A college education has become a significant expense for most families and requires careful planning. Whatever your financial situation is, we encourage you to use this information to help you understand college funding so you can navigate the financial aid process with greater ease.

State Financial Aid

States provide many financial aid opportunities to help ease the cost of a college education. Please select the state you reside in to learn about state sponsored internships, scholarships and financial aid programs for undergraduate students and assistantships, fellowships, and residency programs for graduate and professional students.

STATE OF NEW YORK FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS

For more detailed information on state financial aid programs contact:

New York State Higher Education Services Corporation

99 Washington Avenue

Albany, NY 12255

1-888-NYS-HESC (1-888-697-4372) or

www.hesc.org

YOU MUST GO TO THIS WEBSITE FOR ALL THE INFORMATION ON EACH OF THE PROGRAMS

The following are financial aid programs available to students who are residents of the state of New York.

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) helps eligible New York residents pay tuition at approved schools in New York State. Depending on the academic year in which you begin study, an annual TAP award can be up to ,165. Because TAP is a grant, it does not have to be paid back. Effective for the 2012-13 academic year, TAP will be available for students attending. To be eligible for Part-Time TAP you must have been a first-time freshman in the 2014-2015 academic year or thereafter, have earned 12 credits or more in each of two consecutive semesters, and maintain a “C” average.

Part-Time TAP Program

Part-time students at approved schools in New York State who were first-time, full-time freshmen in 2014-2015 may be eligible for Part-Time TAP to help them pay for college beginning in 2014-2015. Part-Time TAP is a grant and does not have to be paid back. Part-Time TAP is not the same as Aid for Part-Time Study.

NYS Math and Science Teaching Incentive Scholarships

New York State (NYS) Math & Science Teaching Incentive Scholarships are offered to encourage students to pursue careers as secondary math and science teachers (grades 7-12). This program provides awards to students attending school at the undergraduate and/or graduate degree level in exchange for five years of full-time employment as secondary education math or science teachers. Effective with Legislation enacted in the 2014-15 New York State Budget, the award amounts for the grants, scholarships and loan forgiveness programs for the 2014-15 academic year will no longer be reduced by two percent.

NYS Educational Opportunity Program

The Educational Opportunity Program provides assistance to NYS residents who are academically and financially disadvantaged, according to state guidelines. Learn more by visiting the Opportunity Program admissions office at your college of choice.

Military Service Recognition Scholarship

The Military Service Recognition Scholarship (MSRS) provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of members of the armed forces of the United States or state organized militia who, at any time on or after Aug. 2, 1990, while New York State residents, died or became severely and permanently disabled while engaged in hostilities or training for hostilities.

Flight 3407 Memorial Scholarships

Flight 3407 Memorial Scholarships provide financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of individuals killed as a direct result of the crash of Continental Airlines Flight 3407 in Clarence, New York on February 12, 2009. This program will help families who lost loved ones cover the cost of attending college in New York State. Effective with Legislation enacted in the 2011-12 New York State Budget, the award amounts for the grants, scholarships and loan forgiveness programs for the 2014 – 15 academic year will no longer be reduced by two percent.

Flight 587 Memorial Scholarships

Flight 587 Memorial Scholarships provide financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of individuals killed as a direct result of American Airlines Flight 587’s crash in the Belle Harbor neighborhood of Queens, New York on the morning of November 12, 2001. In the spirit of the World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship, this program will help the 266 families who lost loved ones cover the cost of attending college in New York State. Effective with Legislation enacted in the 2014-15 New York State Budget, the award amounts for the grants, scholarships and loan forgiveness programs for the academic year will no longer be reduced by two percent.

NYS Memorial Scholarships

Memorial Scholarships for Families of Deceased Firefighters, Volunteer Firefighters, Police Officers, Peace Officers and Emergency Medical Service Workers provide financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of deceased firefighters, volunteer firefighters, police officers, peace officers*, and emergency medical service workers who have died as the result of injuries sustained in the line of duty in service to the State of New York. *Peace Officers are defined in the criminal procedures law and include many categories including New York State Correction Officers.

NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence

NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence provide up to $1,500 per year for up to five years of undergraduate study in New York State.

Amount

This program provides scholarship assistance to outstanding New York State high school graduates. Each year, 8,000 scholarships are awarded – up to 2,000 scholarships of $1,500 and 6,000 scholarships of $500 to top scholars from registered New York State high schools. Awards are based on student grades in certain Regents exams. Recipients can also receive other non-loan student aid, but the total cannot exceed the cost of attendance.

Per request adding following statement: Effective with Legislation enacted in the 2011-12 New York State Budget, the award amounts for the grants, scholarships and loan forgiveness programs for the 2014-15 academic year will no longer be reduced by two percent.

NYS World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship

The NYS World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship guarantees access to a college education for the families and financial dependents of innocent victims who died or were severely and permanently disabled as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States of America and the resulting rescue and recovery efforts.

Senator Patricia K. McGee Nursing Faculty Scholarship Program

Senator Patricia K. McGee Nursing Faculty Scholarships are being offered to increase the number of educators and adjunct clinical faculty teaching nursing education in New York State. Awards are made on a competitive basis to applicants who are registered professional nurses enrolling in graduate programs that will qualify them as nursing faculty or adjunct clinical faculty.

NYS Aid to Native Americans

Are you an enrolled member of a New York State tribe or the child of an enrolled member of a New York State tribe? You may be eligible for an award through the Aid to Native Americans Program.

More Information

Specific eligibility criteria and information can be found by writing to:

Native American Education Unit
NYS Education Department
Room 475 EBA
Albany, New York 12234
(518) 474-0537

NYS Regents Award for Children of Veterans

The New York State Regents Award for Children of Veterans was created to provide financial aid to students whose parent(s) served in the U.S. Armed Forces during specified times of national emergency.

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

Are you a New York State resident interested in high quality opportunities in community service activities in exchange for an education award? AmeriCorps is the national service initiative that provides funding for nonprofit organizations, agencies and educational institutions to run local programs that engage individuals from all backgrounds in community service activities. Now in its tenth year, more than 2,500 AmeriCorps members serve annually in New York State, and more than 75,000 serve nationally. They address the most pressing education, public safety, homeland security, and human and environmental challenges facing our communities.

Who Is Eligible?

You are eligible for a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award if you successfully complete your term of service in accordance with your member contract with one of the following approved AmeriCorps programs:

  • AmeriCorps State and National
  • AmeriCorps VISTA
  • AmeriCorps NCCC

You can use your education award to pay education costs at qualified institutions of higher education, for educational training, or to repay qualified student loans..

How Do You Find Out More Information?

Information about New York State programs can be found by contacting:
NYS Office for National and Community Service
Office of Children & Family Services
52 Washington St.
Rensselaer, NY 12144

Veterans Tuition Awards

Veterans Tuition Awards (VTA) provide up to $1,000 per semester for full-time study or $500 per semester for part-time study to eligible veterans matriculated at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution or in an approved vocational training program in New York State.

To learn more about programs and benefits for veterans visit the Division of Veterans Affairs.

New York Higher Education Loan Program (NYHELPs)

Maximum Annual Award $10,000

Duration $70,000 (including undergrad)

All Programs of Study

The application is found at: FAFSA, TAP application, personal information form and financial literacy course found at HESC Marketplace