Rocket Aid
EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR UTOLEDO STUDENTS
The University of Toledo offers emergency financial assistance for current students experiencing financial hardship or other education-related emergencies through the Rocket Aid application process.
A student only needs to fill out one Rocket Aid application and the UToledo team will work with each student individually to identify all options available to assist them. This includes funding available through federal relief programs and donors.
HOW TO APPLY
Simply complete one Rocket Aid application to be considered for all emergency financial assistance programs.
Applicants do need to describe the nature of their emergency in as much detail as possible, however, no documentation is required to be uploaded with the initial application.
A team of student support leaders will evaluate each Rocket Aid application. Applicants will receive an email confirmation when the application has been received. Follow up to request additional information or to share details on resources available will be communicated via email to the student as soon as possible.
CARES I Funding
UToledo received $13.5 million in funds from the federal CARES Act to help mitigate financial impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Of this total, $6.7 million was designated for emergency grants to students and has been used to immediately assist current students experiencing financial hardships caused by the pandemic.
On April 14, 2020, The University of Toledo signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the Certification and Agreement with the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50% of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
Students enrolled for spring 2020 who received a federal Pell Grant have received a one-time grant of $1,000. No application was required. Students not eligible for the automatic one-time grant needed to use the existing Rocket Aid application to request CARES I funds. To be eligible to receive CARES I funding, a student needed to be eligible to receive federal aid by having a valid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or equivalent documentation on file. The Office of Student Financial Aid determined eligibility based on guidelines from the U.S. Department of Education. All CARES I funding has been exhausted.
CARES II Funding
UToledo received $19 million from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds II program created under the 2021 Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act. Of this $19 million, $6.7 million is designated for emergency grants for students. These funds are intended to assist students with exceptional financial need based on information provided in their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Students enrolled in spring 2021 who were Pell eligible received an automatic $1,200 CARES II award. Students enrolled in spring 2021 who were not eligible for Pell but still showed a high amount of financial need received an automatic $1,000 CARES II award. No application was required and these were the maximum amounts of CARES II awards these groups of students were eligible to receive.
Students identified as having a smaller amount of financial need were sent an email encouraging them to apply for CARES II funding through the existing Rocket Aid application. The Office of Student Financial Aid determined eligibility based on guidelines from the U.S. Department of Education. All CARES II funding has been exhausted.
Cares III Funding
UToledo received $38 million from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III program created under the 2021 American Rescue Plan. Of this $38 million, $19.3 million is designated for emergency grants for students. These funds are intended to assist students with exceptional financial need.
Students enrolled in Fall 2021 who showed financial need according to the FAFSA were eligible for an automatic CARES III award. Awards range from $500 to $1,500 based on financial need. Students showing financial need who enrolled late or completed the FAFSA after the automatic CARES III awards were made may submit a Rocket Aid application in order to be reviewed for CARES III funding. Additionally, international, DACA, and undocumented students may be reviewed for CARES III funding by submitting a Rocket Aid application. All CARES III funding has been exhausted.
Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students
| Reporting Period | Students Eligible | Students Awarded | Aid Awarded | Institutional Portion |
| April 1, 2022 - June 30, 2022 | Budget and Expenditure Report | |||
| Jan. 1, 2022 - March 31, 2022 | 12,437 | 8,105 | $10,067.420 | Budget and Expenditure Report |
| Oct. 1, 2021 - Dec. 31, 2021 | 11,916 | 387 | $359,596.02 | Budget and Expenditure Report |
| July 1, 2021 - Sept. 30, 2021 | 11,845 | 7,610 | $8,823,855 | Budget and Expenditure Report |
| April 1, 2021 - June 30, 2021 | 13,661 | 6,158 | $6,773,627 | Budget and Expenditure Report |
| Jan. 1, 2021 - March 31, 2021 | 16,902 | 343 | $366,377 | Budget and Expenditure Report |
| Oct. 1, 2020 – Dec. 31, 2020 | 16,519 | 581 | $543,247 | Budget and Expenditure Report |
| Awards through Sept. 30, 2020 | 14,666 | 5,260 | $5,888,250 | Budget and Expenditure Report |
QUESTIONS?
Contact Rocket Solution Central at RocketSolutionCentral@utoledo.edu or 419.530.8700.