Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
Click HERE to apply for TAP through Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC)
Click HERE to access the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Click HERE to access the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is a grant for New York state residents going to New York State colleges or universities. Eligible dependent students could potentially receive a grant of $5,165 a year towards tuition at the NYS school of their choice. Students who are orphans, wards of the court, or in foster care are also eligible for a grant of up to $5,165
Students and Parents should collect the following financial documents:
- Similar to FAFSA, only US citizens, permanent residents and eligible non-citizens can file this form. Undocumented students cannot and should not file the TAP application
- Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), the organization that administers TAP, communicates a lot more with students than the federal Department of Education, who administers FAFSA. Because of this, students could be required to provide additional documentation to HESC to obtain a TAP grant. Be on the lookout for additional communication from HESC. HESC usually communicates over email and prefers that additional forms are uploaded directly to their website.
- HESC verifies student and parent tax information directly with New York State and may communicate with students afterwards about inconsistencies.
- HESC accepts the signatures provided on the FAFSA (FSA ID) as signatures for the TAP application, although they may also require a signature page from undocumented parents.
Students and Parents should collect the following financial documents:
- Social Security Number
- Alien registration number or permanent residence card (if you are not a US citizen)
- W-2 forms and other records of money earned for the preceding year
- Federal Income Tax Return for student and student's spouse, if married - IRS form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, foreign tax return, or tax return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the US Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia or Palau
- New York State Income Tax Return (IT-201)