Students at Maryland Colleges and Universities to Benefit From Federal CARES Act

Maryland's congressional delegation said Monday that the state's colleges and universities will receive over $170 million in federal aid through a measure in the CARES Act that Congress passed late last month. U.S. Sens. Chirs Van Hollen (D-Md.), Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) and Reps. Steny H. Hoyer, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Andrew P. Harris, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David J. Trone jointly announced that Maryland is in line for $170,544,958 in funding, half of which is to be applied directly to assistance efforts for students confronting emergency expenses in the face of the public health crisis. "The coronavirus has upended the lives of students across our state," the lawmakers said in a joint statement. "These funds will provide targeted relief to students, and longer-term assistance to our colleges and universities, to help them weather this storm." Students enrolled in University System of Maryland institutions are to receive a combined $40,253,827; other public university students will collect $6,222,058; community college students will be awarded $26,942,996 in aid; and private, non-profit school students will net $11,351,623 in assistance. The state's HBCUs will see $11,065,055 in assistance from this pot of money. The news release said that additional "dedicated assistance" for HBCUs and minority serving institutions has been allocated under the CARES Act, as well, and will be announced soon.