UPDATED - As of February 25, 2021, 100% of CARES II funding has been distributed to students.
CSU Bakersfield degree-seeking students will receive emergency grants to help address the hardships caused by the coronavirus pandemic and to continue their education. The grants follow the first round of federal and CSUB support, issued to students during the spring 2020 semester.
Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), CSU Bakersfield has received a total of $22,855,632. Of that sum, $10,571,500 will be disbursed to students in the form of Emergency Financial Aid Grants. CSUB will distribute a total of $906,000 to students ineligible for the federal grants.
The federal support also covers a portion of unbudgeted costs and lost revenue associated with the disruption of campus activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CRRSAA funding contains strict requirements for student eligibility. A total of 9,070 students were identified as eligible for the federal grants. Another 1,721 students who were ineligible for the federal aid will receive CSUB support.
Student Eligibility
All students enrolled in a degree-seeking program at CSU Bakersfield as of February 19, 2021, are eligible for federal or CSUB grants. CSU Bakersfield identified three subsets of its student population:
- Students with the greatest financial need, who receive maximum state and/or federal aid
- Students with moderate financial need
- All other students without regard to prior state and/or federal aid received
Students with the greatest financial need. These students were identified using a combination of existing measures of high financial need, based on 2020-2021 FAFSA documents (including maximum Pell award recipient, Estimated Family Contribution of $0, etc.) Students in this category were eligible for the maximum award amount based on enrollment status.
Students with moderate financial need. These students were identified using a combination of existing measures of financial need, based on 2020-2021 FAFSA documents and Expected Family Contribution (EFC) less than $5,713. A proportion of students received some financial aid but also pay out of pocket for educational expenses.
All other students. Students who are ineligible for CRRSAA funding, including DACA students, international students, AB 540 students, and students who did not submit 2020-21 FAFSA documents, will still receive a financial aid grant amount. However, these student financial aid grants will be provided through CSUB funds and not from CRRSAA funds. This distribution was based on enrollment status.
Establishment of Emergency Financial Aid Grant Amount
CSU Bakersfield established a minimum grant amount that would be automatically awarded to every enrolled student eligible for federal financial aid without requiring an application process. Grant aid awards were as follows:
| Enrollment | Greatest Need Based on 2020-21 FAFSA (Based on FAFSA with Zero EFC) | Moderate Need Based on 2020-21 FAFSA (Based on 2020-21 Academic Year FAFSA Pell Grant Eligible EFC <5712) | All other degree seeking students * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full time | $1,600.00 | $1,200.00 | $600.00 |
| Three-quarter time | $1,200.00 | $900.00 | $450.00 |
| Half time | $800.00 | $600.00 | $300.00 |
| Less than Half time | $400.00 | $300.00 | $150.00 |
| * Including DACA students, international students, AB540 students, and students who did not submit 2020-21 FAFSA documents. | |||
All students enrolled in a degree-seeking program at CSU Bakersfield as of February 19, 2021, are eligible for federal or CSUB grants. CSU Bakersfield identified three subsets of its student population:
- Students with the greatest financial need, who receive maximum state and/or federal aid
- Students with moderate financial need
- All other students without regard to prior state and/or federal aid received
Please consult the chart below and find where you fit. That will give you your award amount.
| Enrollment | Greatest Need based on 2020-21 FAFSA | Moderate Need Based on 2020-21 FAFSA | All other degree seeking students * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full time | $1,600.00 | $1,200.00 | $600.00 |
| Three-quarter time | $1,200.00 | $900.00 | $450.00 |
| Half time | $800.00 | $600.00 | $300.00 |
| Less than Half time | $400.00 | $300.00 | $150.00 |
| * Including DACA students, International Students, AB540 Students, and students who did not submit 2020-21 FAFSA |