Eligibility

In order to qualify, students must meet certain requirements:

• be a legal resident of NYS and have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months prior to enrolling, or qualified under NYS DREAM Act (Students who do not meet residency requirements may be eligible for TAP through the NYS DREAM Act);
• be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen; or eligible under the NYS DREAM Act application.
• have graduated from high school in the United States, or the recognized equivalent (GED), or earned a high school equivalency diploma by passing a Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC), or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test identified by the NYS Board of Regents and independently administered and evaluated by the Commissioner of Education;
• study at an approved postsecondary institution in New York State;
• be matriculated in an approved program of study and be in good academic standing with at least a "C" average as of the 4th semester payment
• be enrolled as a full-time student taking twelve or more credits applicable toward the degree program, per semester;
• be charged at least $200 tuition per year;
• meet income eligibility limitations; Academic year 24-25 NYS net taxable income cannot exceed $125,000 for dependent students; $60,000 for married students with no dependents; $30,000 for independent single students with no dependents;
• not be in default on any state or federal student loans and not be in default on any repayment of State awards;
• be in compliance with the terms of any service condition imposed by a NYS award.

The minimum award increased to $1,000 effective 2024-25.

Average annual TAP awards range between $1000 and $5,665 for dependent students or independent students who are married and have tax dependents or independent students who are single and have tax dependents. Awards range between $1000 and $3,025 for independent students who are married and have no other tax dependents.

Students can receive up to eight payments of TAP for full-time study in an undergraduate program.

Academic Standing Chart for Financial Aid Eligibility

To determine the number of credits students must complete and the minimum grade point average they must achieve to remain in good academic standing and eligible for financial aid, students should consult the college bulletin.

TAP Waiver

Students may not be eligible to receive their TAP Award without a TAP waiver if, in the previous semester, they:

• Withdrew from all courses sometime after the add/drop period; OR
• Completed less than 6 credits in each semester of the first year of awards, less than 9 credits in each semester of the second year of awards, and less than 12 credits in each semester of the third and fourth year of TAP awards; AND/OR
• Earned fewer credits and have less Grade Point Average (GPA) than required in order to be eligible to receive further TAP awards for subsequent semesters.

According to state guidelines, students may receive only one TAP waiver from these guidelines during their undergraduate career.

The "C" Waiver

Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to be eligible for a fifth TAP payment. However, students who fall below a 2.0 may petition the Committee on Academic Standing for a "C" waiver. A student can receive more than one "C" waiver, providing the circumstances are not the same.

Part Time TAP

Effective for the 2007-08 academic year and thereafter, TAP is available for students attending SUNY, CUNY and not-for-profit independent degree-granting colleges on a part-time basis. To be eligible for Part-time TAP you must have been a first-time freshman in the 2006-07 academic year or thereafter, have earned or be registered from 6 to 11 credits, and maintain a “C” average.

Students are eligible for Part Time TAP for summer study if they have not received full time TAP for prior two consecutive terms.

Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS)

APTS is a campus-based program rather than an entitlement program. This means that the college selects recipients and determines their individual award amounts, based on funding levels and the number of eligible applicants.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for APTS awards students must meet the TAP eligibility requirements, but must:

• be enrolled on a part-time basis (at least 3 but less than 12 semester hours per semester);
• be matriculated in an approved undergraduate degree program, at a degree-granting institution in New York State;
• have remaining Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) eligibility.

Eligibility for an APTS award is based on New York State net taxable income, Federal, State or local pension income and private pension and annuity income, if applicable, from the preceding calendar year.

Students who wish to apply must complete the APTS Application, available in the Financial Aid Office, and should submit it at least 30 days prior to the start of the semester for which the application is being made. Awards for less than half-time study are available only when funding permits.

The Enhanced Tuition Awards (ETA) program

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.

Eligibility includes New York state residency, income eligibility, and course-load requirements. Students must graduate on time and live and work in New York state after graduation for as many years as they receive the award or the ETA award amount will revert to a loan that must be repaid. Students interested in the ETA program should read all of the eligibility criteria and post-graduation requirements.

You can contact the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation Scholarship Unit at 888-697-4372 or scholarships@hesc.ny.gov with questions about ETA.