New York State Grants

Application Form

The first step in the TAP application process is the completion of the FAFSA. When you get to the FAFSA on the Web Confirmation Page, there will be a link for New York State residents to complete an application for TAP.  You must submit a FAFSA and TAP application before June 30, 2024 for the 2023-2024 academic year. Starting November 1, students can apply for TAP for the 2024-2025 academic year. Students wishing to get a jump start on the NYS Financial aid process do not need to wait to for the FAFSA release (December 2023) to complete the 2024-25 TAP application. Visit the TAP Frequently Asked Questions for more information. 

Residence and Citizenship

Be a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen and be a legal resident of New York State

To be eligible for TAP, students must:

• Be a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Be a legal resident of New York State for at least one year prior to the start of the term
• Have graduated from high school in the United States, 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
• 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 to receive TAP
• 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; and
• Meet income requirement

Income Limits

Families with New York State Net Taxable Income (gross income less deductions and allowances for exemptions) of $80,000 or less qualify to receive a TAP grant.

Award Amounts

TAP awards range from $500 to $5665 a year.

Qualifying Program and credits

You must be admitted into a degree program and be matriculated.
You must register for at least 12 credits or equated credits, which are creditable toward your declared major.

Pursuit and Progress

You must make academic progress towards a degree. You must maintain a minimum GPA for each payment requested.

Additional information on TAP

• If you are pursuing an associate’s degree you must declare a major before the beginning of your second year (before 31 credits)
• If you are pursuing a bachelor’s degree you must declare a major before the beginning of your third year (before 61 credits)
• HESC will Verify the income tax information on your TAP application with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance
• You are allowed a total of 48 TAP points for your entire undergraduate degree. You use six points for each full-time TAP payment. You may receive up to six semesters as an associate degree student. For some special programs you can earn up to 10 semesters and are allowed at total to 60 points
• Disabled students may be eligible to combine coursework from more than one semester to meet the full-time attendance requirement (see your college for more information).

How do I apply for TAP?

When you have completed the FAFSA-on-the-Web, the confirmation page will give you a link to the TAP-on-the-Web application for New York State financial aid. Before completing the TAP application, you will be asked to establish a PIN (Personal Identification Number) for TAP. This PIN will allow you to complete your application later, access your application information, or make changes, if necessary.

After establishing your PIN, you will be able to complete your TAP application. The TAP on-line form will be pre-filled with some of the information from the FAFSA you completed on-line. Review this data, supply any missing information, and submit the form. Follow the instructions provided.

How much TAP am I eligible for, and when will I receive it?

Your school will give you an estimate of your TAP award. The information you provide is verified and the TAP award subject to change if there are any discrepancies in income, cost of attendance, family members in school, etc. Use the TAP Estimator on www.hesc.ny.gov to determine an estimate of your award. The school must verify your eligibility and certify your award.

Once the school certifies you are eligible and meeting all of the school requirements, the TAP funds will be sent to the school.

I received TAP last year, do I have to apply again?

In addition to the FAFSA application you must also file a TAP applicatin every year.

How much TAP can I receive each semester?

The amount of TAP you receive depends on your family income, the number of family members attending college full-time, the number of semesters you have received TAP, and the size of the annual appropriation for the program. Maximum TAP awards can be equal to but not greater than the full tuition charge at the college. State budgetary restrictions can further limit TAP awards to a portion of your tuition. A PTAP award will be based on your part-time credit load and will be calculated as a proportional fraction of the normal full-time TAP award.

For how many semesters can I receive TAP?

For an associate degree you may receive TAP for up to 6 semesters. You will be limited to 6 semesters of TAP even if you change majors or transfer to another community college. When you enroll in a 4 year college program at a senior college, you will become eligible for an additional 2 full-time semesters of TAP bringing your undergraduate total to 8 semesters. If you are enrolled in a special program, such as SEEK, you may receive up to 10 semesters (or the equivalent) of TAP as an undergraduate.

Can I get TAP for repeating a course?

If you repeat a course that you previously passed, you may not count the repeated course towards full-time enrollment for TAP purposes. This means that in order to receive TAP in a semester where you may be repeating a course you passed previously that you have, in addition to the repeated course, at least 12 credits or equated credits of non-repeated courses. If you repeat a course that you previously failed, you may include that course towards full-time enrollment for TAP purposes.

Can I get TAP for remedial courses?

Remedial courses may be counted towards either full-time or part time enrollment for TAP purposes. However, to qualify for TAP, you must always be registered for a certain number of degree credit courses

Where could I go for more information about my TAP award?

The HESC Customer Communication Center can be reached by telephone toll-free at 1-888-NYS-HESC (1-888-697-4372) or 1-518-473-1574. The Customer Communication Center answers general inquiries. If you are calling about your TAP grant or student loan, please have your account number ready. You could also reach them on the web by going to www.hesc.ny.gov.

You may be eligible if:

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 enroll or enrolled for undergraduate study at a NYS college within 5 years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR
      2. You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma, and enroll or enrolled for undergraduate study at a NYS college within 5 years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR
      3. You are or will be charged the NYS resident in-state tuition rate at a SUNY or CUNY college for a reason other than residency.
2. 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 enroll or enrolled for undergraduate study at a NYS college within five years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR
      2. You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma,and enroll or enrolled for undergraduate study at a NYS college within five years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR
      3. You are or will be charged the NYS resident in-state tuition rate at a SUNY or CUNY college for a reason other than residency.
3. You study at an approved postsecondary institution in New York State;
4. You are matriculated in an approved program of study and are in good academic standing with at least a “C” average as of the 4th semester payment
5. You are enrolled as a full-time student taking twelve or more credits* applicable each term toward your degree program;
6. You are charged at least $200 tuition per year;
7. You meet the income eligibility limits;
8. You are not in default on any state or federal student loans or in default on any repayment of State awards;
9. You are in compliance with the terms of any service condition imposed by a NYS award.
10. * Credit-bearing courses in the student’s minimum full-time course load (12 semester hours or the education requirement, major requirement, or elective).

Note: A student seeking New York State financial aid, including TAP, for the first time, must pass a federally approved ATB test identified by the Board of Regents if the student does not possess a U.S. high school diploma or its recognized equivalent.

Eligibility

To be considered for an APTS award, students must:

• Enroll part time (at least 3 but less than 12 credits per semester) as a matriculated student in approved undergraduate degree programs or registered certificate programs at degree-granting institutions in New York State.
• Meet the program income limits
• Be New York State residents and either United States citizens or qualifying non-citizens
• Not have used up Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) eligibility
• Maintain good academic standing
• Not be in default on any Federal or State student loan or on any repayment of state awards
• You must maintain a “C” average after having received the equivalent of two full years of payment of State-sponsored student financial aid
• Have graduated from high school in the United States, or earned a high school equivalency diploma by passing the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC), formally known as GED, or passed a federally approved “Ability to Benefit” test as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department.

Eligibility for an APTS award is based on New York State net taxable income from the preceding calendar year.

• If students were eligible to be claimed as tax dependents by their parents, family New York State NET taxable income can be as much as $50,550 to qualify for an award. Family income includes student AND parents’ income.
• If students were not eligible to be claimed by their parents as tax dependents, their New York State NET taxable income (including spouse’s income) can be as much as $34,250 to qualify for an award. Spouse’s income must be included if they were married on or before December 31 of the previous calendar year.
• If students were not eligible to be claimed by their parents but were eligible to claim tax dependents other than self and/or spouse, New York State NET taxable income (including spouse’s income) can be as much as $50,550 to qualify for an award. Spouse’s income must be included if they were married on or before December 31 of the previous calendar year.