New York Financial Aid: State Grants, Scholarships and Free College Programs

File the FAFSA first

Every state and federal aid program in New York starts with the FAFSA. Filing it early gives colleges the data they need to build your aid package and puts you in line for TAP automatically if you meet the income limits. Undocumented students who cannot file a FAFSA use the separate NYS DREAM Act application instead.

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

TAP is New York's main need-based grant, and it pays directly toward tuition at approved public and private colleges in the state. Awards run from $1,000 to $5,665 a year , based on household income, family size, and whether you enroll full-time or part-time.

Income limits determine eligibility:

• $125,000 net taxable income for dependent students

• $60,000 for married independent students without dependents

• $30,000 for single independent students without dependents

Apply through the FAFSA or the standalone application at tap.hesc.ny.gov. The deadline for the 2026-27 academic year is June 30, 2027, but apply as early as you can since processing and disbursement take time.

Excelsior Scholarship

The Excelsior Scholarship covers whatever tuition is left at a SUNY or CUNY 2-year or 4-year campus after your Pell Grant, TAP, and any institutional aid are applied. It is open to students from households earning $125,000 or less.

To keep the award, you must enroll full-time, complete at least 30 credits a year toward your degree, and have lived in New York for 12 continuous months before applying. After graduation, you commit to living in New York for the same number of years you received the scholarship. Leave the state early and the award converts into a loan you have to repay.

Applications for new students entering in fall 2026 are open now, with a deadline of August 31, 2026 .

NYS DREAM Act

Undocumented, DACA, TPS, T-visa, U-visa, and asylum-pending students can access in-state tuition and TAP through the José Peralta New York State DREAM Act . You qualify if you attended a New York high school for at least 2 years and graduated from it, or earned a New York GED or TASC, and enroll in college within 5 years of that diploma. Income limits under this route sit lower than standard TAP: $80,000 for dependent students, $40,000 for married independent students, and $10,000 for single independent students. Apply through the NYS DREAM Act portal in addition to the TAP application.

Enhanced Tuition Award for private colleges

If you plan to attend a participating private nonprofit college in New York, the Enhanced Tuition Award (ETA) adds up to $6,000 toward tuition for students from households earning $125,000 or less. The award combines your TAP, the ETA grant, and a matching commitment from the college, and it requires full-time enrollment and 30 credits a year, the same pace as Excelsior. Check hesc.ny.gov for the current application window, since ETA opens for a limited period each cycle.

STEM Incentive Program

Top students who plan to study a STEM field can apply for the NYS STEM Incentive Program , which pays full SUNY or CUNY tuition for New York residents who rank in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class and pursue an approved STEM associate or bachelor's degree. In exchange, you agree to live and work in a STEM field in New York for 5 years after graduation. Applications open roughly a year before the fall term you plan to start, so check hesc.ny.gov/STEM for the current cycle's deadline.

How the awards stack

These programs are not exclusive. A student under the $125,000 income limit can combine a Pell Grant, TAP, and Excelsior to cover full SUNY or CUNY tuition, while ETA plays the same role at a private college. Apply for every program you qualify for each year, since eligibility and award amounts shift with your family's income and your credit pace.