More than $175 million in emergency funding from the government is heading to students at South Texas College and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar announced that the Department of Education would grant UTRGV $101.4 million and $73.8 million to STC to ease the financial strain through the American Rescue Plan. 

UTRGV President Guy Bailey and Interim President of STC David Plummer say the majority of the money will go towards reducing student account debt, allowing students the opportunity to enroll in fall classes.

Plummer said some of the money would be made into grants to help students pay for child care, rent, and other outside costs; Bailey said his UTRGV students would start to see reduced debt immediately. 

The Department of Education is expected to award the funds to both schools by the end of May.