Part-Time Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

Provides tuition award to students attending college on a part-time basis

• Does not have to be paid back!
• Available to students taking six to eleven credits per semester
• Must be a legal NYS resident for 12 continuous months prior to enrolling or qualified under NYS-DREAM Act
• Academic year 24-25 NYS net taxable income cannot exceed $125,000 for dependent students; $60,000 for married students with no dependents; $30,000 for independent single students with no dependents
• Be matriculated in an approved program of study

Deadline & Application

Deadline

Didn’t apply for TAP through the FAFSA?

Award

$1,000 to $5,665 for 2024-25 academic year (the minimum award increased to $1,000 effective 2024-25)

TAP awards are pro-rated for part-time students based on the number of credits you are taking.

Annual

Must complete the FAFSA and TAP application or Dream Act application each year for payment.

Dependent on length of program

2 years for students pursuing their associate degree full-time.

4 years for students pursuing their bachelor’s degree full-time.

5 years for approved five-year degree programs.

Any award payment received may have tax implications. Please direct any questions to a tax professional, the Internal Revenue Service, or the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.

Eligibility

Part-time TAP is available for students attending SUNY, CUNY, proprietary, and independent degree-granting colleges on a part-time basis.

Undocumented and other immigrant students: before submitting your application, apply for eligibility under the NYS DREAM Act.

Citizenship & NYS Residency Requirements

You can receive TAP if you meet the following residency requirements:

• You are a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen. AND
• You are a legal resident of New York State and have resided in New York State for 12 continuous months.

Not a citizen or eligible noncitizen? Learn more about the NYS DREAM Act application.

Academic Requirements

High School, GED, or Ability to Benefit

• Graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma (GED), or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test.

College & Program

Once in college, you must meet the following requirements:

• Attend an approved college in New York State.
• Enrolled in six to eleven credits applicable toward the degree program, per semester; (at least four, but fewer than eight credits per trimester/quarter).
• Be enrolled in a degree-granting program of study and maintain good academic standing.
• Be charged at least $200 for tuition per year.

Income & Financial Requirements

You are eligible to receive TAP if you fall under any of the following income limits:

For the 2024-25 Academic Year:

• $125,000 or less net taxable income (NTI):
  • If you are a dependent undergraduate student within a household earning under the income limit or
  • If you are an independent undergraduate student (married or single) with tax dependents or
  • If you are an undergraduate student who qualified as an orphan, foster child, or ward of the court at any time since the age of 13.
  • If you are an independent undergraduate student (married) without tax dependents.
  • If you are an independent undergraduate student (single) without tax dependents.

  Financial Status

  To receive the Scholarship, you must:

  • Be in good standing (a non-default status) on a student loan made under any NYS or federal education loan program or on the repayment of any NYS award and
  • Be in compliance with the terms of the service condition(s) imposed by any NYS award that you have previously received.