Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

New York State Grant Programs – Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) helps eligible New York residents attending in-state post-secondary institutions pay for tuition. TAP grants are based on the applicant's and his or her family's New York State taxable income.

The TAP Grant is administered by the Higher Education Services Corporation (H.E.S.C.)
The applicant can apply by using the Express TAP application link on the FAFSA, or directly at hesc.ny.gov. The Senator Jose Peralta New York State DREAM ACT gives undocumented access to NY State-administered grants and scholarships. Apply at hesc.ny.gov/dream

To be eligible for TAP, you must:

Be a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen
Be a legal resident of New York State
Study at an approved post-secondary institution in New York State (NYS)
Have graduated from high school in the United States, earned 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 full-time student taking 12 or more credits (applicable toward your degree program) per semester
Be matriculated in an approved program
Meet good academic standing requirements
Be charged at least $200 tuition per year
Not be in default on any state or federal student loan or on any repayment of state awards
Meet income eligibility limitations
File a FAFSA for the same academic year as the TAP application

Satisfactory Academic Progress for New York State TAP Recipients

Students must also meet standards of satisfactory academic progress and pursuit for state aid programs. There are three elements of satisfactory academic progress that all financial aid recipients must achieve in order to receive financial aid from the New York State sponsored Tuition Assistance Program (TAP):

Based on the number of TAP payments the student received;

must complete a designated number of credits in the prior semester they received TAP,
must earn a specific number of overall credits
must achieve a minimum grade point average

NYS TAP standards for all students first receiving TAP in 2010 and beyond:

TAP Payments received	Completed credits in prior semester	Overall credits earned	GPA
1 ^st payment	0	0	0
2 ^nd payment	6	6	1.3
3 ^rd payment	6	15	1.5
4 ^th payment	9	27	1.8
5 ^th payment	9	39	2
6 ^th payment	12	51	2

NYS TAP standards for students first receiving TAP and taking at least six (6) remedial credits or first receiving TAP between 2007 & 2009:

TAP Payments received	Completed credits in prior semester	Overall credits earned	GPA
1 ^st payment	0	0	0
2 ^nd payment	6	3	.5
3 ^rd payment	6	9	.75
4 ^th payment	9	18	1.3
5 ^th payment	9	30	2
6 ^th payment	12	45	2

TAP Satisfactory Academic Standing Waiver

After the end of each semester, TAP recipients who fall below the satisfactory academic progress standards can apply for a waiver. Such a waiver can only be granted once during the student's undergraduate career. Appeals are a one-time option for unforeseen, extenuating circumstances beyond the student's control and not chronic circumstances that cannot be remedied such as, but not limited to, ongoing medical issues.

Complete and submit an NCC New York State TAP Waiver Form.
Forms must be received by the Financial Aid Office prior to the end of the current semester the student is enrolled in.
Supporting documentation must be submitted with the waiver form and the student's NCC ID must be on all pages.
Since the waiver is neither automatic nor an entitlement, the decision will be final.
Students will receive the decision via their NCC email.