View Rasmussen University's Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting Reports:
June 30, 2021
April 8, 2021
January 10, 2021
October 28, 2020

View Rasmussen University's Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reports:
June 30, 2021
April 8, 2021
January 8, 2021
October 10, 2020
July 20, 2020
June 5, 2020

About the CARES Act and its Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)

What is the CARES Act and how does it relate to Rasmussen University?

As part of the Federal Government response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act — signed into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act allots more than $2 trillion in economic assistance to “provide fast and direct economic assistance for American workers, families, and small businesses, and preserves jobs for our American industries.”

Approximately $14 billion in CARES Act funds are allocated via the Department of Education to higher education in the form of a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). The Department of Education will be distributing a total of $12.56 billion from HEERF to institutions, including Rasmussen University, using a formula based on student enrollment.

How did the Department of Education determine how much each institution will receive from the HEERF?

The formula used to determine the amount from the HEERF provided to students is based on an institution’s share of full-time equivalent enrollments “not enrolled exclusively in distance education prior to the coronavirus emergency” including both students who are recipients of the needs-based Pell Grant and those who are not Pell Grant recipients.

How much of the HEERF is allocated to Rasmussen University students?

The CARES Act stipulates that “of the amount allocated to each institution under this formula, at least 50 percent must be reserved to provide students with emergency financial aid grants to help cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.”

Based on the above-referenced calculation, the amount from the HEERF allocated for Rasmussen University students is $11,388,948.

How does Rasmussen intend to allocate the HEERF?

Rasmussen University received the funds in two allocations. Per the requirements outlined by the Department of Education, 50% of the funds must be awarded to eligible students in the form of Emergency Financial Aid Grants; specifically to eligible students that were in a residential program and transitioned to fully online delivery for the Spring 2020 quarter due to the pandemic. The majority of the remaining institutional allocation will be used to implement tools and platforms that have supported the transition of those students who were not studying exclusively online before the pandemic and to cover institutional expenses related to the pandemic.

(Updated 5/1/2021) Rasmussen University will be awarding the remaining institutional funds from the CARES Act to eligible students in the form of Emergency Financial Aid grants in early May 2021.

Rasmussen University’s Student Emergency Financial Aid Grant Policy and Process

What is an Emergency Financial Aid Grant?

As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law on Friday, March 27, 2020, funding has been made available to institutions for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students for certain allowable expenses related to educational disruptions due to the coronavirus.

Who is eligible to receive an Emergency Financial Aid Grant?

In order to be eligible for emergency financial aid grants, students must satisfy each of the following eligibility categories: (1) Eligible Program, (2) Eligible Enrollment Status, (3) Title IV Eligibility, and (4) Eligible Expenses. Rasmussen University reserves the right to change this criteria. Future emergency financial aid grants may be awarded using different criteria.

1. Eligible Programs: Guidance from the U.S. Department of Education clarified that students enrolled exclusively in an online program on March 13, 2020—the date of the national emergency proclamation—are not eligible for emergency financial aid grants. Rasmussen University has determined that its residential programs are eligible for emergency financial grants. Residential programs are identified as programs offered at a physical campus location which require a lab or clinical/externship/practicum component to be delivered in person at a time when there are no disruptions to campus operations. 1
• Students enrolled in an online program during Winter Quarter 2020 who have since transferred to a residential program are NOT eligible for emergency financial aid grants.
• Students enrolled in online programs during Winter Quarter 2020 are NOT eligible for emergency financial aid grants even if they took some coursework residentially.


2. Eligible Enrollment Status: Students must meet any one of the enrollment status conditions below to be eligible for emergency financial aid grants.
• Students enrolled in the Winter Quarter 2020
  • Student had an enrollment category status of ACTIVE on 3/13/20 (date of Declaration of National Emergency) and remain ACTIVE
  • Student had an enrollment category status of ACTIVE on 3/13/20, moved to an enrollment status of SHORT TERM LEAVE RETURN with a status change reason of PANDEMIC and is expected to return to Rasmussen University to complete additional courses on or before 7/6/20
  • Student had an enrollment category status of ACTIVE on 3/13/20, moved to an enrollment status of MEDICAL LEAVE, MEDICAL LEAVE 2 QUARTERS, MEDICAL LEAVE EXTENDED, MEDICAL LEAVE RETURN or EXTENDED QUARTER BREAK STOP OUT with a status change reason of PANDEMIC
  • Student had an enrollment status category of ACTIVE on 3/13/20 and withdrew from the University with a status change reason of PANDEMIC
• April 2020 starts and re-enters
  • Student has an enrollment status category of ACTIVE
  • Student has an enrollment status of SHORT TERM LEAVE RETURN with a status change reason of PANDEMIC and is expected to return to Rasmussen University to complete additional courses on or before 7/6/20
  • Student has an enrollment status of MEDICAL LEAVE, MEDICAL LEAVE 2 QUARTERS, MEDICAL LEAVE EXTENDED, MEDICAL LEAVE RETURN or EXTENDED QUARTER BREAK STOP OUT with a status change reason of PANDEMIC
  • Student withdrew from the University with a status change reason of PANDEMIC


3. Title IV Eligibility: Students must be eligible or could be eligible to participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs. To prove Title IV eligibility, a student must meet all requirements below:
• 2019-20 ISIR on file with valid EFC
• Satisfactory Academic Progress standards met (i.e. cannot be in a SAP NO AID status)
• No unsolved C-Codes on the ISIR (i.e. not in a C-Code hold group)
• Completed the verification process if selected for the V4 or V5 verification tracking groups
• Received an acceptance letter to Rasmussen University


4. Eligible Expenses: Students must have “expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare).” Students must attest to having eligible expenses by completing and submitting the CARES ACT EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANTS STUDENT ATTESTATION FORM.

(Updated 5/3/2021) Rasmussen University will prioritize students with exceptional need by allocating any remaining funds from the CARES Act or CRRSAA to active, accepted students (not including February 2021 or April 2021 starts) enrolled in any program (residential and fully on-line) except the DNP with a zero Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as established under the eligibility criteria for CRRSAA.

What does a student have to do to receive their grant? (Updated 6/26/2020)

Eligible students were instructed to complete and electronically submit the Student Attestation form no later than June 20. Rasmussen University accepted the Attestation through June 23. If the Attestation was not signed by this date, then students can no longer qualify. However, there may be additional emergency funds available at a later date. If you are determined eligible for these additional funds, you will be notified via email. Please monitor your email on a regular basis.

It is important to note, that submission of the Attestation Form does not guarantee receipt of a grant or any specific amount of funds. A student’s eligibility may be voided if they are found to have misrepresented their circumstances by signing and submitting the Attestation Form or may no longer meet the established criteria.

How much money will a student receive if eligible for an emergency aid grant? (Updated 6/26/2020)

Rasmussen University distributed grants in the amount of $815 per student for students who qualified and returned their CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grant Student Attestation Form by June 23. Because additional funds were available, this same group of students will receive an additional $300 emergency aid grant, which will be distributed by Thursday, July 2, 2020. Grant amounts are subject to change based on the availability of funds and will be distributed per allocation terms.

(Updated 5/3/2021) Eligible students will receive an Emergency Financial Aid grant in the amount of $200. The funds will be distributed to students by Friday, May 7, 2021, via BankMobile.

What can an Emergency Aid Grant be used for?

Students may only use grant funds to pay the costs of attendance (food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care) related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.

(Updated 5/3/2021) Emergency Financial Aid Grants 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 childcare.

When will a student receive their grant?

Grant funds will be distributed within 10 business days from the date your Attestation is received.

How will an emergency aid grant be delivered?

Rasmussen University partners with BankMobile to disburse financial aid and other school refunds to students. Additional information is available on the Student Portal (Resources>Business Office>BankMobile and FAQ). If students have not previously made a selection with BankMobile, a paper check will be delivered.