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State Financial Aid Programs

General Eligibility Requirements

  1. Meet one of the United States citizenship requirements

  2. Meet New York State residency requirements

  3. Enroll as a full-time student

  4. Enroll in an approved program of study in a New York State postsecondary institution

  5. Be in matriculated status

  6. Be in good academic standing

  7. Not be in default on any student loan

  8. Have a minimum tuition liability of at least $200 per academic year ($100 per semester).

Excelsior Scholarship

The first-of-its-kind program that provides free tuition to New York State students whose families earn up to $110,000 annually for the 2018-19 academic year to attend a SUNY or CUNY two-year or four-year college and reaching $125,000 per year for the 2019-20

academic year. For further information on the Excelsior Scholarship, please visit the Office of Financial Aid or www.hesc.ny.gov/Excelsior

 

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

TAP is an Entitlement Grant Program for New York State residents attending postsecondary institutions in the state. The Program provides grant assistance to help eligible full-time students meet tuition charges.

1.     Students in associate degree or certificate programs are eligible for up to three years of assistance (36 payment points).

2.     Students in bachelor degree programs are eligible for up to four years of assistance (48 payment points).

3.     SEEK students are eligible for up to five years of assistance (60 payment points). Awards vary according to tuition charges, type of institution attended, family net taxable income and the academic year in which student receives his/her first payment.

 

Aid to Part-time Study (APTS)

This Program provides tuition assistance to eligible undergraduate students enrolled on a part-time basis. Unlike other grant and scholarship programs administered by New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (NYSHESC), the APTS Program operates as a campus-based program. To apply, students must complete the CUNY Supplement Form. The amount of the award will depend on a student’s financial need, the tuition cost, the college’s allocation of funds, and the total number of eligible part-time students attending the college who apply for the award.

 

APTS awards reduce a student’s total award eligibility for TAP. Once TAP eligibility is exhausted, students are no longer eligible for APTS. APTS is considered one half of a TAP Award (3 payment points).

 

City University Supplemental Tuition Assistance (CUSTA)

The CUSTA Award is a City University administered program to assist students who experience a reduction in their TAP Award in their 5th semester of TAP eligibility. To be eligible for the CUSTA Award, students must be:

  1. Enrolled in an undergraduate program at a CUNY Senior or Technical College.

  2. Enrolled on a full-time basis.

  3. Eligible for the maximum TAP Award.

  4. At least a fifth-semester TAP eligible recipient who has not exhausted their TAP eligibility

The Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK) Program

This Program assists in providing higher education opportunity for educationally and economically disadvantaged students. Students are provided with specialized counseling, tutorial services, academic instruction, and additional financial aid stipends for books and fees. Requirements for eligibility are on the Freshmen Application for Admissions.

Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP)

ASAP assist students in earning their associate degree within three years by providing comprehensive advisement, career development, academic support, and financial resources, including waivers for tuition and fees (for students in receipt of financial aid), MTA MetroCards, and textbook vouchers. To learn more about ASAP eligibility, visit ares.mec.cuny.edu/academic-affairs/asap.

Students who are Delinquent or in Default

Students who are delinquent and/or in default of any of their financial accounts with the College, the University, or an appropriate State or Federal Agency for which the University acts as either disbursing or certifying agent, are not permitted to complete registration, and cannot be issued either a copy of their grades, a transcript of academic records, or their certificate or degree. They cannot receive any funds under the Federal Campus-based Student Assistance Programs nor the Federal Pell Grant Program unless the designated officer waives IN WRITING the application of this regulation. This can only be done in exceptional hardship cases and must be consistent with Federal and State Regulations.