More than 4,600 students at Michigan State University who have financial need each have received a $300 federal grant for the spring 2023 semester.

The grant funding, through the MSU Office of Financial Aid, was made possible because of a recently expired provision in the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act that allowed unused funding to support students in need in the form of grants. 

This fiscal year, which runs July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, MSU invested more than $208 million in student financial aid — an increase of nearly $11.9 million over the previous year. These additional grants highlight MSU’s commitment to invest in student success by reducing financial stressors and providing an accessible world-class education.

“We know that even a small grant like this one can have a great impact for a student at the end of a semester,” said Keith Williams, executive director of the MSU Office of Financial Aid. “The CARES Act has been instrumental in providing assistance to thousands of Spartans over the last several years. We are pleased to have been able to fully utilize all the funds to support our students, and we remain committed to providing the financial resources necessary for students to pursue a quality, affordable Michigan State education.”

This grant does not count against other financial aid the student has received and will help students pay any remaining university balance or assist with other educational expenses.

Federal Pell Grant-eligible students with financial need were notified via email on May 3 by the MSU Office of Financial Aid. Students also can check their student portal at student.msu.edu to see if the award is listed in their aid package.

Students who had a remaining balance on their student account received the grant as a payment waiver. If a student’s account balance was zero, the award was issued as a refund.