERF III funding was 17,937 for total funds of $14,937,102.
HEERF III Grant Closure
The University has provided the full allocation of HEERF III Grant funding to UD students and the fund is closed.
University of Delaware Quarterly Expenditure Reporting Requirement
HEERF II - Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA)
As part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), the University of Delaware is estimated to receive $6.08M for student support. UD is awarding these funds to students based on program guidance and more information is included below.
The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) is authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump on December 27, 2020. In total, the CRRSAA authorizes $81.88 billion in support for education, in additiona to the $30.75 billing former Secretary DeVos expeditiously provided last spring through the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136. Additional information can be found on the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) Office of Postsecondary Education website.
Using ED's guidance, along with the CARES Act legislative language, the following guidelines have been developed in determining eligibility and allowable uses for the HEERF student share.
Unlike the CARES Act, the CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants, in awarding financial aid grants to students. However, Pell eligibility or receipt is not required to receive CRRSAA funding. In addition, CRRSAA explicitly provides that financial aid grants may be provided to students exclusively enrolled in distance education.
The June 17, 2020 Interim Final Rule (IFR) (85 FR 36494), which limited student eligibility for emergency funding under the CARES Act to students who are or could be eligible to participate in the Department's Title IV federal student financial aid programs under HEA Section 484, apply to HEERF programs under CARES and is not applicable to CRRSAA funds. The IFR and its implementing regulation, 34 CFR § 668.2, apply only to funds made available under the CARES Act and not to funds made available under CRRSAA.
Regarding CRRSAA financial aid grants, institutions may not
- condition the receipt of financial aid grants to students on continued or future enrollment in the institution,
- use the financial aid grants to satisfy a student's outstanding account balance, unless it has obtained the student's written (or electronic) affirmative consent, or
- require such consent as a condition of receipt of or eligibility for the financial aid grant.
Financial aid grants for students may be used for any component of the student's 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.
The funds will be applied directly to a student's account. After obtaining the student's written (or electronic) affirmative consent, the student may leave the funds on the student account; otherwise, the student may elect to take the funds as a refund. The Department believes that allowing students to consent to the application of a CRRSAA financial aid grant to their student accounts would facilitate use of funds, if desired by the student, while retaining the student's discretion to determine what costs should be covered with these financial aid grant funds.
Q: Does the student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) need to be completed in order to disburse HEERF student funds to the student?
A: While ED's guidance does not require a FAFSA, the FAFSA is the quickest and easiest way to confirm a student is eligible to participate in Title IV programs and meets all applicable eligibility requirements. As such, UD has limited CRRSAA funding to FAFSA filers.
Q: What eligibility criteria are in section 484 of the Higher Education Act (HEA)?
A: Section 484 of the HEA states that Title IV eligible students must
- be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree or certificate program
- not be enrolled in elementary or secondary school
- if currently enrolled, be making satisfactotry academic progress
- not owe an overpayment on Title IV grants or loans
- not be in default on a Title IV loan
- file "as part of the original financial aid application process" a certification that includes
- a statement of educational purpose
- student's SSN
- be a U.S. citizen or national, permanent resident, or other eligible noncitizen
- have returned fraudulently obtained Title IV funds if convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to charges
- not have fraudulently received Title IV loans in excess of annual or aggregate limits
- have repaid Title IV loan amounts in excess of annual or aggregate limites if obtained inadvertently
- have Selective Service registration verified
- have social security number verified
- not have a federal or state conviction for drug possession or sale, with certain time limitations.
Q: How will UD determine which students receive emergency grants and the amount of each grant?
A: ED encourages institutions to prioritize awarding of emergency grants to students with the greatest need. Information on UD's grant amounts by student population can be found in the table below.
CRRSAA Reporting Information
Quarter 1 2021 Reporting Requirement
As of March 31, 2021, UD had awarded $5,862,750 in CRRSAA funds to 10,381 students, and 4,696 students have claimed $2,859,200 in CRRSAA funding.
CRRSAA Reporting Information
30 Day Reporting Requirement
On March 19, 2021, the University awarded 10,837 students $5,862,250 in CRRSAA funding. As of April 18, 2021, UD had 5,695 students request $3,095,355 in CRRSAA money be refunded to them.
CRRSAA Reporting Information
75 Day Reporting Requirement
As of June 2, 2021, UD had 6,128 students request $3,356,455 in CRRSAA money be refunded to them. This was out of 10,870 students who had been awarded $5,968,750 in funding.
CRRSAA Reporting Information
Quarter 2 2021 Reporting Requirement
As of June 30, 2021, UD had awarded $5,536,100 in CRRSAA funds to 9,719 students, and 7,908 students have claimed $4,333,547 in CRRSAA funding.
CRRSAA Reporting Information
120 Day Reporting Requirement
As of July 17, 2021, UD had awarded $5,711,650 in CRRSAA funding to 10,032 students. As of that date, 8,066 students had claimed $4,429,029 of these funds.
CRRSAA Reporting Information
165 Day Reporting Requirement
As of August 31, 2021, UD had awarded $5,121,147 in CRRSAA funding to 9,057 students. As of that date, 8,401 students have claimed $4,692,067 of these funds.
CRRSAA Reporting Information
Quarter 3 2021 Reporting Requirement
As of September 30, 2021, UD had awarded $5,208,637 in CRRSAA funds to 9,174 students, and 8,945 students have claimed $5,014,203 in CRRSAA funding.
CRRSAA Reporting Information
210 Day Reporting Requirement
As of October 15, 2021, UD had awarded $5,223,137 in CRRSAA funds to 9,193 students. As of that date, 8,672 students have claimed $4,861,235 of these funds.
CRRSAA Reporting Information
255 Day Reporting Requirement
As of November 29, 2021, UD had awarded $5,755,805 in CRRSAA funds to 9,219 students. As of that date, 9,034 students have claimed $5,507,311 of these funds.
CRRSAA Reporting Information
Quarter 4 2021 Reporting Requirement
As of December 31, 2021, UD had awarded $5,940,855 in CRRSAA funds to 9,258 students, and 9,244 students have claimed $5,792,280 in CRRSAA funding.
CRRSAA Reporting Information
300 Day Reporting Requirement
As of January 13, 2022, UD had awarded $5,988,055 in CRRSAA funds to 9,258 students. As of that date, 9,245 students have claimed $5,806,480 of these funds.
CRRSAA Reporting Information
345 Day Reporting Requirement
As of February 27, 2022, UD had awarded $6,068,315 in CRRSAA funds to 9,278 students. As of that date, 9,256 students have claimed $5,875,840 of these funds.
CRRSAA Reporting Information
Quarter 1 2022 Reporting Requirement
As of March 31, 2022, UD had awarded $6,068,315 in CRRSAA funds to 9,279 students, and 9,258 students have claimed $5,899,240 in CRRSAA funding.
CRRSAA Reporting Information
390 Day Reporting Requirement
As of April 13, 2022, UD had awarded $6,076,315 in CRRSAA funds to 9,278 students. As of that date, 9,258 students have claimed $5,908,490 of these funds.
CRRSAA Reporting Information
CRRSAA Grant Closure
The University has provided the full allocation of CRRSAA Grant funding to UD students and the fund is closed.
University of Delaware Quarterly Reporting Requirement
CARES Act Reporting Information
30 Day Reporting Requirement
On April 22, 2020, the University of Delaware signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the Department of Education (ED) to receive CARES funding and intends to use at least 50% of the CARES Act funds received for emergency grants to UD students.
The University of Delaware received $6,087,405 in CARES Act funding from ED for emergency grant distribution to eligible students.
The total amount of emergency grants distributed to students as of May 18, 2020, was $2,496,897, to 5,220 students. All told, $5,940,300 was made accessible to 13,493 eligible students (the number of UD Title IV eligible students under Section 484 of the Higher Education Act). For students who have not completed the process required to determine Title IV eligibility or have higher expenses than the amount of the official CARES emergency grant, SFS is working closely with the Office of the Dean of Students to provide additional assistance until funding has been depleted.
The method used to determine which students received the emergency grants and how much they received was based on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) according to the following table.
| EFC | Estimated Grant Amount | |
| up to $6,000 | $800 | |
| $6,001 - $20,000 | $500 | |
| $20,001 - $50,000 | $300 | |
| $50,001+ | $150 |
Eligible students were notified via email to the student (on May 11, 2020) and to the parent/guardian on record (on May 13, 2020) of the emergency grant assistance available. The communication advised students to refer to their student accounts for grant award amounts and to request the funds be sent to them either via direct deposit or check to their current address.
Students were informed these funds cannot remain on the student account to reduce balances due to the University. The University also required students to certify their eligibility for the grant funds by listing the amount of eligible COVID-19-related expenses the grant would offset. Examples provided to the students to assist in determining cost-of-attendance-related expenses resulting from COVID-19 included food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, child care, and transportation from campus to home. Students were able to request grant refunds to the lesser of the amount of the grant on their student account or the amount of eligible expenses certified.
CARES Act Reporting Information
75 Day Reporting Requirement
As of July 6, 2020, UD had 10,358 students awarded $4,682,246 of the $6,087,405 in CARES Grant Emergency funding awarded to them. A total of 10,333 students have requested $4,668,756 of these funds. Students who have not yet requested an emergency grant may do so by submitting a request to askSFS, including the expenses and amount requested. (Note: Approved grant amounts may differ from the amount requested and will be based on funds available and the original grant eligibility, determined by EFC.)
Below is a list of eligible expenses. Documentation may be required for requested expenses.
- Food
- Housing (e.g., rent)
- Moving expenses (e.g., storage)
- Technology for online classes
- Transportation (e.g., unanticipated travel costs)
- Child care
- Student's COVID-related healthcare and medical expenses
CARES Act Reporting Information
120 Day Reporting Requirement
As of August 20, 2020, UD had awarded $4,953,205 of the $6,087,405 in CARES Grant Emergency Funds to 10,873 students. Of the amount awarded, 10,470 students have received funds totalling $4,759,013. The latest round of CARES Grant awards included $500 CARES Grant funds for students eligible for the federal Pell Grant, or those with Expected Family Contributions (EFCs) from the FAFSA of $6,000 or less, who were enrolled in Spring 2020 and Fall 2020. In addition, students who did not request their spring allocations of $150-$800 were offered their initial spring amounts.
Any remaining funds after October 1 will be reallocated based on levels from spring.
CARES ACT REPORTING INFORMATION
CARES Grant Closure
UD has provided the full allocation of $6,085,604 in CARES Grants to 10,734 students. The fund is closed.