Financial Resources

UNC CHARLOTTE STUDENT EMERGENCY FUND

  • The UNC Charlotte Student Emergency Fund helps by providing financial support when you need assistance with unexpected, unforeseen and unavoidable emergency expenses, including pandemics. Currently-enrolled students can apply for the UNC Charlotte Student Emergency Fund here.
  • For those who are able, there is still time to make a donation to the Student Emergency Fund. To date, the University has awarded approximately $600,000 to more than 1,700 students thanks to the generosity of donors. However, additional emergency financial need for our students will continue to exist. All donations go to meeting that need.

Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF)

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), and American Rescue Plan (ARP) provided approximately $59.2 million in funding to UNC Charlotte for distribution to qualifying undergraduate and graduate students to help cover expenses related to the disruption of spring 2020 campus operations due to COVID-19. The CARES, CRRSAA, and ARP acts also provided $79.8 million in funding to the University to partially offset the costs associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to COVID-19 (Institutional Portion and Strengthening Institutions Program). This funding was allocated in accordance with guidelines and requirements provided by the U.S. Department of Education. 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.

View additional information and our FAQ here.

At this time, our Higher Education Emergency Funds have been exhausted and we are no longer accepting applications. If you have an emergency funding issue, please notify the Financial Aid Office via email at FinAid@uncc.edu.

Reporting and Disclosure

  • UNC Charlotte acknowledges it signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the Certification and Agreement on April 13, 2020 for the CARES Act, and the Certification and Agreement on March 3, 2021 for the CRRSA Act and the Certification and Agreement on May 17, 2021 for the ARP Act, and gives the assurance that UNC Charlotte has used or intends to use:
    • No less than 50% of the funds received under section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSA Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students from it’s HEERF I allocation.
    • No less than 50% of the funds received under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students from its HEERF II allocation.
    • No less than 50% of the funds received under section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students from its HEERF III allocation.
  • ​UNC Charlotte has received $59,203,273 in HEERF I, II, and III funds from the Department of Education to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
  • HEERF student grants have been distributed as follows:
    • As of July 21, 2021, UNC Charlotte has distributed $12,155,279 as HEERF grants to 9,541 students.
      • This is the UNC Charlotte’s final quarterly posting and covers all remaining HEERF fund expenditures for HEERF I Student Portion. All HEERF I Student Portion funds have been fully spent.
    • As of November 29, 2021, UNC Charlotte has distributed $12,155,279 as HEERF II grants to 12,288 students.
      • This is UNC Charlotte’s final quarterly posting and covers all remaining HEERF fund expenditures for the HEERF II Student Portion ($12,155,279). All HEERF II Student Portion funds have been fully spent.
    • As of Jan. 31, 2023, UNC Charlotte has distributed $34,892,715 as HEERF III grants to 17,564 students.

  • ​The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, was 18,949. The total number of students eligible under the CRRSAA and ARP programs as of Fall 2021 is approximately 30,146.

  • UNC Charlotte used a variety of means to determine which students received Emergency Financial Aid Grants. This included identifying students with extreme financial need through the use of FAFSA data, along, with referrals from Student Assistance and Support Services, International Studies, and an emergency HEERF application. Funds were used to minimize increases to the cost of attendance, increase summer enrollment to accelerate degree completion and assist in enrolling, retaining low-income, rural and underrepresented students.

  • The instructions, directions, and guidance provided by UNC Charlotte to all students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants were sent via University email and published on this website.
  • UNC Charlotte has distributed $1,675,140 of Institutional HEERF II and III funds, in addition to the Student Portion above, to provide additional Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

Institutional Reports

Student Emergency Financial Aid Grant Reports

Governors Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER)

UNC Charlotte has been granted $727,808 from the Governors Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER), which is a program of the Education Stabilization Fund created by the CARES Act and administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The funds will be used entirely for student aid to help current students be able to continue their education.

This direct student aid was provided to undergraduate and graduate students who are N.C. residents, who were currently enrolled in a degree-granting program, who were in good academic standing, and who required financial assistance. As of May 20, 2021, UNC Charlotte has distributed $721,850 in GEER funds to 665 students.

Emergency Broadband Benefit

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program to help students and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

Please visit Emergency Broadband Benefit for eligibility details and additional information.

Reconsideration Requests

Reconsideration requests

can allow the Financial Aid office to update certain information on your FAFSA to better reflect the actual household income and size. Since your financial aid offer for 2021-2022 is based on 2019 tax information for your household, if the income has unexpectedly decreased since that time, submitting a Reconsideration Request could be beneficial to your financial aid eligibility. Here are some things to consider if you are interested in completing a Reconsideration Request:

  • If you feel that your current financial circumstances are not reflected correctly in your 2019 tax return, complete this form to request a reconsideration.
  • Examples of circumstances that may warrant a Reconsideration are: unexpected job loss, death of parent or spouse, separation or divorce of parents, high unreimbursed medical and dental bills, and receipt of one-time payments.
  • Graduate students are not eligible for Reconsideration since they may be eligible for unsubsidized loans only.
  • Please note: Reconsideration requests can take up to 6 weeks to process.