The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) Grant helps eligible New York State residents pay tuition at approved schools in New York State. 

TAP Eligibility Requirements

  • Must have a valid TAP application on file with the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC); Buffalo State must be listed on the application. Our school code is 0905 or we are listed as SUNY Buffalo State University (Elmwood Ave). 
  • Be a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen and a resident of New York State.
  • Have graduated from 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 full-time undergraduate (at least 12 credits per semester), be matriculated in an approved program of study, and be in good academic standing with at least a cumulative "C" average (2.0) as of the 4th semester payment.
  • Be charged at least $200 tuition per year.
  • Not be in default on any state or federal student loans and not be in default on any repayment of State awards.

Income Limits

Student Type NYS Taxable Income Limit
Dependent undergraduate students, Independent students who are married and have tax dependents, or Independent students who are unmarried and have tax dependents

$125,000
Independent undergraduate students who are married and have no other tax dependents

$60,000
Single independent undergraduate students with no tax dependents 

$30,000

How Is the TAP Grant Disbursed?

  • Starting with the 5th week of the semester, TAP Grants are disbursed from New York State and applied to the student's account.  

Annual & Lifetime Limits

Annual Limit The minimum per-semester TAP award is $500 and the maximum per-semester award is $2,832.50
Lifetime Limit Students may receive up to 8 semesters of TAP (10 semesters for students admitted through the EOP program)

 

Duplication of Benefits

Duplicative benefits are those that duplicate the purpose of TAP, APTS, or Veterans Tuition Awards—i.e., tuition awards (They do not affect other NYS programs). The total of TAP, APTS, and/or Veterans Tuition Awards and the duplicate benefit cannot exceed the student’s tuition liability. When other benefits are duplicative, the TAP, APTS, and/or Veterans Tuition Awards are reduced accordingly.

Example: A student's semester tuition charge is $3,000 and they qualify for a TAP award of $3,000 and a Chapter 33 award for $3,500 (to cover tuition and fees). The student can only receive the Chapter 33 award since that fully covers all the tuition charges. The student is ineligible for TAP since there are no unpaid tuition charges.

SUNY Tuition Credit

SUNY Tuition Credit is awarded to all students who qualify for TAP to offset a portion of tuition increases. No separate application is required.

The Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS) program is a grant program financed by New York State in conjunction with participating educational institutions throughout the state. The program provides up to $2,000 per year to help part-time undergraduate students meet their educational expenses

Application Process

  • Complete the Aid for Part-Time Study Application.
  • For the fall semester, students should apply by mid-October. Students who apply for fall will automatically be reviewed for spring.
  • For the spring semester, students should apply by the end of February.

APTS Eligibility Requirements

  • Have a valid TAP application on file with the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC); with Buffalo State listed on the application. Our school code is 0905 or we are listed as SUNY Buffalo State University (Elmwood Ave). 
  • Be a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen and a resident of New York State.
  • Have graduated from 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 at an approved post secondary institution in New York (such as Buffalo State), and matriculated in an approved program of study and be in good academic standing with at least a cumulative "C" average (2.0) after having received the equivalent of two full years of payment of state-sponsored student financial aid.
  • Be charged at least $100 tuition per year.
  • Not have exhausted Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) eligibility (see above).
  • Not be in default on any state or federal student loans and not be in default on any repayment of State awards.

Income Limits

Student Type NYS Taxable Income Limit
If you were claimed as a tax dependent by your parents, family income (i.e. taxable income of student and parents) cannot exceed:

$50,550
If you were not eligible to be claimed as a tax dependent by your parents, income (i.e., income of student and/or spouse, if married as of December 31), cannot exceed:

$34,250
If you were not eligible to be claimed as a tax dependent by our parents but you were eligible to claim dependents of your own other than yourself and/or your spouse, income (taxable income of student and spouse) cannot exceed:

$50,550

How Is APTS Disbursed?

APTS is disbursed in late October. Since applications are accepted after the semester begins and the awards cannot be determined until all applications are received, APTS awards are not deferred on a student's bill, nor can they be used to qualify for a book deferment. Once the money is sent to Buffalo State, it is credited to the student's charges. If this creates a credit balance, the student will be issued a refund.

Duplication of Benefits

A duplicative benefit is an award that duplicates the purpose of another award. Duplicative benefits are those that duplicate the purpose of TAP, APTS, or Veterans Tuition Awards—i.e., tuition awards (They do not affect other NYS programs). The total of TAP, APTS, and/or Veterans Tuition Awards and the duplicate benefit cannot exceed the student’s tuition liability. When other benefits are duplicative, the TAP, APTS, and/or Veterans Tuition Awards are reduced accordingly.

Employer Tuition Reimbursement

If a student’s employer is reimbursing their tuition it is considered to be a duplicative benefit with APTS. If they are reimbursing 100% of the tuition charge the student would not be eligible for APTS. If the employer reimburses just a portion of tuition the student can still receive APTS but the combined total of APTS and the reimbursement cannot exceed the full tuition charge.

Part-time undergraduate students at approved institutions in New York State who were first-year students in the academic year 2006-07 or thereafter, may be eligible for Part-time TAP to help pay for college beginning in the summer of 2007. Students who have attended college and/or received TAP before the academic year 2006-07 are ineligible. 

Part-time TAP is an entitlement program that uses up TAP eligibility (a maximum of 48 points for four years of full-time or eight years of part-time undergraduate study or 60 points for EOP students).

Eligibility Criteria

  • Be matriculated and enrolled in an approved undergraduate program at SUNY, CUNY, or an independent NYS institution
  • Be enrolled for at least 6 but fewer than 12 semester hour credits or the equivalent
  • Have earned 12 credits in each of two consecutive prior semesters (credits from New York State not-for-profit institutions only); a full-time summer term can be used to meet the prior study requirement
  • Maintain a C average and meet good academic standing requirements
  • Meet income eligibility limitations (income limits are the same as for TAP)

 

Other Comments

  • A student must meet the 24-semester credit prior study requirement only once to be eligible for Part-time TAP.
  • A Part-time TAP award is calculated using the student's actual part-time tuition charge and the number of credits taken.
  • Note: The “C average” for Part-time TAP is an eligibility requirement that cannot be waived using the C average waiver.

 

TAP Point Consumption When Receiving Part-Time TAP

Points Accrual for Part-time TAP Payments 
Credits Percent of Full Award Points Accrued

6

50.00%

3

7

58.34%

3.5

8

66.67%

4

9

75.00%

4.5

10

83.34%

5

11

91.67%

5.5

The Senator José Peralta New York State DREAM Act gives undocumented and other students access to New York State‐administered student financial aid to support their higher education costs.

New York State DREAM Act Requirements 

If you fit one of the descriptions below, you may be eligible for one or more NYS student financial aid awards under the DREAM Act:

  1. Your permanent home is in NYS, and you are or have ONE of the following:
    1. U-Visa
    2. T-Visa
    3. Temporary protected status, pursuant to the Federal Immigration Act of 1990
    4. Without lawful immigration status (including those with DACA status)
    5. AND you meet ONE of the following criteria:
      1. You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, or enrolled for undergraduate study at a NYS college within 5 years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR
      2. You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, or enrolled for graduate study at a NYS college within 10 years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR
      3. You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma and enrolled for undergraduate study at a NYS college within 5 years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR
      4. You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma and enrolled for graduate study at a NYS college within 10 years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR
      5. You are or will be charged the NYS resident in-state tuition rate at a SUNY or CUNY college for a reason other than residency.
  2. Your permanent home is outside of NYS, and you are or have ONE of the following:
    1. U.S. citizen
    2. Permanent lawful resident
    3. Of a class of refugees paroled by the attorney general under his or her parole authority pertaining to the admission of aliens to the U.S.
    4. U-Visa
    5. T-Visa
    6. Temporary protected status, pursuant to the Federal Immigration Act of 1990
    7. Without lawful immigration status (including those with DACA status)
    8. AND you meet ONE of the following criteria:
      1. You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and enrolled for undergraduate study at a NYS college within 5 years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR
      2. You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and enrolled for graduate study at a NYS college within 10 years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR
      3. You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma and enrolled for undergraduate study at a NYS college within 5 years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR
      4. You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma and enroll or enrolled for graduate study at a NYS college within 10 years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR
      5. You are or will be charged the NYS resident in-state tuition rate at a SUNY or CUNY college for a reason other than residency.

Apply for NYS DREAM Act

Students meeting the NYS DREAM Act eligibility criteria can apply for one or more HESC-administered grant and scholarship programs and be directed to the NYS Dream Act Application. 

The information provided on the application will be used ONLY to determine eligibility for and administer awards. Applicants without lawful immigration status will NOT be asked for their home address and will NOT have to upload financial records.

Note: The NYS DREAM Act eligibility application is not a financial aid application. You must apply for financial aid programs (such as the 2024-2025 TAP award) after your NYS DREAM Act application is approved via the NYS DREAM Act portal.

 

New York State offers a variety of other grants and scholarships administered through HESC. Be advised that some may require additional applications, require a service obligation, or not be offered at Buffalo State.

Scholarships

Scholarship Summary
Aid to Native Americans  Grant awarded to enrolled members of a New York State tribe, or their children.
Flight 3407 Memorial Scholarship Provides financial aid to children, spouses, and financial dependents of individuals killed as a direct result of the crash of Continental Airlines Flight 3407 on February 12, 2009.
Flight 587 Memorial Scholarship For the families and financial dependents of victims of the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 on November 12, 2001.
Military Enhanced Recognition Incentive and Tribute (MERIT) Scholarship, also known as Military Service Recognition Scholarship (MSRS)  Provides financial aid to children, spouses, and financial dependents of members of the armed forces of the United States or of a state-organized militia who, at any time on or after Aug. 2, 1990, while a New York State resident, died or became severely and permanently disabled while engaged in hostilities or training for hostilities. For study in New York State.
NYS Math and Science Teaching Incentive Scholarship Provides grants to eligible full-time undergraduate or graduate students in approved programs that lead to math or science teaching careers in secondary education.
NYS Memorial Scholarship Provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of deceased firefighters, volunteer firefighters, police officers, peace officers, and emergency medical service workers who have died as the result of injuries sustained in the line of duty in service to the State of New York. For study in New York State.
NYS Regents Awards for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans Provided to students whose parent(s) have served in the U.S. Armed Forces during specified periods of war or national emergency, and as a result, have passed, become disabled, are missing in action, or were taken as a prisoner of war..
NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence Awarded to outstanding graduates from registered New York State high schools. Awards are based on student grades in certain Regents exams. For up to five years of undergraduate study in New York State.
NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program 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.
Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Education award for New York State residents who successfully complete a term of service with an approved AmeriCorps program.
Veterans Tuition Awards Tuition award for Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, or other eligible combat veterans pursuing an undergraduate, graduate degree, or vocational training program.
World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship Guarantees access to a college education for the families and financial dependents of the victims who died or were severely and permanently disabled in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the resulting rescue and recovery efforts.
Program Summary
District Attorney and Indigent Legal Services Attorney Loan Forgiveness Program Student loan forgiveness for District Attorneys, Assistant District Attorneys, or Indigent Legal Services Attorneys in New York State
NYS Child Welfare Worker Loan Forgiveness Incentive Program Student loan forgiveness is available to individuals who provide direct care services at a New York State-licensed child welfare agency.
NYS Licensed Social Worker Loan Forgiveness Program Student loan forgiveness for licensed social workers working in critical human service areas.
NYS Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program Student loan forgiveness is available to teachers serving hard-to-staff districts or who teach in subject-shortage areas in New York State.
Young Farmers Loan Forgiveness Program Student loan forgiveness is available to recent college graduates who pursue careers in farming within New York State.