Big bucks.

That’s what Virginia’s five historically Black colleges and universities have received from the federal American Rescue Plan.

More than $141 million was collectively provided to the five schools through the pandemic relief bill that President Biden proposed and Congress passed in 2021 after he took office, ac- cording to the U.S. Department of Education.

Virginia’s two public HBCUs received the most, with $52.2 million going to Norfolk State University and $39.4 million going to Virginia State University.

The private HBCUs also received major support, the U.S. Department of Education stated

in a release issued Monday. Hampton University received $31.2 million; Virginia Union University received $11.8 million; and the Virginia University of Lynchburg received $6.3 million.

The Department of Education stated that at least half the money had to be used to benefit students, including helping them stay in school and stabilize the costs of gaining a degree. The money also has been used to retain faculty and staff, the agency stated.

The HBCU distribution was part of the $948 million received by Virginia’s colleges and universities, including the state’s community colleges, from the ARP pool of $39.6 billion for higher education. The Virginia share is in addition to the $897 million that previously was distributed to Virginia’s higher education facilities from earlier coronavirus relief legislation, according to the department.

Community colleges in Virginia received $297 million from ARP, the federal agency stated. Reynolds Community College in Richmond received $17.1 million, and John Tyler Community College in Chesterfield County received $15 million, the agency reported.

Virginia Commonwealth University received $57 million, the department stated.

Other universities gaining large one-time grants from ARP include the state’s largest university, Liberty University, $65.9 million; George Mason University, $64 million; Virginia Tech, $49.6 million; and Old Dominion University, $48.2 million.