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Requirements for New York State Aid

New York State Aid

The following are general requirements and conditions students must meet to be eligible for New York State financial assistance:

  • You must meet the program income limits.
  • You must be admitted into a degree program.
  • 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 first term for which you are seeking payment) or eligible under the Senator José Peralta  New York State DREAM Act.
  • Be a U.S. citizen, eligible non-citizen or hold an I-94 visa as a refugee, paroled refugee or conditional entrant.
  • If you are pursuing an associate’s degree you must declare a major before the beginning of your second year (31 credits) If you are pursuing a bachelor’s degree you must declare a major before the beginning of your third year (61 credits).
  • In your first TAP semester at least three credit hours of your full-time enrollment must be college credit bearing course work. For all subsequent semesters, you should check with your financial aid office to obtain the minimum number of degree credits required or you can find the information in the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) section.
  • HESC will verify the income tax information on your TAP application with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
  • For a TAP award be enrolled full-time, that is, enrolled for at least 12 credits or equated credits that meet the requirements of your curriculum/major.
  • For an APTS award be enrolled part-time in at least 6 but fewer than 12 equated credits with at least 3 of these being degree credits.
  • For Part-Time TAP students must have started in fall 2006 or later. Earn 12 equated credit hours or more in each of two consecutive preceding semesters, for a total of 24 credit hours and register for at least six credit hours, but less than 12 equated credits.
  • Remain in good academic standing for New York State financial aid programs by meeting Academic Progress standards and demonstrating Program Pursuit each semester you receive TAP.
  • Maintain a ‘C’ average after receiving four semesters of TAP payments.
  • Not be in default of Federal Direct student loans or loans that HESC guaranteed.
  • You must not have exhausted your TAP eligibility. You are allowed a total of eight full-time semesters of TAP payments (or its equivalent for part-time study) for your entire undergraduate degree. You may receive up to six semesters as an associate degree student. For some special programs you can earn up to 10 semesters.
  • 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).
  • Have graduated from high school in the U.S., or earned a GED, or pass a federally approved Ability-to-Benefit test as defined by the Commissioner of the State of Education Department.