If you are Bakersfield College (BC) student with expenses related to the disruption of BC operations due to COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic, you may qualify for a federal CARES Act grant recently approved by Congress, which provides emergency funding for college students. There are limitations placed by the Department of Education on eligibility for these funds.  Please review the eligibility below.  Because this eligibility is tied to these federal funds, Bakersfield College does not have flexibility in applying these eligibility requirements.

Acknowledgment of Certification and Agreement

Bakersfield College has signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and intends to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. View the Recipient’s Funding Certification and Agreement (PDF).

Total Funds Received

Bakersfield College has received $37,306,132.00.

Bakersfield College has awarded $35,884,256.50 in funds to 32,445 students as of June 23, 2022.

Estimated Number of Eligible Students

The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is about 66% of our Total Student Population.

This is estimated to be 34,445 students as of the Fall term 2021.

Methods Determining Support

CARES funding is intended to support student financial needs as result disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19 and federal guidelines and Bakersfield College has decided to focus on retention recurring expenses that our students are experiencing during this Coronavirus Pandemic (such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child-care expenses). Bakersfield College based eligibility on current and continuous enrollment of students.

CARES Funding Eligibility Requirements

• Must demonstrate emergency financial aid need
• Homeschool is Bakersfield College

*Award contingent on funding & amounts will vary based on eligibility 

Instructions to Students

The instructions for students can be found on the CARES Act: Student Information page.

Quarterly Disbursement Data & Reports