Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

Eligible students can receive up to $5,665 to help cover tuition expenses.

• Does not have to be paid back!
• Available to students attending full-time, part-time and in non-degree workforce credential programs
• Must be a legal NYS resident for 12 continuous months prior to enrolling or qualified under NYS DREAM Act
• Academic year 24-25 NYS net taxable income cannot exceed $125,000 for dependent students; $60,000 for married students with no dependents; $30,000 for independent single students with no dependents

Deadline & Application

Deadline

Didn’t apply for TAP through the FAFSA?

Sign up to be notified when the 2025-26 TAP application is available.

Award

$1,000 to $5,665 for 2024-25 academic year (the minimum award increased to $1,000 effective 2024-25)

Award amount determined by:

• Combined income, including family-earned income and pensions.
• Number of family members enrolled in college.
• Financial status (dependent or independent).
• Cost of tuition.
• When you started receiving TAP or other NYS awards.

Annual

Must complete the FAFSA and TAP application or Dream Act application each year for payment.

Dependent on length of program

3 years for students pursuing their associate degree full-time.

4 years for students pursuing their bachelor’s degree full-time.

5 years for approved five-year degree programs.

*Any award payment received may have tax implications. Any questions regarding this should be directed to a tax professional, the Internal Revenue Service, or the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.

Eligibility

Undocumented and other immigrant students: before submitting your Scholarship application, apply for eligibility under the NYS DREAM Act.

Citizenship & NYS Residency

You can receive TAP if you meet the following residency requirements:

• You are a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen. AND
• You are a legal resident of New York State and have resided in New York State for 12 continuous months.

Not a citizen or eligible noncitizen? Learn more about the NYS DREAM Act application.

Academic Requirements

High School, GED, or Ability to Benefit

• Graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma (GED), or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test.

College & Program

Once in college, you must meet the following requirements:

• Attend an approved college in New York State.
• Be a full-time student taking 12 or more credits each semester.
• Be enrolled in a degree-granting program of study and maintain good academic standing.
• Be charged at least $200 for tuition per year.

Income & Financial Requirements

You are eligible to receive TAP if you fall under any of the following income limits:

For the 2024-25 Academic Year:

• $125,000 or less net taxable income (NTI):
  • If you are a dependent undergraduate student within a household earning under the income limit or
  • If you are an independent undergraduate student (married or single) with tax dependents or
  • If you are an undergraduate student who qualified as an orphan, foster child, or ward of the court at any time since the age of 13.
  • If you are an independent undergraduate student (married) without tax dependents.
  • If you are an independent undergraduate student (single) without tax dependents.

  Financial Status

  To receive TAP, you must:

  • Be in good standing (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 and
  • Be in compliance with the terms of the service condition(s) imposed by any NYS award that you have previously received.