Department of Education: Florida colleges & universities got billions in American Rescue Plan funds

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. The Department of Education released a state-by-state breakdown of funding for colleges and universities provided through the president’s American Rescue Plan.

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The White House shared the data in recognition of a year since the legislation was passed.

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In all, they’ve distributed $40 billion in funds to more than 5,000 higher education institutions meant to provide relief to students during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the Department of Education , the American Rescue Plan has provided nearly $2.5 billion in funds for 260 Florida colleges and universities.

More than $1 billion of that went towards investments in 21 of the state’s Minority-Serving Institutions, including the University of Central Florida and Valencia College.

Another $150 million went to four Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Florida including more than $99 million for Florida A&M University and another $33 million for Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach.

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Provided through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, the American Rescue Plan requires that at least half the funds go directly towards providing financial relief to students.

Thousands of institutions used the HEERF to provide emergency grants, and discharge outstanding student debts, thus helping to keep them enrolled and on track to graduate.

A recent survey of college presidents on their use of the funds found that almost all of them were able to direct financial support towards students who were at risk of dropping out.

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Others reported using the funds to keep staff members or other workers employed who were otherwise at risk of losing their jobs.

About 60 percent said they used the funds to improve safety during the pandemic by purchasing COVID-19 tests, health screenings, and health care.

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Read a full breakdown of Florida’s use of American Rescue Plan funds below:

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