New York State Grants

New York State’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) provides grants to students to assist them in paying tuition. The TAP program is administered by the NY State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC).

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.

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 $125,000 or less qualify to receive a TAP grant.

Award Amounts

• TAP awards range from $1,000 to $5,665 a year for the 2025-26 academic 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 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).