Financial Aid

Office of Financial Aid

Room U-201, Ext. 4644

Financial assistance is available to students to help pay for their educational costs. Kingsborough Community College participates in the Federal and State financial aid programs as well as other aid programs.

All matriculated students who wish to be considered for financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the FAFSA Renewal Application annually by visiting https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. By completing the FAFSA, a student may be eligible to receive Title IV aid such as Pell, the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), the Federal Work Study Program (FWS), and the Federal Direct Loan Program. Before completing the FAFSA application, a dependent student must create an FSA ID by visiting https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch. For dependent students, one of the dependent student’s parents will also need to create an FSA ID. An independent student will only need to create an FSA ID for him or herself. The FAFSA must be completed for each academic year a student is enrolled in college.

Legal New York State residents must also complete the New York State, Tuition Assistance Program Application (TAP) with New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (NYSHESC) to be considered for TAP. The TAP Application can be completed electronically at https://www.tap.hesc.ny.gov/totw/.

To receive maximum consideration for the different financial aid programs it is suggested that students submit their applications for the next academic year as soon as possible.  The FAFSA is available beginning October 1st of each year.

IMPORTANT NOTES

1. All currently enrolled students who have applied for financial aid must check their “To-Do-List” in the CUNYfirst portal to verify whether additional documents and/or actions are required by the Office of Financial Aid to complete their financial aid application.
2. The award year at Kingsborough Community College consists of two terms, Fall and Spring. The Fall term includes a 12-week Fall session and a 6-week Winter module. The Spring term includes a 12-week Spring session and a 6-week Summer module. In order to receive full-time financial aid for any term, a student must register/(preregister) for at least twelve (12) equated credits for both the session and module (Fall/Winter or Spring/Summer) by the seventh day of the 12-week session, e.g. by the seventh day of either the Fall or Spring session.
3. In some cases, financial aid is paid close to the beginning of the Fall or Spring session and covers both that session and the module (Fall/Winter or Spring/Summer). If a student fails to attend the module (either Winter or Summer), they may have to repay a portion of their aid.

Federal Student Aid Programs

To be eligible for Federal Financial Aid, a student must:

1. Be a citizen or eligible non-citizen of the United States.
2. Have a valid Social Security Number.
3. Have a high school diploma or High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma, either through passing the General Education Development (G.E.D.) exam or Testing Assessment Secondary Completion (TASC^TM) or the student must pass an independently administered test approved by the U.S. Department of Education, or meet other standards that New York State establishes that are approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
4. Be enrolled in an eligible program as a regular student seeking a degree or certificate.
5. Maintain academic progress (as defined in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements for Federal Aid Programs section).
6. Not owe a refund on a federal student grant or be in default on a federal student loan.

The Pell Grant

The Pell grant is available to eligible matriculated full-time or part-time students. Students must meet federal academic standards to receive this grant. The award amount is based on need, which is determined by the FAFSA. 

IMPORTANT NOTES

1. There is a limit to the total amount of Pell a student may receive in his/her lifetime, which is equal to 600%. Pell may be awarded for a maximum of 30 equated/developmental credits, excluding English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.
2. Non-degree students and those holding foreign student visas are NOT ELIGIBLE to receive federal financial aid.

The Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a federally sponsored program, administered by the College and is available to exceptionally needy students. In order to receive FSEOG, a student must be a Pell grant recipient. The FSEOG is an extremely limited fund, which is generally awarded to the earliest FAFSA applicants. The maximum grant awarded annually is based on the availability of funding. 

Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program

The Federal Work Study (FWS) Program provides part-time jobs to students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay for their educational expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study. Employment may be located on, or off-campus, and may take place during the academic year (including vacation periods) and/or during the summer months. Students are paid by the hour. Wages for the program are at least equal to the current federal minimum wage. The amount earned by the student cannot exceed the total FWS award. When assigning work hours, the employer/supervisor and work study coordinator will consider the student’s award amount, his/her class schedule and the student’s academic progress. Recipients are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The FWS is an extremely limited fund which is generally awarded to the earliest FAFSA applicants. Eligibility for this program is based on need. Need is determined by the FAFSA.

NOTE: Acceptance of the FWS award does not guarantee employment.

For Previous Recipients of the Federal Perkins Loan Program (FPL)

Although the Federal Perkins Loan Program (FPL) is no longer funded, any student who previously received a loan is expected upon completion of study, withdrawal from the college, or upon falling below half-time (6 credits), to complete an Exit Counseling Session. There will be a nine-month grace period before repayment of the loan begins at a 5% simple interest rate for up to a 10-year repayment period.

The Federal Direct Loan Programs

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program is the largest federal student loan program.  Under this program, the U.S. Department of Education is your lender.  There are two types of Direct Loans available:

1. Direct Subsidized Loan: Direct subsidized loans are for students who have demonstrated financial need. The federal government subsidizes these loans, so the loans do not accumulate any interest until the student begins repayment. Subsidized student loans are interest-free loans that are backed by the federal government.

2. Direct Unsubsidized Loan: There is no requirement to demonstrate financial need. Interest accrues from the time the funds are disbursed until the loan is paid in full. A borrower can choose either to pay the interest or allow it to accumulate until repayment begins. The government guarantees the loan, but does not subsidize the interest, which means the government does not pay the interest while the student is in school.

In order to receive any of the above federal loans, an applicant must attend at least half-time (six credits), be in good academic standing, and maintain satisfactory progress toward their degree. The loan amount borrowed cannot exceed the cost of attendance minus the expected family contribution (EFC) and other financial aid. Loan proceeds cannot be disbursed until 30 days after the first day of class, and will be disbursed in two separate installments. Loan repayment begins six months after the student is no longer in attendance, falls below six credits per semester, or the student graduates. Direct Loans have a six-month grace period before payments are due. Borrowers can take up to 10 years to repay the loan.

NOTE: All loan recipients who complete their degree requirements, withdraw from the college, or fall below six (6) credits must complete an Exit Counseling Session by visiting https://studentaid.gov/.

IMPORTANT NOTES

1. All loans are subject to an origination fee before they are disbursed. The origination fee for the corresponding year in which a student requested federal student loans can be found by visiting https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/interest-rates
2. Federal student loan Interest rates are set annually, with new rates taking effect on July 1st of each year. Interest rates for all federal student loans and for the corresponding year in which a student requested federal student loans can be found by visiting https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/interest-rates

Annual Loan Limits for Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans

1. The Direct Parent PLUS Loan: These loans are made to parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid.  The Parent PLUS loan is not need-based, but requires credit approval.  

Consolidation Loan

A Direct Consolidation Loan allows students to consolidate (combine) multiple federal education loans into one loan. The result is a single monthly payment instead of multiple payments.  Loan consolidation gives access to additional loan repayment plans and forgiveness programs.  There is no application fee to consolidate your loans.  A Direct Consolidation Loan has a fixed interest rate for the life of the loan.  Loans must be in repayment (or have entered the grace period) before they can be consolidated.  If the loan is in default, the loan can be consolidated only if, before applying for consolidation, satisfactory repayment arrangements have been made with the holder of the loan. You can apply for a Direct Consolidation Loan by visiting https://studentaid.gov/loan-consolidation/. You can complete and submit the application online, or you can download and print a paper application for submission by U.S. mail.

NOTE:
Consolidation does not increase existing loan limits.

Return of Title IV Funds

A student is awarded Title IV Federal Aid with the assumption that they will complete the entire period for which they were awarded. The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, requires a student to earn Title IV funds on a pro rata basis. When a student ceases enrollment in all courses in a given session or module after the session or module begins, the U.S. Department of Education requires the college to determine if the student earned some portion of the federal aid awarded.

Depending on a student’s eligibility, federal financial aid awards, such as the Pell grant, FSEOG, or Direct Loans, are awarded based on whether the student is enrolled full-time (12 or more equated credits), 3/4 time (9 to 11 equated credits), half-time (6 to 8 equated credits), or less than halftime (1 to 5 equated credits) as of the end of the add/drop period. The last day to add/drop courses is the seventh day of classes of a term, which is the Financial Aid Certification of Enrollment Date. On the Financial Aid Certification of Enrollment Date, the Office of Financial Aid will lock in a student’s enrollment status for the entire term (this includes the 12-week session and 6-week module).

For example, if a student starts the term as full-time (12 or more equated credits), but drops courses to part-time status (6 to 8 equated credits) by the end of the add/drop period, then the student’s financial aid awards will be adjusted to part-time aid based on eligibility. This means that the student may incur a balance and will be required to repay Kingsborough Community College a portion of the refunds or financial aid awards he/she may have received.

On the seventh day of the 12-week session, a student’s enrollment status is locked for the term, which means financial aid award amounts will be based on enrollment at the time the Office of Financial Aid locks it in. Courses that are dropped after the seventh day of classes, but before the official withdrawal period begins, will be assigned a grade of “WD” for financial aid purposes. A student who receives all “W” type grades (“W,” “WA,” “WD,” or “WU”) in a given session or module will have the federally mandated Return of Title IV Aid (R2T4) calculation performed. Based on this calculation, a portion of the aid might need to be returned to the Federal Government and the student might incur a balance due to Kingsborough Community College.

Failure to Attend Registered Courses (“WN” Grades)

To qualify for Federal or State financial aid, one of the requirements, is that a student must complete registration and begin attending their classes. If a student receives a financial aid payment (made to the college or made to the student as a refund) for classes, he/she never attended a “WN” grade is assigned to the student and the student must return the payment immediately to Kingsborough Community College.

To avoid receiving an overpayment of financial aid, it is important that a student drops any courses well before the first day of classes if they will not be attending Kingsborough Community College. Students will be held responsible for any charges and over payments of financial aid they have received and do not return due to failure to start attendance at Kingsborough Community College.

For further details regarding financial aid go to https://www.kbcc.cuny.edu/financialaid/homepage.html

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Federal Financial Aid Programs

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is defined as the successful completion of coursework toward an eligible degree or certificate. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor the academic progress of students receiving financial aid. Students must remain in good academic standing to receive funding under the Federal Student Aid Programs.

Kingsborough Community College’s SAP Standards:

1. Applies to all students who wish to establish or maintain financial aid eligibility.
2. Applies to the student’s entire academic record, whether or not financial aid was received for prior terms of enrollment.
3. Includes a minimum grade point average, minimum completion rate, and total number of credits earned and/or semesters enrolled.

Federal regulations require the College to establish and apply reasonable standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for the purpose of the receipt of financial assistance under the programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act. The programs subject to this rule include, but are not limited to the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS), Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized), and Federal PLUS (Parent) loans. Failure to meet the requirements listed below will result in the suspension of financial aid eligibility.

There are three components to maintaining SAP:

Grade Point Average (GPA), Pace of Progression (Completion Rate), and Maximum Timeframe.

These standards are all cumulative, meaning that the Office of Financial Aid looks at a student’s entire academic record. Each of the components is further discussed below.

1. Minimum GPA: To be in good academic standing a student at Kingsborough Community College must earn a minimum grade point average based on the number of credits they have attempted. The table below shows the minimum GPA standards required for students to maintain eligibility for federal student aid:

2. Pace of Progression (Completion Rate): A student is also required to maintain a pace that will enable them to successfully complete a percentage of all attempted credits each academic year. To maintain “pace” requirements, a student at Kingsborough Community College must earn a certain percentage of the total number of credits they attempt according to the table below.

*Attempted credits and credits earned are accumulated at the end of each term. Attempted credits include

• All credits from courses for which a student is registered as of the first day of the term (this includes credits taken during enrollment as a non-degree student).
• All credits for courses in which the student registered, but subsequently withdrew from or failed.
• Transfer credits from another school that are accepted and applied towards a degree/major by Kingsborough Community College

Earned credits include:

• All credits completed with grades of “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” “CR” or “P”.
• Transfer credits that are accepted and applied towards a degree/major by Kingsborough Community College

Grades of “F,” “FIN,” “W,” “WA,” “WD,” “WU,” “INC,” “NC” or “Z” count as attempted credits, however, they do not count as earned credits.

Incomplete Grades (INC): Incompletes are counted as attempted credits. A student can make up an “INC” grade by the end of the 10th week of the following session. Only then will the course/credits be counted towards the grade point average calculation and completed credits. If a student does not complete that course by the end of the 10th week of the following 12-week session, the “INC “will change to a failing grade (“FIN”) which negatively affects the GPA.

Developmental (Remedial) Courses: Developmental hours are not counted towards the grade point average, attempted credits, or completed credits. A student will not receive federal student aid for more than 30 developmental hours.

Transfer Credits: Transfer credits approved and applied towards a degree/major by Kingsborough Community College are counted towards attempted and completed credits. Transfer credits are not counted towards the grade point average.

Repeated Courses: All repeated courses affect the financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress calculations. A repeated course, along with the original attempted course, will be counted as attempted credit hours. For further information on repeated courses reference the Grades section of this catalog.

SAP on Forgiveness Policy

The Financial Aid Office does not consider the forgiveness policy when determining if students are maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP.) Financial Aid counts ALL attempted and completed credits since students’ first semester at Kingsborough Community College. The total number of attempted and completed credits is used to determine if students are maintaining SAP. In addition, students’ cumulative grade point average (GPA) is used to determine if students are maintaining SAP. The Financial Aid Office counts ALL courses and grades since students’ first semester at Kingsborough Community College when calculating the cumulative GPA.

3. Maximum Timeframe: A student must complete their degree or certificate within a maximum timeframe, which is equal to 150% of the published length of their chosen degree program or certificate measured in academic years. For example, if the length of an A.A., A.S., or A.A.S. degree program is 60 credits, the maximum period to receive Financial Aid may not exceed 90 (60 X 1.5 = 90) attempted credits. Students who have reached the maximum time frame will become ineligible for financial aid.

IMPORTANT NOTES

1. Repeated courses can generally be counted towards degree requirements. However, each time a student attempts courses, they are included as part of the attempted credit record.
2. Readmitted, transfer, or second degree students may have special situations that impact their SAP calculation.
3. Students readmitted to Kingsborough Community College under the Forgiveness Policy should meet with a SAP counselor to discuss the impacts of the Forgiveness Policy as it relates SAP standards.

Time of Evaluation

In order to determine students’ compliance with the SAP standards, the Office of Financial Aid reviews academic records once per year; at the end of each academic year (Spring term) once grades have been posted and finalized by the Registrar. SAP review includes all terms of the student’s attendance, including summer and winter modules.  Students attending classes during the summer module, will have their SAP re-evaluated after summer grades have been posted and finalized by the Registrar.

Students who are meeting SAP will be eligible to receive federal student aid. Students who fail to meet SAP will not be eligible to receive federal student aid.

Readmission:

A student who is readmitted to Kingsborough Community College must be considered a matriculated (degree seeking) student to be eligible for federal student aid.  Readmitted students must meet all SAP requirements upon readmission to be considered for federal student aid. 

Financial Aid Suspension

If a student fails to meet one of the SAP criteria, they will be placed on financial aid suspension for the following academic year and will be ineligible to receive federal student aid, such as the Pell grant, FSEOG, Federal Work Study, and Federal Direct Student Loans.

Students who lose financial aid eligibility due to not meeting SAP requirements may:

1. Earn the necessary GPA or credits to meet the minimum requirements while not receiving federal financial aid
2. Submit a SAP Appeal.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal

When a student becomes ineligible for financial aid due to a failure to meet SAP standards, an opportunity is given to appeal for further financial aid consideration. In some cases, a student’s failure to be in compliance with one or more areas of the SAP policy is due to events beyond their control. If such extenuating circumstances can be documented for the specific term(s) when the SAP standards were not met, a student may submit a SAP Appeal with supporting documentation to a SAP Counselor in the Office of Financial Aid. Appeals are considered on an individual basis; depending on the nature of the appeal, the number of appeals the student has submitted and/or the student’s academic record.

SAP appeals must be based on extenuating circumstances, which affected the student’s academic performance. Examples of possible extenuating circumstances are:

• serious illness,
• severe injury,
• death of a family member, or
• other similar situations.

SAP appeals are reviewed on a continuous basis. The student will be notified as to whether the appeal is approved or denied. If the appeal is approved, the student becomes eligible to receive federal student aid.

Additionally, an appeal will only be approved if the student can meet SAP standards by the end of the academic year for which the appeal is being submitted. Please note there are no limits in which an appeal can be submitted, however, students cannot use the same extenuating circumstances as prior appeals. In addition, approval for students submitting more than one appeal is not guaranteed. 

IMPORTANT

Submission of a SAP appeal does not guarantee an adjustment to a student’s award nor prevents the accrual of late fees of any unpaid tuition balances. Students are responsible for their tuition and any late fees they may receive regardless of their appeal.

SAP Probation

A SAP appeal must be submitted and approved before a student can be placed on SAP probation. The student is given specific requirements that must be met in order to maintain financial aid eligibility in the future. IF SAP requirements are still not met within the probationary term the student will again become ineligible for financial aid and may need to submit another SAP appeal.

Academic Plan

If it is determined that the student will require more than one semester to meet SAP, the student will be placed on probation with an Academic Plan. At the end of the term, the student must meet SAP or meet the requirements of the Academic Plan.

NOTE:

Students whose financial aid eligibility has been reinstated under an academic plan and are making progress under that plan are considered to be eligible students for Title IV purposes.

New York State Aid Programs

The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

Sponsored by the State of New York, TAP provides tuition assistance for New York State residents who are matriculated and enrolled full-time, i.e., a minimum of twelve (12) credits and/or chargeable hours in the major, a minimum of six (6) credits must be in credit-bearing courses, and recipients must be income-eligible, as defined by TAP. A student must reapply for TAP on an annual basis. The application may either by completed by clicking on the TAP link which is displayed on the confirmation page once the FAFSA is submitted or by visiting New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (NYS-HESC) directly at: https://www.tap.hesc.ny.gov/totw/. Like the FAFSA, the TAP application may be completed beginning October 1st each year. For further details go to https://www.hesc.ny.gov/

A TAP award year at Kingsborough Community College consists of the fall session and winter module (“Fall Term”) as well as the spring session and summer module (“Spring Term”). For additional information regarding TAP eligibility requirements, visit www.hesc.ny.gov and/or the Kingsborough website, https://www.kbcc.cuny.edu/financialaid/index.html.

A student whose application for TAP is approved will receive an award certificate from NYS-HESC. The amount of the TAP award is scaled according to the level of study, tuition charges, the verified net-taxable income, and the number of TAP payments previously received. For 2023-2024 the maximum TAP award a student attending Kingsborough Community College may receive is $4,800.

A community college student is limited to three (3) years of TAP eligibility, or six (6) full-time TAP payments for a total of thirty-six (36) TAP points.

If a student receives the award certificate prior to registration, tuition will be reduced by the amount stated on the certificate. If a certificate is received after registration, a student must pay the tuition at the time of registration and will receive a refund of the TAP award during the 12-week session.

Eligibility for TAP

To be eligible for TAP, a student must be:

1. A New York State resident,
2. A U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or qualify through the Senator Jose Peralta New York State DREAM Act, for more information visit, https://www.hesc.ny.gov/dream/.
3. Matriculated,
4. Income eligible,
5. NOT be in default of any Title IV Student Loans
6. Enrolled full-time (a minimum of 12 credits/chargeable hours required in the student’s major) by the seventh day of the 12-week session.
7. Able to meet minimum standards of satisfactory academic standing, academic progress, and program pursuit as defined by NYS-HESC.
8. Must have a U.S. high school diploma, earned a high school equivalency diploma through Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC™), formally known as G.E.D., or pass a federally approved Ability to Benefit test (ATB). The ATB test must be taken and passed prior to the twenty-first (21) day of classes of the 12- week session.
9. And, enrolled for a minimum of twelve (12) credits, at least one course must be required for their degree/major, if they are graduating at the end of the term and enrolled for a minimum of twelve (12) credits with at least six (6) credits required for their degree/major if they are in the semester prior to their graduating semster.

Satisfactory Academic Progress for New York State Financial Aid Programs

To receive payments under New York State Tuition Assistance Programs (TAP) a student must maintain good academic standing. The good academic standing requirement for New York State financial aid programs consists of two components: academic progress and pursuit of program. This requirement applies to all students receiving payments from either TAP or the Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS) Program.

A student who fails to pursue a program of study or who fails to make satisfactory academic progress will lose TAP eligibility for the following semester. Additional information/explanation is available from the TAP Certification Office, U-201.

To be in good academic standing for TAP, a student should be aware of the following:

• The need to attain a minimum grade point average as specified in the charts below for each payment requested.
• A student uses six (6) TAP points for every full-time TAP payment received. A student can receive a maximum of six (6) semesters or 36 points of TAP while seeking an associate degree. For some special programs a student can earn an additional year of TAP.
• A student must be enrolled full-time, that is, enrolled for at least twelve (12) credits that meet the requirements of their degree/major.
• In a student’s first TAP term, they must take at least three (3) degree credits as part of their full-time course load. A minimum of six (6) degree credits must be taken every term after the first TAP payment.
• If a student repeats a course that was previously passed, the repeated course cannot be counted towards full-time enrollment for TAP purposes. If repeating a course that was previously failed, that course can be included towards full-time enrollment for TAP purposes.
• Developmental courses can be counted for TAP purposes. However, to qualify for TAP a student must always be registered for a minimum of twelve (12) credits and/or chargeable hours that apply toward their degree/major to qualify for a full-time payment; refer to the charts that follow.
• To receive TAP payments, you must make academic progress towards a degree/major. The minimum academic requirements are indicated in the charts that follow.

IMPORTANT NOTES

1. A student who withdraws from all courses during a term will lose eligibility for TAP in the subsequent term.
2. A student on probation or continued probation who makes satisfactory academic progress during this probationary period and continues to maintain their academic standing will regain their eligibility for TAP.
3. A repeated credit course cannot be included as part of a student’s minimum full-time or part-time course load for New York State financial aid purposes, except in the following cases: (1) when the repeated course was previously failed, (2) when the course was previously passed, but with a grade too low to be accepted in the enrolled degree/major, or (3) when a course may be repeated and credit earned each time.
4. A repeated non-credit (developmental) course cannot be included as part of a student’s minimum full-time or part-time course load for New York State financial aid purposes if: (1) a student has already received two payments for that course or (2) a student has previously received passing grades for that course.
5. Loss of TAP eligibility: A student who fails to meet the standards of academic program pursuit, academic progress, and/or attendance will lose their TAP eligibility. In addition, a student who registers for courses without having met these standards will be liable and billed for the full amount of their TAP award retroactively.
6. A transfer student or a student planning a change of curriculum/major should first review their status with an Academic Advisor and a Financial Aid Counselor in order to ensure their continuing TAP eligibility status at Kingsborough Community College.
7. Waiver Policy: A student who can demonstrate that exceptional circumstances beyond their control caused them to have a substandard academic record may be eligible for a one-time, undergraduate waiver of the TAP regulations. A waiver will be granted to a student in these exceptional cases only when (1) there is a reasonable probability that a student will regain good academic standing, (2) full documentation of the circumstances is presented, and (3) the waiver is recommended and approved by the Office of Financial Aid after the student has applied for the waiver and provided necessary documentation.
   
   A student who wishes to apply for a TAP waiver must submit an appeal to the Financial Aid Office, U-201. There are two types of TAP waivers: (1) one-time good academic standing waiver, or (2) “C” average waiver based on undue hardship.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Tables for New York State Financial Aid Programs

Refer to the chart that applies to you; First TAP Award received:

1. after 7/1/2010
2. between 7/1/2006 and 6/30/2010
3. before 7/1/2006
4. ADA TAP eligible student

First NYS TAP Award received AFTER July 1, 2010

Meeting the Academic Progress Standard requires that a student:

• accumulates at least fifteen (15) degree credits by the end of the 2nd TAP-supported term and at least fifteen (15) credits each term thereafter, and
• attain the minimum grade point average as specified in the table below for each payment requested.

To receive TAP payment #:

* A transfer student must register for at least six (6) degree/major credits to receive TAP.
*** Each TAP payment is equivalent to six (6) TAP points. A student is only allowed thirty-six (36) points or six (6) payments at a two-year institution.

First NYS TAP Award received BETWEEN July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2010

Meeting the Academic Progress Standard requires that a student:

• accumulates at least nine (9) degree credits by the end of the 2nd TAP-supported term and between nine (9) and fifteen (15) credits each term thereafter, and
• attain the minimum grade point average as specified in the table below for each payment requested.

To receive TAP payment #:

* A transfer student must register for at least six (6) degree/major credits to receive TAP.
*** Each TAP payment is equivalent to six (6) TAP points. A student is only allowed thirty-six (36) points or six (6) payments at a two-year institution.

First NYS TAP Award received BEFORE July 1, 2006

Meeting the Academic Progress Standard requires that a student:

• accumulates at least six (6) degree credits by the end of the 2nd TAP-supported term and between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) credits each term thereafter, and
• attain the minimum grade point average as specified in the table below for each payment requested.

To receive TAP payment #:

* A transfer student must register for at least six (6) degree/major credits to receive TAP.
** A student who has two (2) years of TAP or the equivalent must have a 2.00 GPA or higher to remain eligible for TAP.
*** Each TAP Payment is equivalent to six (6) TAP points. A student is only allowed thirty-six (36) points or six (6) payments at a two-year institution.

ADA Students and ADA TAP Eligibility

Based on New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (NYS-HESC) regulations, an Americans with Disability Act (ADA) student may attend part-time, taking at least three (3) credits/hours, but less than twelve (12) credits/hours in their degree/major per semester, to be considered for a partial TAP award.

Associate Program 2015-2016 Semester and Thereafter ADA Part-time Students

Meeting the Academic Progress Standard requires that a student:

• attain the minimum grade point average as specified in the table below for each payment requested.

Before being certified for payment #:

* A transfer student must register for at least six (6) degree/major credits to receive TAP.

Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS)

The Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS) Program is sponsored by the State of New York and was established to provide tuition assistance for part-time, matriculated students who are New York State residents.

Eligibility for APTS

APTS is not an entitlement program. Therefore, awards are limited. 

To be eligible, a student must:

1. Be enrolled part-time in an approved undergraduate degree program in New York State (part-time is defined as at least three [3] but not more than eleven [11] chargeable hours),
2. Meet income eligibility requirements,
3. Be a legal New York State resident,
4. Be either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or qualify through the Senator Jose Peralta New York State DREAM Act
5. Have a tuition liability of at least $100 per year,
6. Have remaining TAP eligibility,
7. NOT be in default of any Title IV Student Loans,
8. Be enrolled in courses required for their degree/major, and
9. Must have a U.S. high school diploma, earned a high school equivalency diploma through Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC™), formally known as G.E.D., or passed a federally approved Ability to Benefit test (ATB). The ATB test must be taken and passed prior to the twenty-first day (21) of classes of the 12-week session.

APTS Awards

The money available for all participating institutions is set each year in the New York State budget. The amount received by a participating college is determined by the school’s percentage of the state’s total part-time enrollment.

Satisfactory Progress for APTS

Recipients must be in good academic standing in accordance with New York State’s rules and regulations.

NOTE:

If receiving APTS as a part-time student, a student has two (2) terms to meet the credit accrual and grade point average requirement that a full-time student must achieve in one (1) term.

Part-Time Tuition Assistance Program (PT-TAP)

Part-Time TAP (PT-TAP) is a New York State program implemented in the 2007-2008 academic year. It allows a student to receive partial TAP payments for taking between six (6) and 11 credits. This program is available to CUNY students who meet the specified requirements. Because PT-TAP is a grant, it does not have to be paid back.

To be PT- TAP eligible a student must meet the following requirements:

1. Be a New York State resident,
2. Submit the FAFSA application and the TAP application by the posted deadline,
3. Be admitted into a degree program,
4. Be a first-time freshman in the 2006-2007 academic year or thereafter,
5. Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or higher,
6. Be enrolled for at least six (6), but fewer than twelve (12) credits in the degree/major or enrolled full-time (twelve [12] credits or more) with only six (6) to eleven (11) credits (three [3] to eleven [11] credits for ADA students) in the degree/major.  
7. Maintain good academic standing, and
8. Meet all of the TAP eligibility requirements.

The Excelsior Scholarship

Will enable many New York State residents to attend a CUNY college tuition-free. The Excelsior Scholarship Provides full in-state tuition for eligible CUNY students up to $5,500 minus any amounts received from TAP, Pell, or other scholarships.

For 2023-2024 the combined household federal adjusted gross income must be less than $125,000 to qualify for the award.

Recipients of this award must:

1. File the FAFSA and the TAP applications,
2. Attend full-time, and
3. Complete 30 credits per year.

Awardees must also agree to reside exclusively in New York State and not be employed in any other State for a continuous number of years equal to the duration of the award received. The Excelsior Scholarship will be applied to each qualifying student’s financial aid package after all other aid, including Pell, TAP, City Council Scholarship, college scholarships, and other grants or scholarships have been applied.

For additional Excelsior Scholarship eligibility requirements, visit, https://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/financial-aid/types-of-financial-aid/nys-grants-scholarships-awards/the-excelsior-scholarship.html.

For information about other New York State Grants, Scholarships and Loan Programs, visit: https://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/financial-aid/types-of-financial-aid.html#horizontalTab2

Other Aid Programs

Peter F. Vallone Academic Scholarship

The Peter F. Vallone Academic Scholarship (formally known as the New York City Council Merit Scholarship) rewards New York City high school graduates who have proven their ability to succeed academically while they were in high school.  Students may receive $700 per year ($350 per semester).  Funding is determined by the New York City Council and the Scholarship award amount is subject to change based upon an allocation provided each academic year.  Once a college has reached their allocation amount, no additional recipients can be awarded.  

There is no separate application for the scholarship. Students are automatically considered for the award when they apply for admission to CUNY.

To qualify a student must:

1. Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
2. Be a Resident of New York City
3. Graduate from a New York City high school with at least an 80(B) 
4. Enroll at a CUNY college as a full-time student within one year of graduating from high school
5. Register as a full-time student (12+ credits) each semester (except summer) and maintain at least a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA)
6. Attend CUNY before attending any other post-secondary institution

To satisfy Progress and Pursuit requirements, students must:

1. Maintain continuous full-time (12+ credits) enrollment within the City University of New York (CUNY) system
2. Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.00 that is calculated once a year at the end of the Spring semester. 

Students pursuing an associate degree may receive the Peter F. Vallone Academic Scholarship for a maximum of six (6) semesters. The award is not restored once it has been lost.

For information about other additional scholarships that may be offered to CUNY students, visit: http://www2.cuny.edu/financial-aid/scholarships/new-york-city-scholarships/