Oklahoma College Students to Receive Cash Coronavirus Grants

Tens of millions of dollars in federal aid are heading to Oklahoma colleges and universities to help ease the financial fallout from COVID-19.

Oklahoma schools are set to receive more than $159 million as part of a federal stimulus package, half of which is required to be given as direct cash grants to students.

“This funding will go a long way in helping ensure faculty and students are properly cared for during this public health crisis,” Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, said in a statement.

“There will be some families that may need $1,000, there's maybe some families that will need north of $1,000," said Oklahoma State University Vice President for Enrollment and Brand Management Kyle Wray. "We will review those as they come in.” 

Oklahoma State will receive $17 million, $18 million are heading to the University of Oklahoma and $11 million will go to the University of Central Oklahoma.

Of those schools, only OSU has an application open for students affected by the coronavirus to begin completing. 

“It could be perhaps, a parent has lost a job as a result, maybe a student has lost a job as a result of COVID-19 or perhaps someone in their family contracted the virus and had exceptional medical costs as a result,” Wray said.

The University of Oklahoma said in a statement they plan to use a tiered approach based on categories of students. 

“The first group receiving funds will be need-based students, based on completion of the FAFSA, with unmet needs,” OU said.

OSU will use a similar need-based assessment.

“We’ll look at students who have filled out FASFA, PELL qualifiers, those neediest of students. But you don't have to have filled out the FASFA and you don't have to be PELL qualifier in order to get some of that cares act money,” Wray said.

The University of Central Oklahoma said in a statement, the school is waiting for further guidance from the U.S. Department of Education.

“We’re not in a position to answer questions or reveal plans when we still have questions ourselves,” UCO’s Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs Adrienne Nobles said in an email.

Students at Oklahoma State University could hear back from the university within a week of completing the application.

“As quickly as they can get that information to us, we will process it and get it back to them,” Wray said.

Students at more than 25 colleges, universities and trade schools may qualify for assistance.

To see a full list of institutions, click here.