New York State Financial Aid Programs

Financial Aid for New York State Residents

The State of New York offers several financial aid programs to its residents. The eligibility criteria for these programs, as well as award amounts, vary. For additional information on financial aid from New York State, refer to New York State Higher Education Services Corporation’s website at www.hesc.ny.gov, or call (888) 697-4372.

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

New York State residents are encouraged to apply for the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). This can be done immediately after completing the FAFSA on the Web by following the directions provided for New York State residents. If this opportunity is missed, the U.S. Department of Education will transmit data reported on the FAFSA to the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (NYSHESC) if a New York State school is listed on the FAFSA. NYSHESC will, in turn, generate an Express TAP Application (ETA) and contact the student by email. The ETA must be evaluated for accuracy, corrected, if necessary, and submitted with signature(s) to NYSHESC. NYSHESC will determine TAP eligibility and will inform the student and the College of the TAP award.

TAP eligibility is based upon the New York State Net Taxable Income. Annual TAP awards are subject to change, but in the 2014-2015 academic year they ranged from $500 to $5,165. Eligible students may receive a maximum of eight semesters of full-time TAP funding. TAP eligibility and award amounts are subject to the New York State budget process each year.

The Financial Aid Office will estimate TAP eligibility based upon data reported on the FAFSA. Because NYSHESC determines the actual TAP award and their determination is final, the TAP award estimated by the College may be adjusted accordingly.

While the College makes every effort to accurately estimate TAP eligibility, the College does not assume responsibility for TAP award adjustments effected by NYSHESC. Therefore, any student account balance created by a TAP award adjustment is the responsibility of the student.

TAP recipients must adhere to standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress and Program Pursuit in order to continue receiving TAP funding. Academic progress is evaluated each semester a student is awarded TAP and/or a NYS scholarship. There are currently two TAP Satisfactory Academic Progress charts. A student’s applicable chart is determined by the year he/she first received a TAP Award and/or a NYS Scholarship. The charts are listed below:

First TAP/NYS Scholarship Payment Received Beginning With the 2010-11 Academic Year and Thereafter:

TAP recipients must also achieve what is referred to as “satisfactory program pursuit.” This is defined as completing, with either a passing or a failing grade, a certain percentage of a full-time course load (12 credits per semester) in each term for which an award is received. The percentage is 50% of the minimum full-time course load in each term of study during the first year in which an award is received; 75% of the full-time course load in each term of study in the second year for which an award is received; and 100% of the minimum full-time course load in each term thereafter. Courses that were previously passed but repeated to achieve a better grade do NOT count toward TAP eligibility, nor toward pursuit-of-program requirements during the semester in which the repeat takes place.

Failure to maintain the above standards will result in suspension of TAP eligibility until academic deficiencies have been remedied. It should be noted that these standards apply to the determination of TAP eligibility only and are different from the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards for other types of financial aid.

If a student loses eligibility for TAP, he/she may submit a request for a one-time-only waiver, along with documentation that supports the reason for the waiver request. Waiver requests will be evaluated by the Institutional Status Review Committee (ISRC). A TAP waiver may be utilized only once.

Veteran Tuition Awards

Under this program, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, or other eligible combat veterans matriculated at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution or in an approved vocational training program in New York State are eligible for awards for full or part-time study. These awards can only be used for tuition charges and are available for up to 8 semesters of undergraduate study. Combined tuition benefits available to a student cannot exceed the student’s total tuition costs. For more information, visit www.hesc.ny.gov.

NYS Memorial Scholarships for Families of Deceased Firefighters, Volunteer Firefighters, Police Officers, Peace Officers, and Emergency Medical Service Workers

The NYS Memorial Scholarship provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of deceased firefighters, volunteer firefighters, police officers, peace officers, and emergency medical service workers who have died as the result of injuries sustained in the line of duty in service to the State of New York. Recipients must be enrolled full-time and be matriculated in an approved program of study at a NYS postsecondary institution. For more information, visit www.hesc.ny.gov.

Regents Awards for Children of Deceased or Disabled Veterans

An award of $450 per year for full-time attendance at a college in NYS is available for children of veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during specified periods of war or national emergency and, as a result of service, either died, suffered a 40% or more disability, was classified as missing in action, or was a prisoner of war. The veteran must currently be a New York State resident or have been a New York State resident at the time of death. Applications and further information are available from the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12255. For more information, visit www.hesc.ny.gov.

New York State Scholarship for Academic Excellence

This program provides scholarship assistance to outstanding New York State high school graduates. Each year, 8,000 scholarships are awarded - up to 2,000 scholarships of $1,500 and 6,000 scholarships of $500 - to top scholars from registered New York State high schools. Awards are based on student grades in certain Regents exams. Recipients can also receive other non-loan student aid, but the total cannot exceed the cost of attendance budget established by the college. The Scholarship must be used within seven years, commencing with the first academic year for which the Scholarship was awarded. Recipients of this scholarship must be enrolled full-time and be matriculated in an approved program of study at a NYS postsecondary institution. Students must be NYS residents. To apply, students should contact their high school guidance counselors. For more information, visit www.hesc.ny.gov.

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

In return for their service, members of AmeriCorps programs earn money for school in the form of an education award that can be used to pay education costs at approved postsecondary institutions, for future higher educational and vocational training pursuits, or to repay qualified outstanding student loans. The amount of the award is now tied to the maximum amount of the U.S. Department of Education’s Pell Grant. Information about New York State programs can be found by contacting: NYS Office for National and Community Service, Office of Children & Family Services, 52 Washington Street, Rensselaer, NY 12144, or by visiting www.hesc.ny.gov and following the link to AmeriCorps.

The Recruitment Incentive and Retention Program (RIRP)

Members of New York State’s Military Forces (Army and Air Guard and Naval Militia) may be eligible to benefit from the RIRP. This program will pay the cost of tuition up to a maximum of $4,350 per calendar year for qualified applicants. For more information, contact your local unit representative or recruiter or log on to: http://dmna.ny.gov/education/education.php?page=rirp.

State Aid to Native Americans

New York State residents who are members of a New York State Native American tribe and their children who are attending a college in New York State may be eligible for up to $2,000 annually for up to 4 years of full-time study. Applications and further information are available at Native American Education Unit, NYS Education Department, Room 461 EBA, Albany, New York 12234, (518) 474-0537. For more information, visit www.hesc.ny.gov.

Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS)

The Aid for Part-Time Study program is a grant funded by New York State. Matriculated undergraduate New York State residents who are attending college at a part-time level (enrolled in fewer than twelve credit hours per semester) are eligible to apply for APTS. Students must submit an APTS application, the FAFSA and copies of their New York State tax forms and, if dependent, their parents’ New York State tax forms. Recipients must meet income guidelines and academic requirements set by New York State and cannot have exceeded the maximum number of TAP award payments.

Amounts of APTS awards are determined by the College, based on the availability of New York State funding, and may vary from semester to semester. The maximum award that can be received for an academic year is $2000. The acceptance of an Aid for Part-Time Study award will decrease lifetime New York State TAP award eligibility. Students who are APTS recipients must meet certain academic standards and satisfactory Program Pursuit in order to continue receiving funds from this program. The same standards for the TAP programs apply, with APTS recipients being reviewed after every two semesters in which an APTS award was received.

NYS Math and Science Teaching Incentive Scholarships

New York State offers Math and Science Teaching Incentive Scholarships to qualified students who plan to pursue careers as secondary math and science teachers (grades 7–12) in New York State. The scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis and require the completion of a supplement that must be returned to the NYS Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). This program provides awards to full-time students attending a college in NYS at the undergraduate and/or graduate degree level in exchange for five years of full-time employment as NYS secondary education math or science teachers. The award amount varies per academic year. The maximum annual award for the 2014-2015 academic year is $6,195. Log on to www.hesc.ny.gov for additional details.

Enhanced Tuition Award (ETA)

The Enhanced Tuition Awards (ETA) program provides tuition awards to students who are New York State residents attending a participating private college located in New York State. Recipients will receive $6,000 through a combination of their TAP award, ETA award and a match from their private college.

See if your college is participating.

Eligibility

An applicant must:

• be a resident of NYS and have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months prior to the beginning of the term;
• be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
• have either graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma, or passed a federally approved “Ability to Benefit” test, as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department;
• have a combined federal adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less;
• be pursuing an undergraduate degree at a participating private college or university located in New York State;
• be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term and complete at least 30 credits each year applicable toward his or her degree program, through continuous study with no break in enrollment except for certain reasons that can be documented;
• if attended college prior to the 2019-20 academic year, have earned at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward his or her degree program prior to applying for an Enhanced Tuition Award;
• be in a non-default status on a student loan made under any NYS or federal education loan program or on the repayment of any NYS award;
• be in compliance with the terms of the service condition(s) imposed by any NYS award(s) that you have previously received; and
• execute a Contract agreeing to reside in NYS for the length of time the award was received, and, if employed during such time, be employed in NYS.

Catching Up on Credits

A student who is not on track to complete an Associate’s degree in two consecutive years or Bachelor’s degree in four consecutive years (which requires completion of the equivalent of 30 credits each academic year) can catch up on missing credits to become eligible for an Enhanced Tuition Award. If you successfully earn additional credits during a term or academic year and get back on track to completing your degree on time, you will be eligible to receive an Enhanced Tuition Award for the remainder of your undergraduate degree program.

Opportunity Programs

If you are in an opportunity program, the ETA program allows five years to complete your degree on time (which requires completion of the equivalent of 24 credits each academic year).

Five-Year Undergraduate Program

If you are in an undergraduate program of study normally requiring five-years, the ETA program allows five years to complete your degree on time (which requires completion of the equivalent of 30 credits each academic year).

Students with Disabilities Under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

To be eligible for an Enhanced Tuition Award, students with qualified disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act who attend less than full time must register with their college office for students with disabilities.

If you are a student with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ETA program requires that you be continuously enrolled and complete the number of credits you attempted each semester to fulfill the requirement for on-time degree completion. If you have not earned credits for all courses attempted, you can catch up on missing credits if you successfully earn additional credits during a Summer and/or Winter session(s) and get back on track for credits that were not previously completed.

Students with disabilities determined to be ineligible who can demonstrate good cause for completing fewer credits than attempted and/or a break in attendance may appeal the decision by completing and submitting the Enhanced Tuition Awards Program Appeal Form.

For more information, visit NYS Student Financial Aid Programs and Students with Disabilities.

Appeals

Students whose current income or prior year adjusted gross income is $125,000 or below due to the disability, divorce or separation of a parent, spouse or the student or the death of a parent or spouse may appeal their disqualification by completing and submitting the Income Appeal Form. 

Students determined to be ineligible for failure to meet the annual credit or continuous enrollment requirements and who can demonstrate good cause for completing fewer credits than required and/or a break in attendance may appeal the decision by completing and submitting the Enhanced Tuition Awards Program Appeal Form.

Award Amount*

Recipients of Enhanced Tuition Awards will generally receive $6,000 through a combination of their TAP award, ETA award and a match from their private college. The number of awards to be made under this Program is subject to available funding.

*Note: Any award payment received may have tax implications. Any questions regarding this should be directed to a tax professional, the Internal Revenue Service, or the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.

Duration

A recipient of an Enhanced Tuition Award is eligible to receive award payments for not more than two years of full-time undergraduate study in a program leading to an Associate’s degree or four years of full-time undergraduate study, or five years if the program of study normally requires five years, in a program leading to a Bachelor’s degree.

Payment

To receive payments after the initial application year, an Enhanced Tuition Awards recipient must annually complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the NYS Student Aid Payment Application.