Financial aid for college in New York
Aid comes in a ladder: free money first (grants and scholarships), then work-study, then federal loans. Private loans come last, if at all. The FAFSA opens the door to almost all of it.
- Pell Grant 2026-27: up to $7,395 a year.
- NY TAP: $1,000 to $5,665 a year at New York colleges.
- Excelsior: the rest of SUNY or CUNY tuition, family income up to $125,000.
- Not FAFSA-eligible? The NYS DREAM Act opens state aid.
⏳ FAFSA and TAP deadline countdown
- 2027-28 FAFSAOpen since September 23, 2026
- TAP deadline, 2026-27 school yearJune 30, 2027
- NYS STEM Incentive, 2027-28August 16, 2027
- TAP and federal FAFSA deadline, 2027-28June 30, 2028
📝 The FAFSA, step by step
- Make StudentAid.gov accounts.The student and one parent (for dependent students) each make their own account. Free at studentaid.gov. Never pay a website to file.
- Gather tax information.The FAFSA uses tax information from two years before (the 2027-28 form uses 2025 taxes). Each person gives consent to get it from the IRS.
- List colleges.Add every college you might attend, even before you apply. Include New York colleges so HESC gets your data for TAP.
- Sign and submit.You get a FAFSA Submission Summary with your Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI is not a bill: colleges subtract it from the cost to see your need.
- Go on to TAP.At the end, use the link to the NYS TAP application. If you missed it, HESC has a separate TAP application.
- Do it every year.FAFSA and TAP are filed again for each year of college.
🧾 CSS Profile (only if a college asks)
The CSS Profile is a College Board form that hundreds of colleges and scholarship programs use to give their own (non-federal) aid. Not every college uses it: check each one. Start at cssprofile.org at least two weeks before your earliest priority deadline.
- Free for families earning up to $100,000 a year, for students who qualify for an SAT fee waiver, and for orphans or wards of the court under 24.
- Otherwise $25 for the first college and $16 for each additional one.
🇺🇸 Federal aid: Pell Grant and work-study
Federal Pell Grant
For undergraduates with financial need. For 2026-27 the most is $7,395 and the least is $740. You do not pay it back.
Federal Work-Study
Part-time jobs for students with financial need, paid at least monthly. Not every college takes part: ask the aid office. Check "interested in work-study" on the FAFSA.
American Opportunity Credit
Up to $2,500 per student on federal taxes. Explained on Paying for school and college.
🗽 New York State aid (HESC)
| Program | What it gives | Income rule | Key rules | How and when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) | Grant of $1,000 to $5,665 a year toward tuition at New York colleges. | NYS net taxable income: dependent students $125,000 or less; independent with dependents $125,000; married, no dependents $60,000; single, no dependents $30,000. | NY resident 12 months before college (or NYS DREAM Act). Full-time: 12+ credits a term. | Through the FAFSA link. Deadline 2026-27: June 30, 2027; 2027-28: June 30, 2028. |
| Part-Time TAP | Tuition award for eligible part-time students. | See HESC. | At SUNY, CUNY and eligible not-for-profit independent colleges. | hesc.ny.gov |
| Non-degree Part-Time TAP | Tuition award for workforce credential programs. | See HESC. | Eligible non-degree programs at participating SUNY and CUNY colleges. | hesc.ny.gov |
| Excelsior Scholarship | Pays the rest of tuition at SUNY or CUNY (two- and four-year) after Pell, TAP and other grants ("last dollar"). | Household federal AGI $125,000 or less. | Full-time, 30 credits a year (summer and winter count), on track to graduate on time. After college, live in New York as many years as you got the award (and work in NY if you work), or it becomes a no-interest loan. | Separate HESC application. 2026-27 is closed (deadline was August 31, 2026). Watch hesc.ny.gov for 2027-28. |
| Enhanced Tuition Award (ETA) | Up to $6,000 toward tuition at participating private New York colleges. | $125,000 or less. | Full-time, 30 credits a year; live and work in NY as many years as you get it. | Same HESC application window as Excelsior. |
More New York awards (Scholarships for Academic Excellence, STEM Incentive and others) are on the Scholarships page.
🌎 Senator José Peralta NYS DREAM Act
For students who cannot file the FAFSA, the NYS DREAM Act opens New York State-administered aid such as TAP, Excelsior, the Enhanced Tuition Award and the STEM Incentive. It is a path to state aid, not federal aid.
- School rule (one of these): graduated from a New York high school after attending at least two years; or earned a NYS high school equivalency diploma; or were charged in-state tuition at SUNY or CUNY for reasons other than residency.
- Status: HESC's fact sheet lists who can use it. Read it, or ask HESC or a college aid office, which will keep your information private.
- Apply: the 2026-27 and 2027-28 NYS DREAM Act applications are open at hesc.ny.gov. The application is open all year.
🤝 Opportunity programs: support plus aid
These programs give extra advising, tutoring, counseling and financial help to New York students with economic need who may not meet a college's usual admission profile. You usually apply by checking a box on your application.
EOP (Educational Opportunity Program)
NY resident 12 months; family income within NYSED guidelines; full-time. Check "yes" for EOP on the SUNY, Common or campus application, then finish the EOP financial review. Includes a pre-freshman summer program, advising, tutoring and help with books and supplies.
HEOP (Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program)
At participating independent New York colleges. Not a scholarship you apply for alone: contact the college's HEOP office (NYSED keeps a directory). Pre-entry summer program, counseling, tutoring and financial help.
SEEK
First-time freshmen who are NY residents with family income within state guidelines. Example from York College: tutoring, counseling, book stipends, summer sessions and extra semesters of TAP. Apply on the CUNY application.
College Discovery (CD)
First-time freshmen who are NYC residents, with FAFSA and TAP done and income within state guidelines. Example from Kingsborough CC: a stipend each semester, advising and an extra year of TAP. Apply on the CUNY application.
🆓 SUNY and CUNY "free tuition" programs (2026 names)
Excelsior Scholarship
With Pell and TAP, can make SUNY or CUNY tuition $0 for families with AGI up to $125,000. Fees, books and housing are not covered.
SUNY Reconnect and CUNY Reconnect
For adults ages 25-55 without a college degree, studying for an associate degree in a high-demand field (for example nursing, cybersecurity, AI, engineering, teaching shortage areas, supply chain). Covers tuition, fees, books and supplies. Good to know for older siblings and parents.
🏦 Loans: the basics
| Loan | What to know |
|---|---|
| Direct Subsidized (federal) | For undergraduates with financial need. The government pays the interest while you are in school at least half-time, in the grace period and in deferment. |
| Direct Unsubsidized (federal) | Not based on need. Interest grows the whole time, including in school, so you owe more over time. |
| Parent PLUS (federal) | Parents of dependent undergraduates can borrow. Credit is checked. No grace period. Read current limits on studentaid.gov before you borrow. |
| Private loans | From banks and lenders. Use only after grants, scholarships, work-study and federal loans. Compare carefully and read every term. |
🧮 Net price: the number that matters
Net price = cost of attendance − grants and scholarships. Every college that takes federal aid must post a net price calculator on its website. Use it for each college on your list.
One student, two colleges
All amounts are made up. Real awards depend on your FAFSA and each college.
Net price demo (made-up numbers you can change)
Runs only in this browser. Nothing is saved or sent.
📄 How to read an aid offer
Aid offers look different at every college. Sort every line into one of three buckets: free money, work, or loans. Look for the cost the college may leave out (housing, books, travel).
7 questions to ask the aid office
- Is this cost of attendance for one year? Does it include housing, books and travel?
- Which lines are grants (free) and which are loans?
- Is the college grant renewable every year? What GPA or credits keep it?
- Does an outside scholarship reduce my college grant or my loans?
- How do work-study jobs work here, and how many hours?
- When is the bill due, and is there a payment plan?
- Our income changed (job loss, illness, divorce). Can you review my aid?
🔗 Official sources (checked Nov 8, 2026)
- Federal Student Aid, 2027-28 FAFSA live Sept. 23, 2026: fsapartners.ed.gov
- Federal Student Aid, FAFSA deadlines (June 30 each year; states and colleges earlier): studentaid.gov; 2027-28 FAFSA form: studentaid.gov (PDF)
- Federal Student Aid, 2026-27 Pell Grant maximum and minimum (GEN-26-01): fsapartners.ed.gov
- Federal Student Aid, Financial aid dictionary (SAI, cost of attendance, net price, work-study, loans): studentaid.gov
- College Board, How to complete the CSS Profile (cost, waivers): bigfuture.collegeboard.org
- HESC, Tuition Assistance Program: hesc.ny.gov TAP; all NYS grants and scholarships (Part-Time TAP, Non-degree Part-Time TAP, ETA): hesc.ny.gov
- HESC, Excelsior Scholarship: hesc.ny.gov Excelsior; 2026-27 Excelsior and ETA application (deadline Aug. 31, 2026; ETA up to $6,000): hesc.ny.gov news release
- HESC, NYS DREAM Act: hesc.ny.gov/applying-aid/nys-dream-act; DREAM Act fact sheet: hesc.ny.gov (PDF)
- SUNY, Educational Opportunity Program: suny.edu/attend/academics/eop
- NYSED, Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP): nysed.gov
- CUNY York College, SEEK eligibility and benefits: york.cuny.edu; CUNY Kingsborough, College Discovery: kbcc.cuny.edu; CUNY SEEK and CD: cuny.edu
- NY Governor, SUNY Reconnect and CUNY Reconnect expansion (June 15, 2026): governor.ny.gov
- NCES, Net price calculator requirement (HEA section 132(h)): nces.ed.gov