NYS TAP & APTS

The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) helps eligible New York residents pay tuition at approved school in New York State. Depending on the academic year in which you begin study, an annual TAP award can be up to $5,665. Because TAP is a grant, it does not have to be paid back.

TAP is also available for students attending a SUNY, CUNY and not-for-profit independent degree-granting college on a part-time basis. To be eligible for Part-Time TAP you must have been a first-time freshman in the 2006-07 academic year or thereafter, have earned 12 credits or more in each of two consecutive semesters, and maintain a “C” average.

Eligibility Requirements

Be a legal resident of NYS and have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months
Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
Have graduated from a high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma by passing a Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) formally known as a GED, or passed a federally approved “Ability to Benefit” test as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department
Study at an approved postsecondary institution in New York State
Be matriculated in an approved program of study and be in good academic standing with at least a “C” average as of the 4^th semester payment
Be enrolled as a full-time student taking twelve (12) or more credits applicable towards the degree program, per semester
Be charged at least $200 tuition per year
Meet income eligibility limitations
Not be in default on any state or federal student loans and not be in default on any repayment of State awards
Be in compliance with the terms of any service condition imposed by a NYS award

If a student does not meet the citizenship requirements listed above, they may still be eligible for a TAP award through the NYS DREAM Act. Please visit https://www.hesc.ny.gov/dream/ for additional information.

TAP Income Limits

Student Type	NYS Taxable Income Limit
Dependent undergraduate students or Independent students who are married and have tax dependents, or Independent students who are unmarried and have tax dependents, or students who qualified as an orphan, foster child or ward of the court at any time since the age of 13	$80,000
Independent undergraduate students who are married and have no other tax dependents	$40,000
Single independent undergraduate students with no tax dependents	$10,000

How to Apply

Students can apply for TAP through their FAFSA application. New York State (NYS) residents attending NYS schools can link directly to the TAP application from the FAFSA submission confirmation page.

If the FAFSA was exited before completing the TAP application – and the student filled in their New York State address and a New York State college on the FAFSA – the New York Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) will automatically receive the information in about three (3) days. HESC will then send the student an email or postcard with directions to complete the TAP application online.

OCC's TAP School Code is 2185

NYS Aid for Part-Time Study

The Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS) program provides grant assistance up to $2,000 per year to eligible part-time students enrolled in approved undergraduate studies. An APTS award cannot exceed tuition charges.

For this program, part-time study means being enrolled for at least 3 but fewer than 12 credit hours per semester.

Apply for NYS APTS

Eligibility Requirements

Be a legal resident of New York state and have resided in NYS for at least 12 continuous months prior to the start of the term
Have graduated from a high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma by passing a Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) formally known as a GED, or passed a federally approved “Ability to Benefit” test as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department
Be enrolled as a part-time student
Be matriculated in an approved program of study in a participating New York State postsecondary institution
Be in good academic standing
Be charged at least $100 tuition per year
Meet income eligibility limitations
Not have exhausted Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) eligibility
Not be in default on a student loan made under any NYS or federal education loan program or repayment of any NYS award
Be in compliance with the terms and service condition imposed by a NYS award

Income Limits

Eligibility for an APTS award is based on New York State net taxable income, Federal, State or local pension income and private pension and annuity income, if applicable, from the preceding calendar year.

For students who were eligible to be claimed as tax dependents by their parents, family New York State NET taxable income may not exceed $50,550. Family income includes student AND parent income.
For students who were not eligible to be claimed by their parents as tax dependents, their New York State NET taxable income (including spouse’s income) may not exceed $34,250. The spouse’s income must be included if they were married on or before December 31 of the previous calendar year.
For students who were not eligible to be claimed by their parents but were eligible to claim tax dependents other than self and/or spouse, their New York State NET taxable income (including spouse’s income) may not exceed $50,550. The spouse’s income must be included if they were married on or before December 31 of the previous calendar year.