TU Student Emergency Funds

The Student Emergency Grant assists TU students who are experiencing an exceptional financial crisis that impedes their academic progress and success.

Towson University has received HEERF II funding to help with educational expenses (including living expenses, technology needs, transportation, health care, mental health care, child care or emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus. 

The TU Student Emergency grants are funded from the following sources:

  • Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEERF II) funds.
  • We also have a limited amount of additional funding from the Towson University Foundation Student Emergency and Food Insecurity Grant and some additional funding from TU vendor contracts.

Students should also explore other resources, including borrowing any remaining federal student loan eligibility and parent loans. If your or your parent’s income has significantly decreased, please explore the FAFSA Special Conditions process to request a recalculation of your financial need.

Emergency Grant Application Process

Submit the online application. We will review your eligibility and demonstrated need and will award funds on a case-by-case basis.

Please carefully and truthfully complete the entire application. Completing this application does not guarantee an award. 

For fastest refunds, if you haven’t already done so, follow these DOC Account instructions to sign up for electronic refunds with the Bursars Office.

These Emergency Grant Funds are limited. Funding priority will be provided for students enrolled for spring 2021 who will incur significant additional expenses related to coronavirus.

Eligible Expenses

  • Food
  • Technology and Internet Expenses
  • Housing
  • Healthcare
  • Mental Health
  • Child Care
  • Transportation Costs
  • Books & School Supplies
  • Tuition and Fees

Frequently Asked Questions

To apply for these funds, you must be currently enrolled in Spring TU classes. Funding is limited and, therefore, prioritized for students who have exhausted all their funding options. 
Eligible students may apply online until all funds are exhausted.
You will be notified via your Towson University email.  
Award amounts will vary based on each student’s unique circumstances and your financial need, based on your completed 2020-2021 FAFSA form.
No. You will not need to repay these grant funds.
Applications are reviewed weekly. Typically you will receive notification the week after you apply. A second correspondence will include your award amount.
The total refund process can take 2 to 3 weeks.  First, the grant funds will credited to your TU Bursar’s Office Student Account.  Then, they will order a refund for the same amount using their standard refund process via Bank Mobile and the State of Maryland. After they order it, you will see an “Emergency Funds Refd AA-Doc” entry on your TU Student Account record. If you are already signed up for direct deposit, your refund will be sent to your financial institution by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).  If not, they will mail a check.  Direct deposits are normally received within 10 days after they are ordered.  Mailed checks usually take longer
Two different federal laws provided funding for Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF).  The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) created and funded the HEERF I CARES Grants and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) allocated funding for additional HEERF II Grants.
No, approved awards will not cause any reductions in your other financial aid for 2020-2021 or 2021-2022.
IRS Publication 970 explains that grants and scholarships can be taxable if your total grants, scholarships, and tuition waivers from all sources exceed your qualified expenses. Qualified expenses include tuition, mandatory course fees, and required books and supplies. Grants from the TU Foundation or other TU funds will definitely count toward these total aid calculations. Based on this IRS FAQ document, Federal HEERF Grants will not count as taxable income and should not be included in your reported gross income because they “are qualified disaster relief payments under section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code.” 
Students are only eligible to receive the grant once per academic semester.
No, your grant will be refunded to you, even if you have a balance. If you would like to use your refund to pay your balance, you may do so after you receive your refund. 
Who can I email or call for questions?For questions please call 410-704-2270 or email .