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New York State Awards

In order to be considered for any NYS aid, students must have graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma, or passed a federally approved “Ability to Benefit” test, as defined by the commissioner of the State Education Department.

Note: The deadline published in our academic calendar for declaring a major by 60 credits, only applies to New York State aid.

The Senator Jose Peralta NYS DREAM Act (DREAM ACT)

Allows undocumented and other eligible students to apply for New York State financial aid. The NYS DREAM Act application is used to determine student eligibility under the provisions of the NYS DREAM Act.
Students who meet the NYS DREAM Act’s eligibility requirements for high school attendance, high school completion, in-state CUNY tuition, and citizenship or immigration status will be able to apply for one or more NYS student financial aid programs.
Students who qualify under the NYS DREAM Act can separately apply for NYS student financial aid programs. For more details https://www.hesc.ny.gov/

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

TAP is a grant for full-time undergraduate students who are residents of New York State and who are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens. Under-graduates may be eligible for grants from $500 to a maximum of $5,165 for the academic year. TAP awards cannot exceed the cost of tuition. Participants in this program are expected to comply with the program pursuit and academic progress requirements to remain eligible for subsequent TAP awards. Additionally one of the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (NYSHESC) academic eligibility requirements for TAP, is that students must declare a major when they have accumulated 60 or more credits. Declaration or change of major, concentration or minor must be submit-ted by the deadline published in our academic calendar. In addition, students must be registered for at least 12 credits contributory toward their major, minor or general education requirement. Further information on TAP eligibility is available in the Financial Aid Office and on its website.

Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS)

This grant program is financed by New York State and administered by participating colleges. APTS provides aid to part-time (6-11 credits) undergraduates for their educational expenses. Awards cannot exceed tuition costs. Recipients must file a FAFSA and a TAP application and be New York State residents who have not used up eligibility for the TAP program. In addition, students must complete and submit the “CUNY Supplement Form. In addition, students must complete and submit the “CUNY Supplement Form” in the CUNYfirst Student Center To-do-list.

Excelsior Scholarship

The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other student financial aid programs, allows students to attend a CUNY college tuition-free.

Eligibility

An applicant must:

  • be a resident of NYS and have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months prior to the beginning of the term;

  • be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;

  • have either graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma, or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test, as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department;

  • have a combined federal adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less;

  • be pursuing an undergraduate degree at a CUNY or SUNY college;

  • be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term and complete at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward his or her degree program;

  • if attended college prior to the 2019-20 academic year, have earned at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward his or her degree program prior to applying for an Excelsior Scholarship;

  • be in a non-default status on a student loan made under any NYS or federal education loan program or on the repayment of any NYS award;

  • be in compliance with the terms of the service condition(s) imposed by a NYS award that you have previously received; and

  • execute a Contract agreeing to reside in NYS for the length of time the award was received, and, if employed during such time, be employed in NYS.

NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program

The NYS STEM Incentive Program provides a full CUNY tuition scholarship for the top 10 percent of students in each New York State high school if they pursue a STEM degree in an associates or bachelor degree program and agree to work in a STEM field in New York State for 5 years after graduation.

Eligibility

An applicant must:

  • Be a NYS resident

  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen

  • Be enrolled full time at a SUNY or CUNY college, including the statutory or contract colleges at Cornell University and Alfred University, beginning with the fall term following his or her high school graduation

  • Be ranked in the top 10% of his/her high school graduating class of a NYS high school

  • Be matriculated in an undergraduate program leading to a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics at a SUNY or CUNY college

  • Earn a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher each term after the first semester

  • Execute a service contract agreeing to reside and work in NYS for five years in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics.

  • Not be in default on a student loan made under any NYS or federal education loan program or repayment of any state award

  • Be in compliance with the terms of any service condition imposed by a state award

Award Amounts

Recipients shall receive an annual award for full-time study equal to the annual tuition charged to NYS resident students attending an undergraduate program at the State University of New York, or actual tuition charged, whichever is less. The STEM award will be reduced by the amount of any other tuition-only assistance award received.

Duration

Recipients shall be entitled to an annual award for not more than four academic years of full-time undergraduate study while matriculated in an approved program leading to a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics or five years if the program of study requires five years.

How to Apply

Applications will be available October 1 every year for the upcoming academic year. Recipients are not required to submit another New York State Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Incentive Program Web Supplement once they have been awarded this scholarship, but must complete the (FAFSA) and TAP application each year. Awards will be paid directly to the school on behalf of students upon the successful completion of each term. Successful completion of a term means the applicant meets all of the eligibility requirements for the award.