Hardship Grants for College Students: How Emergency Aid Typically Works

Hardship grants for college students are usually short-term, emergency funds meant to help you stay enrolled when a financial crisis hits, such as sudden job loss, medical expenses, or housing problems. These grants are typically one-time payments and do not have to be repaid.

HowToGetAssistance.org is an informational site only; you must use official school or government channels to apply for any program.

Most hardship grants come from your college or university, not from a general federal program. The fastest path is almost always to contact your school’s financial aid office or student emergency fund and ask about “emergency” or “hardship” grants.

Quick summary: Hardship grants at a glance

  • Source: Usually your college’s financial aid office, student affairs, or a campus emergency fund.
  • Common uses: Rent, utilities, food, transportation, books, medical costs, technology replacement.
  • Who qualifies: Typically students with unexpected financial crises that threaten enrollment.
  • How to start:Contact your financial aid office and search your school’s website for “student emergency fund” or “hardship grant.”
  • Key documents: Proof of expenses, short explanation of hardship, financial aid information.
  • What to expect: Small, one-time awards, often paid directly to your student account or as a refund.

Does a Hardship Grant Apply to You?

Hardship grants are usually meant for urgent, unexpected costs, not long-term, ongoing financial need. If your situation is part of your normal budget (like regular rent every month), a hardship grant may not be approved unless a crisis changed your ability to pay.

You are more likely to qualify if:

  • You are currently enrolled at least part-time at an eligible college or university.
  • You have already used or requested regular financial aid (FAFSA, state aid, etc.).
  • You have a specific, recent event (job loss, family emergency, medical bill, natural disaster, domestic violence, eviction notice).
  • The hardship is directly affecting your ability to stay in school (risk of dropping classes, losing housing, losing childcare, or losing internet/computer access).

Some campuses have special emergency funds for:

  • First-generation or low-income students
  • Former foster youth or homeless/at-risk of homelessness students
  • Veterans or active-duty military-connected students
  • International students facing crises who may not qualify for federal aid

Rules and eligibility vary by school and state, so you should check your own college’s financial aid or student affairs website, or call them directly, to confirm what is available and who manages it.

What You’ll Need Ready Before You Ask for Help

Most hardship or emergency grant requests are short, but they commonly require proof of your situation and basic financial information.

A short terms callout:

  • Cost of Attendance (COA): The college’s estimate of yearly education-related costs.
  • Expected Family Contribution (EFC) / Student Aid Index (SAI): Number from your FAFSA used to calculate aid eligibility.
  • Emergency grant / hardship fund: One-time help for sudden expenses that threaten enrollment.
  • Disbursement: How and when the money is actually paid out.

You will typically need:

  • Student ID information (student number, full name, contact details).
  • Proof of the emergency expense, such as a bill, invoice, lease, eviction notice, shutoff notice, or medical statement.
  • A brief written explanation (1–3 paragraphs) of what happened, the amount you need, and how it affects your ability to stay in school.
  • Financial aid details, often already in your record, but sometimes you may be asked if you filed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
  • Banking or refund info, if the school does not pay directly to your student account or landlord.

Real-world friction to watch for: a common reason applications get delayed is incomplete documentation (for example, saying you cannot pay rent but not uploading the lease or notice), so match each cost you mention with at least one clear document whenever possible.

Your Next Steps to Request a Hardship Grant

The exact process varies by school, but you can usually follow a similar sequence.

1. Find the correct office and program

  1. Search your college’s website for terms like “emergency fund,” “student hardship grant,” “student emergency assistance,” or “completion grant.”
  2. Check these common offices:
    • Financial Aid Office
    • Dean of Students / Student Affairs
    • Student Success Center / Retention Office
    • Multicultural / Equity or Basic Needs Center
  3. If you cannot find anything online, call the financial aid office and say:
    • “I’m facing an unexpected financial emergency that is affecting my ability to stay enrolled. Who should I talk to about emergency or hardship grants?”

What to expect next: staff may either give you a direct link to an online form, an email address to contact, or set up a short meeting (phone, video, or in person) to review your situation.

2. Complete the emergency aid request

Once you find the right program:

  1. Fill out the online or paper form completely.
  2. Attach required documents that show the amount and type of expense (bills, notices, receipts, police report if relevant).
  3. Explain briefly and clearly:
    • What happened
    • How much you need
    • How this affects your ability to stay in school or complete the term
  4. Submit the form using the method required (online portal, secure upload, or office drop-off).

What to expect next: many campus funds review requests within a few days to a couple of weeks, but there is no guaranteed timeline. You may get an email asking for further documentation or clarification before a decision.

3. Respond quickly to follow-up questions

If the office contacts you:

  1. Answer any questions promptly and upload missing documents as requested.
  2. If you cannot get a certain document (for example, an informal rental agreement), tell them and ask what alternative proof is acceptable.
  3. Ask directly, “Is there a deadline for me to send this information?”

What to expect next: when a decision is made, you will typically get an email or portal message stating whether you were approved and, if so, the amount and method of disbursement (credit to your student account, refund check, or direct payment to a third party like a landlord).

Costs, Timing, and Scam Warnings

Campus hardship grants are typically free to apply for; there is usually no application fee and no requirement to pay back the grant if it is truly a grant and not a loan.

Amounts are usually limited and may cover only part of what you request. Awards might range from a small amount (for groceries or a utility bill) up to larger amounts for housing or technology replacement, depending on the fund and available budget.

To avoid scams and problems:

  • Never pay a fee to “unlock” or “guarantee” a hardship grant for college.
  • Only share your Social Security Number or bank information through official school portals or secure state/federal sites (for example, FAFSA at the official U.S. Department of Education site).
  • Be wary of ads or social media posts promising “guaranteed” grants or asking you to send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency first.
  • If someone claims to be from your school but contacts you from a strange email or asks you to send money, verify by calling your financial aid office using the phone number listed on the college’s official website.

You can verify legitimate federal aid programs and basic student aid rules through the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid site at studentaid.gov.

If a Hardship Grant Isn’t Available or Doesn’t Cover Enough

If your school does not have a hardship grant, or the amount approved is too small, there are a few other options that sometimes help.

Potential alternatives:

  • Financial aid appeal: You can ask the financial aid office to review your aid package again due to a change in circumstances (job loss, family income drop, medical expenses). This may adjust your eligibility for federal, state, or institutional aid.
  • Short-term, school-based loans: Some colleges offer no-interest or low-interest emergency loans that must be repaid later but can cover immediate costs.
  • Payment plan adjustments: The bursar or student accounts office may allow extended payment plans or fee waivers for late charges in some situations.
  • Community resources: Local nonprofits, food banks, rental assistance programs, or utility assistance programs may help cover living costs while you stay enrolled. You can usually find these by calling 211 or visiting the official 211.org site and searching by ZIP code.
  • State or local emergency aid programs: Some states or cities have special funds for students, youth, or low‑income households, often listed on state .gov sites or your city/county human services website.

If this happens → do this: if you receive a denial or the award is too low, ask the staff member, “Are there any other funds or community resources you can refer me to?” and request contact information or links while you are still in touch.

By identifying the correct campus office, preparing your documents, and using official channels only, you can typically find out whether a hardship grant or related emergency aid is available and what other supports might help you stay enrolled.