Grants and Scholarships
New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
Who is eligible: Full-time, half-time*, based on NYS income. *Only ADA eligible students are eligible for Part-time TAP.
Additional criteria: Must be a legal resident of New York State.
Semester award: $250 minimum; maximum = 100% of tuition How award is determined: Based on NYS net taxable income of student and parents.
How and when to apply: Complete a FAFSA and Express TAP Application (ETA) no later than May 1st of the academic year. VVTA applicants must also complete a VVTA supplement. PGVTA applicants must also complete a PGVTA supplemnt.
NYS Vietnam Veteran (VVTA)/Persian Gulf Veteran Tuition Award (PGVTA)
Who is eligible: Full-time, half-time, less than half-time Additional criteria: Must be a NYS resident who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in Indochina between 12/61 and 05/75 or served in the Persian Guld hostilities.
Semester award: $1000 if full-time; $500 or tuition, whichever is less if part-time.
How award is determined: See Semester Award.
How and when to apply: Complete a FAFSA and Express TAP Application (ETA) no later than May 1st of the following year. VVTA applicants must also complete a VVTA supplement. PGVTA applicants must also complete a PGVTA supplemnt.
Veterans Tuition Awards
Veterans Tuition Awards (VTA) provide up to $1,000 per semester for full-time study or $500 per semester for part-time study to eligible veterans matriculated at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution or in an approved vocational training program in New York State.
Award Amounts
For full-time study, awards are $1,000 per semester, or tuition, whichever is less. Full-time study is defined as 12 or more credits per semester (or the equivalent) at a degree-granting institution, or 24 or more hours per week in a vocational training program.
For part-time study, awards are $500 per semester, or tuition, whichever is less. Part-time study is defined as 3-11 credits per semester (or the equivalent) at a degree-granting institution, or 6-23 hours per week in a vocational training program.
Total undergraduate and graduate veterans tuition awards received cannot exceed $10,000.
If a Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award is also received, the combined academic year award cannot exceed tuition. Thus, the TAP award will be reduced accordingly.
Study Requirements
Full-Time Study
Undergraduate Degree-Granting Programs - Awards are available for up to 8 semesters (4 years) of undergraduate study. Awards can be made available for up to 10 semesters of undergraduate study for enrollment in a 5-year program or for enrollment in an approved program of remedial study.
Graduate Degree-Granting Programs - Awards are available for up to 6 semesters (3 years) of graduate study.
Vocational Training Programs - Awards are available for up to a maximum of 4 semesters (2 years) of study in an approved vocational training program.
Part-Time Study
Undergraduate Degree-Granting Programs - Awards are available for up to 16 semesters (8 years) of part-time undergraduate study. Awards can be made available for up to 20 semesters of undergraduate study for enrollment in a 5-year program or for enrollment in an approved program of remedial study.
Graduate Degree-Granting Programs - Awards are available for up to 12 semesters (6 years) of part-time graduate study.
Vocational Training Programs - Awards are available for up to a maximum of 8 semesters (4 years) of part-time study in an approved vocational training program.
Approved programs are defined as undergraduate degree, graduate degree, diploma, and certificate programs at degree-granting institutions, or non-credit vocational training programs of at least 320 clock hours specifically approved by the New York State Commissioner of Education for Veterans Tuition Awards.
Eligible Veterans
Eligible students are those who are New York State residents discharged under other than dishonorable conditions from the U.S. Armed forces and are:
Vietnam Veterans who served in Indochina between Dec. 22, 1961 and May 7, 1975.
Persian Gulf Veterans who served in the Persian Gulf on or after Aug. 2, 1990.
Afghanistan Veterans who served in Afghanistan during hostilities on or after Sept. 11, 2001.
These students must also:
Establish eligibility by applying to HESC on or before September 1, 2008.
Be a New York State resident.
Be matriculated full or part time at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution in New York State or in an approved vocational training program in New York State.
Have applied for the Tuition Assistance Program and Federal Pell Grant awards for full-time study, or for a Federal Pell Grant award for part-time undergraduate study, or enrollment in a vocational training program.
How to Establish Eligibility
Obtain a Veterans Tuition Award Supplement from a school or college financial aid office, a veterans' office, or contact HESC at 1-888-697-4372.
Questions regarding eligible service or how to document service can be answered by calling or visiting a local office of the New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs and/or a local County Veterans' Service Agency.
How to Apply For Payment
Undergraduate and Graduate Full-time Study Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and an Express TAP Application (ETA).
Undergraduate Part-time Study
Complete a FAFSA and a Veterans Tuition Award Supplement.
Graduate Part-time Study
Complete only the Veterans Tuition Award Supplement.
All applications must be completed by May 1 of the academic year for which an award is sought.