An Evaluation of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Funding for Postsecondary Institutions

In March 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, an economic stimulus package designed to address the nationwide economic crisis created by the global COVID-19 pandemic. In Fall 2020, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), NASPA—Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, and MDRC, using generous grant funding, set out to evaluate these funds and how they affected students.

In this project, we surveyed college and university administrators and conducted administrator and student focus groups to answer a number of research questions. Results include considerations for financial aid and recommendations for emergency aid programs.