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:

  • Meet the program income limits.
  • 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 a bachelor’s degree you must declare a major before completing 60 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 the 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 a Part-Time TAP award be enrolled part-time in at least 3 but fewer than 12 equated credits with at least 3 of these being degree 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.
  • Part-Time TAP students must have a ‘C’ average at the time of the current payment. 
  • Not be in default of Federal Direct student loans or loans that HESC guaranteed.
  • The maximum number of full-time semesters at the undergraduate level that a student can receive payment is eight (8) semesters. Students in the SEEK program can receive up to 10 semesters. 
  • A student seeking State financial aid (including TAP) 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. A student must test or take a retest within the add/drop period for a particular term to be certified as eligible for an award for that term.