New York State Aid
You will be able to link to your on-line TAP application at the end of the FAFSA session if you file your FAFSA electronically, indicate that you are a New York State resident, and list at least one New York State academic institution. If you missed the NYS link, or you filed a paper FAFSA, you can apply directly at New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) TAP Application Online.
Undergraduate TAP Code: 0875
Most NY State scholarships are administered by NY State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). In order to be considered for most of these awards HESC typically requires the completion of a TAP application, even if the student/family income precludes the student from receiving TAP.
Visit the following web page to learn about the various scholarship and grant programs administered by HESC:
https://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/financial-aid/types-of-financial-aid.html#horizontalTab2
- NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
Program Detail & Eligibility:
Administered by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) and is available to full-time* undergraduate matriculated students who are New York State residents. Additional information and application procedures are available on the HESC web site. Satisfactory Academic Progress is a requirement. Click here to read more information about TAP.
TAP can only pay tuition.*FULL TIME ENROLLMENT FOR TAP REQUIRES A MINIMUM ENROLLMENT OF 12 CREDITS.
Undergraduate TAP Code: 0875Award Limits:
$5,665 per year
- NYS Aid for Part Time Study (APTS)
Program Detail & Eligibility:
Available to matriculated undergraduate students who are New York State residents enrolled for 3-11 credits for fall /spring terms. Eligibility is based on New York State net taxable income.
Additional information and application procedures are available on the HESC web site.
Award Limits:
Awards provide up to $2,000 per year for part-time undergraduate study. An APTS award cannot exceed tuition charges.
How to Apply:
An APTS Application and a copy of the student's and parent's (if applicable) New York State Income Tax Return should be submitted to the financial aid office by the priority deadline date for each semester.
Fall 2022 - October 7, 2022
Spring 2023- March 10, 2023 - NYS Excelsior Scholarship
Making public college tuition-free for thousands of students
Please note that the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically reduced state revenues and the processing of new applications is pending on Federal assistance, which has been delayed since April. Excelsior Scholarship awards may have to be reduced and/or prioritized for current recipients as provided for under the program.
The Excelsior Scholarship program will provide NY State resident students up to $5,500* annually for assistance with tuition. It will be phased in over three years, beginning in fall 2017 for New Yorkers making up to $100,000 annually, increasing to $110,000 in 2018, and reaching $125,000 in 2019.
What are the basic eligibility requirements?
- You must be an undergraduate student enrolled in a program leading to a bachelor's degree
- You must be a New York State resident for the past 12 months
- You must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- You 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
- For the 2018-19 academic year, your 2016 household federal adjusted gross income can total up to $110,000 to be eligible. New York State families can earn up to $125,000 in 2019-20 and thereafter.
- You must declare a major leading to a degree by the start of your junior year (57 credits earned)
- You must be enrolled in at least 12 credits (can be less if registered with SBU Disability Support Services) applicable to your program(s) of study as defined by the New York State Education Department and Stony Brook's Undergraduate Bulletin. Remedial coursework cannot be counted as part of the 12 credit requirement.
- You must complete and earn at least 30 credits (24 credits, if an EOP student) applicable to your program(s) of study within a 365-day period (credits can be made up during winter and summer as long as it’s within the 365-day period). Applicable college course or test credits earned in high school can be used to help meet the 30 credit requirement.
- You must be on track to complete a bachelor’s degree in four consecutive years (five if an EOP student) from when first entering a degree program at any institution. This requires completion of the equivalent of 30 credits each academic year (24 if EOP).
- Students with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and who are registered with Disability Support Services at Stony Brook University must be continuously enrolled and complete the number of credits attempted each semester to fulfill the requirement for on-time degree completion. Unearned credits can be made up for credits that were attempted and not previously completed if additional credits are successfully earned during a summer and/or winter session(s).
- Additional information about eligibility and requirements to maintain the scholarship are available on the HESC website.
How do I apply?
What happens after I apply?
- HESC will review the information you provide on your application.
- Stony Brook will provide HESC with requested information about your academic record.
- If preliminary eligibility has been determined by HESC, they will issue a contract requiring your signature.
- Stony Brook will be notified that you've signed your award contract and your preliminary award will be posted to your financial aid package.
How is my Excelsior award calculated?
- The Excelsior Scholarship is a tuition specific award, meaning it only pays towards
tuition charges. It is also a last dollar award and the $5,500 amount will be reduced
by other grant/scholarship assistance received, even if those grants/scholarships
are not earmarked to pay tuition only. Therefore, if you receive awards such as Federal
Pell Grants, Federal SEOG, NY Tuition Assistance (TAP), SUNY Tuition Credits, other
NY grants or scholarship, Stony Brook grants or scholarships or any external scholarships,
your Excelsior Scholarship will be reduced or you may not be eligible to receive an
award.
Click here to see examples of Excelsior awarding.
What if I wish to decline the Excelsior award after I have signed the contract?
- Any student who wishes to decline the Excelsior award after they have signed the contract must send an email to declineexcelsior@hesc.ny.gov.
- NYS Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Incentive Program (STEM)
Program Detail & Eligibility:
The NYS STEM Incentive Program provides a full SUNY or 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.
Additional information is available on the HESC web site.
Award Limits:
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.
How to Apply:
An applicant must complete and submit the New York State Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Incentive Program Web Supplement by August 15.
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 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the NYS Scholarship and Grant Payment Application each year.Terms & Conditions:
Applicants for the NYS Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Incentive Scholarships must execute a service contract in which they:
- Agree to work full-time for five years in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or math in New York State, while maintaining residency within the State, regardless of the number or amount of award payments.
- Agree to repay the amounts disbursed plus interest pursuant to the terms of their service contract if they:
- fail to fulfill their service obligation while residing in New York State, or
- fail to complete the degree program qualifying them to work in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or math, or
- fail to respond to all requests by HESC for a report of their academic and professional progress, or
- breach the terms of the service contract
Failure to comply with the terms of the service contract will result in the following repayment penalties:
- All award monies received shall convert to a 10-year student loan plus interest for recipients who fail to meet the statutory, regulatory, contractual, administrative or other requirements of this program.
- Interest for the life of the loan shall be fixed and equal to that published annually by the U.S. Department of Education for Stafford loans pursuant to the terms of the service contract.
- Interest accrues from the day each award payment is disbursed.
- Interest shall be capitalized on the day the award recipient violates the service contract or on the date the Corporation deems the recipient was no longer able or willing to perform the terms of the service contract.
Is the New York State Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) scholarship for you?
Stem Approved Programs of Study Stem Approved Occupations
- Foster Youth College Success Initiative (FYCSI)
Students who spent time in foster care or was an orphan any time after their 13th birthday may be eligible to receive additional support for tuition and fees, housing & meals, and books & transportation through the NYS Foster Youth College Success Initiative (FYCSI). If you were unable to report that you met this condition on your FAFSA, please contact our office. - DREAM Act
The New York State DREAM Act gives undocumented and other students access to New York State administered grants and scholarships that support their higher education costs. For further information and/or to see if you qualify, please visit www.hesc.ny.gov/dream.