New York State Programs

New York State Programs
See the complete list of New York State free money options
 

 

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) helps eligible New York residents attending in-state postsecondary institutions pay for tuition. Depending on the academic year in which the student began study, annual TAP awards can be as much as $4,800 for Hostos Community College students. Because TAP is a grant, it does not have to be paid back!

To be eligible for TAP, a student must:

  • be a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen;
  • be a legal resident of New York State (that is, you must have lived in the State for at least one year prior to the start of the term for which you are seeking payment);
  • have a high school diploma from a U.S. high school, earned a high school equivalency diploma by passing a Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) formally known as a GED, or passed a federally approved  ability-to-benefit test as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department;
  • study at an approved postsecondary institution in New York State;
  • be matriculated in an approved program of study, maintain good academic standing and meet program pursuit standards;
  • be enrolled as a full-time student taking twelve or more credits applicable toward the degree program. Credit-bearing courses in the student's minimum full-time course load (12 semester hours or the equivalent) must consist of courses applicable to the student's program of study as a general  education requirement, major requirement, or elective;
  • not be in default on any state or federal student loans and not be in default on any repayment of State awards;
  • be charged at least $200 tuition per year;
  • be in compliance with the terms of any service condition imposed by a NYS award; and
  • meet income eligibility limitations.
For more information on TAP click here
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Part-Time TAP Program

Part-time TAP helps eligible New York residents attending in-state postsecondary institutions on a part-time basis pay for tuition. Effective for the 2007-2008 Academic Year Part-time TAP is a grant and does not have to be paid back. Part-time TAP is not the same as Aid for Part-Time Study.
To be eligible for Part-Time TAP, a student must:
  • Be a first-time freshman in the 2006-07 academic year or thereafter
  • Have earned 12 or more credits toward graduation in each of the two consecutive semesters, for a minimum total of 24 credits earned, by the time the first PTAP award is sought.
  • Maintain a minimum of a “C” average (2.00 GPA)
  • Satisfied all NYS TAP award eligibility requirements, except for full-time enrollment. 
  • Be enrolled for at least 6 but fewer than 12 semester hours with at least 3 of these being degree credits.
For more information on PTAP click here

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Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS)

The Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS) program provides grant assistance to eligible students enrolled part-time in an approved undergraduate program at participating institutions. Unlike TAP, APTS is a campus-based discretionary program funded by an annual appropriation.
To be considered for an APTS award, students must:
  • Enroll part-time as matriculated students in approved undergraduate degree programs or registered certificate programs at degree-granting institutions in New York State
  • Must be enrolled for at last 6 but fewer than 12 semester hours.
  • Must satisfy all NYS TAP award eligibility requirements, except for full-time enrollment.
  • Meet the program income limits
  • Not have used up Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) eligibility.
For more information on APTS click here
 
 Excelsior Scholarship
This program covers tuition for eligible CUNY students. The program will be phased in over three years, beginning in Fall 2017. It would first apply to families who earn $100,000 or less, then to those who earn $110,000 or less in 2018, and eventually reaching $125,000 or less in 2019.
 
To be eligible for Excelsior, a student 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 SUNY or CUNY college, including community colleges and the statutory colleges at Cornell University and Alfred University;
  • be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term and complete at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward his or her degree program; 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 Excelsior Scholarship;
  • 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 a NYS award 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.
View commonly asked questions pertaining to the Excelsior Scholarship.

For more information on Excelsior click here
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 The DREAM Act
The Senator José 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. The DREAM Act opens the doors of higher education to thousands of students, providing access to the new Excelsior Scholarship, the Tuition Assistance Program, as well as other state‐administered scholarships that were not previously available to them.

Determine your eligibility:  If you fit one of the descriptions below, you may be eligible for one or more NYS student financial aid awards under the DREAM Act
  1. Your permanent home is in NYS and you are or have ONE of the following:
    1. U-Visa
    2. T-Visa
    3. Temporary protected status, pursuant to the Federal Immigration Act of 1990
    4. Without lawful immigration status (including those with DACA status)
    5. AND you meet ONE of the following criteria:
      1. You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and are applying for an award for undergraduate study at a NYS college within five years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR
      2. You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and are applying for an award for graduate study at a NYS college within ten years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR
      3. You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma, and are applying for an award for undergraduate study at a NYS college within five years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR
      4. You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma, and are applying for an award for graduate study at a NYS college within ten years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR
      5. You did not attend or graduate from a NYS high school, did not receive a NYS high school equivalency diploma, but are charged the NYS resident in-State tuition rate at a SUNY or CUNY college for any reason
 
  1. Your permanent home is outside of NYS and you are or have ONE of the following:
    1. U.S. citizen
    2. Permanent lawful resident
    3. Of a class of refugees paroled by the attorney general under his or her parole authority pertaining to the admission of aliens to the U.S.
    4. U-Visa
    5. T-Visa
    6. Temporary protected status, pursuant to the Federal Immigration Act of 1990
    7. Without lawful immigration status (including those with DACA status)
    8. AND you meet ONE of the following criteria:
      1. You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and are applying for an award for undergraduate study at a NYS college within five years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR
      2. You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and are applying for an award for graduate study at a NYS college within ten years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR
      3. You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma, and are applying for an award for undergraduate study at a NYS college within five years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR
      4. You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma, and are applying for an award for graduate study at a NYS college within ten years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR
      5. You did not attend or graduate from a NYS high school, did not receive a NYS high school equivalency diploma, but are charged the NYS resident in-State tuition rate at a SUNY or CUNY college for any reason
View commonly asked questions pertaining to the NYS DREAM Act.

For more information on the DREAM Act click here 
View the Step-by-Step User Guide to Completing the NYS DREAM Act Application for instructions on completing the application.
 
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