Emergency grants and short-term help on campus

Many colleges keep funds set aside for students facing a sudden cost they cannot cover. These can help you stay in school after a car repair, a lost job or an unexpected bill. Here are the common kinds of short-term help and how to ask for them.

Kinds of help schools offer

Emergency grants are small awards that usually do not need to be repaid. Schools fund them from their own budgets, alumni gifts or a campus foundation. Each school sets its own rules and decides who receives one.

Short-term loans are another option at some schools. They are typically small, carry little or no interest, and must be repaid within weeks or by the end of the term.

Some colleges also offer book advances against aid that has not been paid out yet, or tuition payment plans that spread a bill over several months. A payment plan can buy time when aid is late or a bill arrives before a paycheck.

Where to ask

Start with the financial aid office or the dean of students office. Some colleges have a separate basic needs center that handles food, housing and emergency requests together.

Ask in person or by email, and describe the cost, the amount and when it is due. Many schools have a short online application. Answers can come quickly, sometimes within a few days.

Bring with you

• A bill or estimate for the cost
• The date the payment is due
• Your student ID number
• A short note on what changed

What to bring

Bring a bill, an estimate or a notice that shows the cost. Schools usually want to see that the expense is unexpected and that it affects your ability to continue in school.

Be ready to explain what other options you have already tried. Offices often help in other ways too, such as moving a payment date or reviewing your aid offer.

Things to ask before accepting

Ask whether an emergency grant will change any other aid you receive this year. Ask too whether it could count as income for taxes or for public benefits. The office should be able to explain both before you sign anything.

If you take a short-term loan, write down the repayment date and what happens if you miss it. Some schools place a hold on registration or transcripts until a campus loan is repaid.