Requirements for New York State Aid

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

General Eligibility Requirements for New York State Assistance

You must meet the program income limits
You must submit a FAFSA and a TAP application before May 1, 2010 for the 2009-2010 academic term
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)
Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or hold an I-94 visa as a refugee, paroled refugee or conditional entrant
Have a high school diploma, GED, or received a passing score on an approved ability-to-benefit test
If you are pursuing an associate's degree you must declare a major before the beginning of your second year
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. All other semesters after, you must take at least 6 degree credits as part of your full-time course load
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 your second payment
Be free of debt from any defaulted student loan that HESC guaranteed
You must not have exhausted your TAP eligibility
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