Federal and State Aid

Federal Pell Grants (PELL)

A Federal Pell Grant does not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree. For many students, Pell Grants provide a foundation of financial aid to which other aid may be added.

To determine eligibility, the US Department of Education uses a standard formula, established by Congress, to evaluate the reported information. The formula produces an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) number. Your Student Aid Report (or, SAR) contains this number and will tell you if you’re eligible.

Awards for each year will depend on program funding. Students can receive only one Pell Grant per award year. The amount of the Pell award depends directly on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), cost of attendance, whether a full-time student status and whether you attend school for a full academic year or less.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)

Are Funded by both the federal government and the College, They are awarded on the basis of exceptional need and availability of funds. Eligibility for FSEOG is determined during the FAFSA review process.

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

Only students who are New York State Residents can receive TAP. As the largest state grant program in the US, the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) provides more than 330,000 New York State students with awards ranging from $100 to $5,000. Because TAP is a grant, it does not have to be paid back. You can get TAP for up to four years of undergraduate study, or up to five years for certain approved programs. Students in two-year programs are eligible for up to three years of TAP for full-time study.

What Determines the Amount of TAP that I Receive?

• The amount of tuition charged.
• Your combined family New York State net taxable income (NTI); your financial status (dependent or independent of parents); the type of school you are planning to attend and the year in which you first receive a TAP award.
• Other siblings enrolled in College.

New York State Residents

Information from your completed FAFSA will be provided to NYS Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). HESC will send an Express TAP Application (ETA) to any NYS resident who indicates at least one NYS institution on the FAFSA. Students should complete the application and return it to HESC immediately.

Satisfactory Academic Progress for TAP Recipients in Undergraduate Four-Year Programs

New York State has established criteria for Satisfactory Academic Progress that differs from the Federal Standard outlined previously. If a student does not meet the NYS TAP standards the student may apply for a one-time waiver.

9th and 10th payments of TAP are available only to students in five-year programs approved by NYS Commissioner of Education.

In addition to the above, New York State financial aid programs require that Program Pursuit be monitored. This means that during the first year that a student receives state aid (s) he must carry to completion (all grades except “W”) six (6) credit hours per semester; during the second year nine (9) credit hours per semester; and during subsequent years twelve (12) credit hours per semester.

TAP Waivers

TAP waivers are granted only once to students and only for extraordinary reasons which are beyond the control of the student. TAP waivers can only be considered for students who have maintained good academic standing for all but one semester and who fall short of either the published Pursuit or Progress standard for that one semester. (See the New York State standards for satisfactory academic progress above.)

Students who wish to be considered for a waiver must complete a Waiver Appeal Form, which can be obtained from the Academic Advising Office in Founders Hall. The Waiver Appeal Form must include a written statement outlining the reasons why they feel they are eligible for a waiver. After careful consideration, the Waiver Appeals Committee will render a decision and the student will be informed in writing. In addition, the information will be shared with the College Registrar and New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) can be properly notified.

Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS)

Available to: Part-time undergraduate students who are permanent residents of New York State. In addition to financial need criteria, students must not have exhausted their TAP eligibility (i.e., received eight semesters of TAP).

Forms are available from and must be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid by specified filing deadlines. The office is located in Reid Hall third floor.

Additional Sources of Aid for New York Residents

Beyond the TAP and APTS programs, additional aid in the form of grants and scholarships are awarded yearly through the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, Albany, NY 12255.

These include:

• Vietnam and Gulf War Veteran Tuition Awards
• NYS Memorial Scholarships for Families of Deceased Police Officers and Firefighters
• Children of Deceased or Disabled Veteran Awards
• Military Service Recognition Scholarship
• World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship

For additional scholarship information, please log onto www.hesc.com.

Individuals with disabilities may contact the ACCES-VR (formerly known as Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)), NYS Education Department, Albany, NY 12234. They may provide funds to be used for tuition, tutoring, books fees, etc., if deemed eligible.

Aid programs for the visually impaired are available through the NYS Commission for the Blind, Department of Social Services, Albany, NY 12243. Additionally, students may be eligible for a Lavelle Fund Scholarship, awarded to full time students from NY, NJ and CT. Please contact the Director of Disability services at (914)323-7127 for details.

State Aid to Native Americans may be obtained by contacting the Native American Education Unit, NYS Education Department, and Albany, NY 12234.