The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) administers the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) to help pay the tuition for eligible full-time and part-time students.
When you have completed the FAFSA on the Web (FOTW), the confirmation page will give you a link to the TAP on the Web (TOTW) application for New York State financial aid. Before completing the TAP application, you will be asked to establish a PIN (personal identification number) for TAP. This PIN will allow you to complete your application later, access your application information, and make changes.
After establishing your PIN, you will be able to complete your TAP application. The TAP online form will be pre-filled with some of the information from the FAFSA you completed online. Review this data, supply any missing information, and submit the form. Follow the instructions provided.
TAP school code for undergraduate students: 0550
If you choose not to apply online, HESC will mail you an Express TAP Application (ETA). Information from your FAFSA and your family's calculated New York State net taxable income will be preprinted on your ETA. Review this information; change any incorrect items, complete any missing items, then sign and mail the form using the return envelope.
If you provide an e-mail address on your FAFSA, HESC will use that address to contact you about your TAP application, give you processing updates, or award information. Please respond to any requests or instructions sent by HESC.
To be eligible for TAP, a student must:
The Ability to Benefit (ATB) test must be passed if a student does not have a high school diploma or GED from within the United States.
Full time students who are New York State (NYS) residents and have applied for the NYS TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) will receive an award notice from NYS TAP. The award must be certified by the Office of the Registrar each semester based on current regulatory and academic requirements after the final date to drop a course.
Among the requirements is the obligation of the student to maintain New York State’s definition of “good academic standing” which has two components:
If a student becomes ineligible for a TAP award due to the loss of good academic standing, s/he may apply to NYSID for a TAP one-time waiver under exceptional or unexpected circumstances. In certain cases, the requirements regarding POP or SAP may be waived once during their undergraduate career. Once a student requests and uses their one-time waiver, the student will have exhausted any future opportunity to have a TAP waiver accepted and approved at an undergraduate level (up to and including the pursuit or completion of a Baccalaureate degree).
The ‘C’ Waiver is intended for students who may have difficulty maintaining an average of C (2.0) or more while receiving NYS TAP. In order to be eligible for a C waiver, students must have received the equivalent of two or more full years of TAP awards and would have accumulated 24 or more payment points in prior terms. The ‘C’ average waiver is separate from the one-time good academic standing waiver and may be granted more than once if circumstances warrant.
Waivers are based on an undue hardship that has affected the student’s ability to maintain good academic standing during any semester. A waiver will not be granted automatically; it must originate with the student and is intended only to accommodate extraordinary or unusual cases. Waivers are based on documented evidence of:
The New York School Education Department regulations permit students to receive a ONE-TIME waiver of good academic standing requirement as an undergraduate student. If this waiver is granted (upon approval from the TAP waiver committee), the student will have exhausted any future opportunity to have a TAP waiver accepted and approved at an undergraduate level (up to and including the pursuit or completion of a Baccalaureate degree).
The waiver is not automatic and is intended only to accommodate extenuating circumstances or unusual cases. The waiver is only applicable when there is a reasonable expectation that the student will meet future requirements. Specific details regarding the extenuating circumstances need to be reported, such as specific events and dates, and appropriate documentation is required.
Please note that applying for a one-time TAP waiver is not a guarantee that you will be approved. Payment arrangements for the entire balance MUST be made no later than the due date stated on your invoice to avoid potential holds, penalty fees and/or deregistration from classes. The waiver will be granted only when there is a reasonable expectation that the student will meet future requirements.
The ‘C’ Waiver is intended for students who may have difficulty maintaining an average of C (2.0) or more while receiving NYS TAP. In order to be eligible for a C waiver, students must have received the equivalent of two or more full years of TAP awards and would have accumulated 24 or more payment points in prior terms.
If you wish to apply for a waiver, please request an application in the Office of the Registrar, 69th Street Building, 2nd floor.
