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New York State Aid Programs

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

The New York State Tuition Assistance Program helps eligible New York residents attending in-state post-secondary institutions pay for tuition. Depending on the academic year in which the student began study, annual TAP awards range from $500 to $5,665.

To be eligible for TAP, a student must:

  • Be a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen

  • Be a legal resident of New York State

  • Study full-time (at least 12 credits per semester applicable toward your degree program)

  • Have graduated from a U.S. high school, or have a GED, or have 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

  • Have declared a major no later than 30 days from end of add/drop period in the first term of your junior year

  • Meet good academic standing requirement

  • Not be in default on any State or Federal made student loan

  • Meet income eligibility limitations

  • Effective fall 1998, disabled students who meet the definition in the 1990 Federal Americans with Disabilities Act may receive TAP while attending less than full-time. Please check with Financial Aid, in the Academic Core Building, room 1M08, for updated information.

Income limits for TAP

  • Dependent undergraduate students or independent students who are married and have tax dependents - $80,000 NYS net taxable income

  • Independent undergraduate students who are married and have no other tax dependents - $40,000 NYS net taxable income

  • Single independent undergraduate students with no taxable dependents - $10,000 NYS net taxable income

Determination of TAP award amount

  • Academic year in which first payment of TAP or any state award is received

  • Combined family NYS net taxable income

  • Financial status (dependent or independent)

  • Other family members enrolled in college

  • The final filing deadline for TAP is June 30 of the academic year for which aid is sought. Maximum TAP Eligibility

Students enrolled in four-year programs may receive up to four years of TAP assistance for full-time study; up to five years in the SEEK Program. HESC monitors the usage of NYS awards by assigning payment points for each award a student receives: 6 points for a full-time semester payment; 3 points for a half-time accelerated study summer payment; and 3 points for an APTS payment. PTAP usage is measured as a proportional fraction of a full-time semester TAP payment.

Petitioning for a TAP Waiver

A one-time waiver of the normal progress requirements may be granted. If you fail to meet the TAP pursuit, progress, and/or attendance requirements, you may apply to the TAP Waiver Committee for a waiver. Extenuating circumstances, which will be considered by the committee, and which must be documented are as follows:

  • Personal illness involving hospitalization or extended home confinement

  • Illness in immediate family requiring your absence from classes for an extended period

  • Emotionally disabling condition, which prevented you from attending classes

  • Change in working conditions of your job on which you and your family are dependent

  • Military duty, incarceration or other involvement with agencies or government, which prevented you from attending classes

For undue hardship directly affecting the 2.0 requirement, more than one waiver may be granted. Your academic record will be assessed for indications that you will be able to meet the standards in the following semester. A waiver does not extend the number of TAP payments you may receive. It does enable you to receive TAP for that semester only and you must then meet the requirements to be eligible for further payments. Students who fail to meet the State's academic standards will be notified and informed of their right to petition to waive Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements.

Part-time TAP (PTAP)

New York State Education Law was amended in 2006 to create a Part-Time Tuition Assistance Program for New York State students. To be eligible for part-time TAP, students must have been freshmen in the 2006-2007 academic year or thereafter, have earned 12 credits or more in each of two consecutive semesters, prior to dropping to part-time (6-11 credits) and maintain a "C" average. Part-Time TAP allows for a partial TAP payment for students taking 6-11 credits.

To be eligible for PTAP, a student must:

  • Be a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen

  • Be a legal resident of New York State

  • Have graduated from high school in the United States, or earned 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

  • Have declared a major no later than 30 days from end of add/drop period in the first term of your junior year

  • Meet good academic standing requirements every semester

  • Be taking 6 but fewer than 12 credits per semester

  • Not be in default on any State or Federal student loan

  • Meet income eligibility limitations

Award amount for PTAP

A PTAP award is calculated as a proportional fraction of a normal full-time TAP award based on the number of part-time credits a student is registered for. For income limits for PTAP, see the limits for TAP.

Aid for Part-time Study (APTS)

To be considered for an APTS award, students must meet the same eligibility requirements as the TAP program with one difference. It is a part-time program therefore, you must be registered for at least 6 credits but less than 12, of which 3 must be non-remedial credits. You must have completed the FAFSA, TAP application and the CUNY Financial Aid Supplement to be considered for APTS.

Income limits for APTS

Eligibility for an APTS award is based on New York State net taxable income and federal, state, and local pension income from the preceding calendar year. If students were eligible to be claimed as tax dependents by their parents, the family's New York State net taxable income may not exceed $50,550 including both the student and parent's 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, the New York State net taxable income, including spouse's income, may not exceed $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.

The Percy E. Sutton Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK) Program

The Percy E. Sutton SEEK Program is a New York State program available at CUNY's four-year and comprehensive colleges designed to assist students who are both academically and financially disadvantaged. To receive funds from SEEK you must complete both the FAFSA and TAP applications and you must register as a full-time student.

Admission into the SEEK Program is part of the CUNY admissions process; there is no separate application. Admission is based on both the financial and academic need (see the Percy E. Sutton SEEK Program). If you are a new CUNY student and have been admitted into the SEEK Program, your SEEK funding will not appear on your financial aid award letter until you have submitted all the financial documents required to prove economic eligibility for these programs.

Excelsior Scholarship

The Excelsior Scholarship enables eligible New York residents to receive state support for 100% of any tuition costs which are not covered by other financial aid. Recipients of this award must have a family income of $125,000.00 or less in 2022. Students must file the FAFSA, TAP and Excelsior applications by the published deadline, attend a CUNY or SUNY college full-time and complete 30 credits per academic year. Awardees must agree to reside in New York State and not be employed in any other state for the number of years equal to the duration they receive the Excelsior Scholarship. Please visit: https://www.hesc.ny.gov/for additional information.

Other New York State Scholarships and Awards

New York State offers a number of special scholarships for students who excelled in high school or who may be pursuing particular academic objectives. Please visit https://hesc.ny.gov for additional information including the Jose Peralta NY State Dream Act.

State Satisfactory Academic Progress Guidelines

State regulations stipulate that in order to maintain TAP eligibility, students must meet the academic progress standard each award semester. This standard has two components:

  • Students must accrue a specified number of credits per semester (see tables below).

  • Students must achieve a minimum level of performance as measured by cumulative grade point average (GPA) per semester (see tables below).

  • All students will be measured against the State SAP components at the end of each semester to determine eligibility for receipt of TAP in the upcoming semester.

"Table 1. Baccalaureate Program: Students First Receiving Aid in 2007-08 Through and Including 2009-10 and SEEK/CD and Remedial Students First Receiving Aid in 2007-08 or After"
"Table 2. Baccalaureate Program: Students First Receiving Aid in 2010-11 and After Non-remedial"

Note: Transfer students who have received two or more years of TAP are eligible for TAP in their initial term at York but must meet the "C" average requirement thereafter.