NY State Financial Aid Programs
TAP: The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is a grant program for New York State residents attending college in the State.
Undergraduate: Undergraduate students are eligible for up to 4 years of TAP for full-time study or up to 5 years in programs approved as 5-year bachelor degree programs by the NYS Commissioner of Education.
Eligibility: To be eligible for the Tuition Assistance Program, the student must:
- Be enrolled as a full-time student (at least 12 credits) with all 12 credits applicable to the student's declared program of study
- Have a NYS net taxable income not exceeding the income limits for this program
- Be a resident of New York State
- Be either a U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, conditional entrant or refugee
- Be matriculated in an approved program of study and be in good academic standing
- Be charged a tuition of at least $200.00 per year
- Not be in default on a guaranteed student loan, or have made the required payments under the Renewed Eligibility for Financial Aid program
Note: Part-time students at approved schools in New York State who were first-time freshman in 2006-2007 may be eligible for Part-time TAP beginning in 2007-2008. Part-time TAP is not the same as Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS).
Approved Programs: The following programs of study are approved for TAP:
- College degree, certificate or diploma programs
- Hospital nursing and X-ray programs
- Two-year programs in registered private business schools
Annual Awards: The amount of TAP award will depend on these factors:
- The academic year in which the student first receives payment of TAP or any State award
- The tuition charged
- The New York State net taxable income for the student's family
- The type of school the student will attend (degree or non-degree)
- The student's financial status (dependent or independent)
- Other family members enrolled in college
The minimum undergraduate award is $500. The maximum awards are shown in the following charts.
Students may estimate the amount of their TAP awards by using the maximum annual TAP award or tuition charge, whichever is less (use the following charts to find maximum award amounts). That figure is reduced according to the amount of prior-year family net taxable income. Family net taxable income includes the parent’s and, if married, the spouse’s income less deductions and exemptions. The student reports this income on the financial aid application. The higher the income reported, the lower the award will be. Students cannot receive more than the tuition charged by the student's school.
Undergraduate awards for students who are financially dependent on their parents or who are financially independent and are married or have tax dependents and who are attending degree-granting or not-for-profit institutions such as colleges, community colleges or universities:
| Family Net Taxable Income Cannot Exceed |
| $80,000 |
Undergraduate awards for students who are financially independent and single without tax dependents, and who are attending degree-granting or not-for-profit institutions, such as colleges, community colleges or universities:
| Student Net Taxable Income Cannot Exceed |
| $10,000 |
Please Note: All state programs are subject to New York State budget appropriations.
Adjustment to Income Resulting in a Higher Award —When calculating an undergraduate award, the student's net taxable income is further reduced if other family members are enrolled in post-secondary education as full-time students—$3,000 for the first, $2,000 for each additional.
Financial Independence—If the student is financially independent of his/her parents, the parent's income is not used in calculating the award. Only the student's income (and the spouse’s) is used. Financial independence is granted to applicants who are:
- Age 35 or older before July 1 of the academic year for which assistance is sought.
- Age 22 to 34, who have not been claimed as a dependent for tax purposes for the previous and current academic years, and have not nor will not live with their parents for more than 6 consecutive weeks, nor receive more than $750 annually from their parents for the previous, current or subsequent academic years.
- Undergraduates under age 22, who meet the conditions outlined for students 22 to 34 years of age, and meet certain very specific additional conditions. See the college financial aid administrator.
Part-Time Tap
Part-time students attending State University of New York (SUNY), City University of New York (CUNY), or not-for-profit independent degree granting colleges in New York State who were first-time, full-time freshmen in 2006-2007 or thereafter may be certified as eligible for Part-time TAP (PT-TAP) beginning in 2007-08.
To be eligible for PT-TAP a student must:
- Be a first-time freshman in the 2006-07 academic year or thereafter;
- Students enrolled in 12+ credits but less than 12 applicable credits are not eligible for PT-TAP
- Have earned 12 credits or more, at an approved institution of two consecutive semesters (one time requirement);
- Have a minimum cumulative "C" average;
- Be taking at least six (6), but fewer than twelve (12) credits per semester (at least four (4), but fewer than eight (8) credits per trimester/quarter).
In addition, the student must meet all other TAP eligibility requirements.
Part-Time Credits
Semester Schools
Partial payment will be made for students taking 6-11 credits as indicated in the chart below:
Points Accrual for Part-time TAP Payments
|
Semester Schools
|
| Credits |
Percent of Full Award |
Points Accrued |
| 6 |
50.00% |
3 |
| 7 |
58.34% |
3.5 |
| 8 |
66.67% |
4 |
| 9 |
75.00% |
4.5 |
| 10 |
83.34% |
5 |
| 11 |
91.67% |
5.5 |
AID FOR PART-TIME STUDY (APTS): This program provides up to $2,000 per year for New York State Residents, part-time undergraduate study at participating degree granting institutions in New York State. Award amounts are determined by the college and cannot exceed tuition costs. Not all schools participate in this program, and the amount of funds available to participating institutions is limited. To be eligible, a student must enroll part-time as a matriculated student in an approved undergraduate degree program or registered certificate program at a degree-granting institution. Part-time study is defined as enrollment of at least 3 credits but no more than 11 credits. There must be a tuition charge of at least $100 per year.
Income Limits: The following income limits are in effect:
- Dependent students or independent students who have dependents other than a spouse, net taxable income cannot exceed $50,500.
- Independent students with no dependents other than a spouse, net taxable income cannot exceed $34,250.
YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM: The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions of higher learning (degree granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate.
For more information on this program call U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 1.800.442.4551. You may also contact the Financial Aid Office at 516.323.4200.
VETERANS TUITION AWARDS: Provides awards for full-time and part-time study to eligible veterans matriculated at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution or in an approved vocational training program in New York State.
MILITARY SERVICE RECOGNITION SCHOLARSHIPS: Provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of those who, while New York State residents in service in the Armed Forces of the United States or state organized militia, at any time on or after August 2, 1990, died, became severely and permanently disabled, or was classified as missing in action in a combat zone while engaged in hostilities or training for hostilities.
NYS REGENTS AWARDS FOR CHILDREN OF DECEASED AND DISABLED VETERANS: Provides $450 per year to students whose parent(s) served in the U.S. Armed forces during specified periods of time and died as a result of such service, was discharged under other than dishonorable conditions and suffers a 40% or more disability as a result of such service, is now deceased and suffered a 40% or more disability as a result of such service, is classified as a former prisoner of war, or is classified as missing in action. The veteran must be a current New York State resident or have been a New York State resident at the time of death or classification as missing in action.
RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE AND RETENTION PROGRAM: Provides financial aid to any active member who has successfully completed advanced individual training or commissioning and other requirements of the NYS Division of Military and Naval Affairs for tuition benefit eligibility upon his or her enrollment in a degree-producing curriculum in any institution. Information and applications for this program may be obtained from the NYS Division of Military and Naval Affairs.
For additional information on New York State Scholarships visit the website at www.HESC.com or call 1.888.697.4372.
DREAM ACT: The Senator Jose Peralta New York State DREAM Act gives undocumented and other students access to New York State – administered grants and scholarships that support their higher education costs.
For additional information, please visit: https://www.hesc.ny.gov/dream/