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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.