Apply for New York State grants and scholarships

Demonstrating Financial Need 

Financial need can only be determined by filing the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Please review our application instructions for admitted freshmenadmitted transfer studentscurrent undergraduate students and all graduate students for more information.


This page includes information on the following programs:

 

New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) 

The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) helps eligible full-time students pay tuition at approved schools in New York State. Recipients must be New York State residents or otherwise qualify under the NYS Dream Act

An annual TAP award can be up to $5,665. Award amounts are based on a family’s New York State net taxable income, plus untaxed pensions. Because TAP is a grant, it does not have to be paid back. Review detailed TAP information.
 

TAP
How do I apply for TAP?

The easiest way to apply for TAP is through the FAFSA. New York State residents attending NYS schools can link directly to the TAP application from the FAFSA submission confirmation page. 

If you exited the FAFSA before completing the TAP application — and you filled in your New York State address and a New York State college on the FAFSA — the Higher Education Services Corporation will automatically receive your information in about three days. HESC will then send you an email or postcard with directions to complete the TAP application online. 

TAP recipients who wish to receive continuing payments must apply each year to verify that they continue to meet the program’s eligibility requirements. If eligible to receive federal student aid, TAP recipients must also annually complete the FAFSA. 

Students newly applying for New York State financial aid under the provisions of the DREAM Act must first apply for eligibility under the NYS DREAM Act before applying for TAP. If you have previously qualified under the NYS DREAM Act, you will simply need to add a new application to apply for TAP.  

What is part-time TAP?

Part-time TAP helps eligible New York residents attending in-state postsecondary institutions on a part-time basis pay for tuition. Part-time TAP is not the same as Aid for Part-time Study, which is explained later on this page. 

To be eligible for Part-time TAP, you must meet all the eligibility requirements for TAP. To apply, complete and submit the FAFSA and TAP applications. 

What do I need to know about summer TAP?

At UAlbany, enrollment in the summer term is always considered accelerated study.  

To receive TAP for accelerated study, you must have passed at least 24 credits in the prior fall and spring terms while enrolled in a UAlbany degree program, in addition to meeting general TAP eligibility criteria.  

The 24 credits must have been earned at UAlbany and be applicable to your program of study, meaning transfer credits cannot be used to meet this requirement. However, the equivalent of three credits in non-credit remedial hours for each semester can be included to meet the 24-credit requirement. 

To receive TAP for full-time accelerated study, you must be enrolled for at least 12 credits applicable to your program of study. 

To receive TAP for half-time accelerated study, you must be enrolled full-time in an approved program in New York State during the prior spring semester to be eligible. 

You must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits for undergraduate students) to receive TAP for the summer term. Students with disabilities are eligible for a partial TAP award if they are enrolled in at least 3 credits, meet all other TAP eligibility requirements and are registered with Disability Access and Inclusion Student Services (DAISS)

Effect on future TAP awards 

Using summer TAP counts toward the total number of payments you may receive. As a result, you could exhaust your TAP eligibility before completing your academic program.

You can receive up to eight semesters of TAP as an undergraduate student. EOP participants are eligible for 10 semesters of TAP as an undergraduate student.  

A half-time summer TAP award (6 to 11 credits) will use a half-semester of your TAP eligibility. A full-time summer TAP award (12 or more credits) will use a full semester of your eligibility. 

You also must meet New York State’s academic requirements at the end of the summer term to be eligible for TAP in subsequent terms or semesters. 

If you have questions regarding how summer TAP may affect your financial aid, please contact Student Financial Services at [email protected] or 518-442-3202

Important TAP Dates

The TAP application deadline is June 30 of the academic year for which aid is sought. 
 

Spring 2023 TAP Dates 

Student Action

January 17, 2024

Before this date, students must meet good academic standing, citizenship, residency and high school graduation requirements.

January 31, 2024

Before this date, students who did not graduate from high school in the U.S. must earn passing scores on an approved ATB test. 

February 14, 2024

Before this date, students must meet full-time study, matriculation, approved program and tuition liability requirements.

March 01, 2024

Before this date, juniors must have a major declared. 

The Excelsior Scholarship Program 

The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other student financial aid programs, covers tuition for eligible SUNY and CUNY students whose families earn $125,000 or less. Recipients must be New York State residents or otherwise qualify under the NYS Dream Act.  

First-time applicants who are also first-year students (freshmen) can use the Excelsior Scholarship Estimator.

Review detailed Excelsior Scholarship information.
 

Excelsior
Why was I denied an Excelsior award and can I appeal the decision? 

Students must meet several Excelsior Scholarship eligibility requirements set by the state to be eligible to receive an Excelsior Scholarship.

For example, students whose other grants and scholarships total more than tuition, minus fees, won’t receive an Excelsior Scholarship because the award covers tuition, and students who did not earn a total of 30 credits per year toward their degree without a break in enrollment are also ineligible.

New applicants must appeal their disqualification with HESC directly.

Prior Excelsior recipients who do not meet the annual credit or continuous enrollment requirements due to one of the conditions indicated below may appeal their disqualification with the UAlbany Office of Financial Aid. Circumstances other than those listed below cannot be considered.

  • You experience the death of an immediate family member.
  • You are called to active military duty.
  • You interrupt your studies to take care of your newborn child (parental leave).
  • Your medical or health care provider determines that your medical condition or mental health prevents you from beginning or continuing the term or from continuing a full-time course load.
  • You interrupt your studies to care for an immediate family member whose medical or heath care provider has determined to need additional support or care, which impacts your ability to begin or continue the term or from continuing a full-time course load.

Contact Student Financial Services at [email protected] or 518-442-3202 for more information.

What is an Excelsior Tuition Credit?

The Excelsior Tuition Credit is an institutional credit. This financial aid award is limited to Excelsior Scholarship recipients. It is awarded only in the amount to cover the tuition charge, minus fees, after all other grants and scholarships (including the Excelsior Scholarship) have been applied. Here are three examples: 

 

Example No. 1: Full Excelsior Award 

Fall 2022 Semester Tuition 

$3,535

Pell Grant

$0

Federal student loans

$0

Federal work-study

$0

Outside scholarship

$0

Tuition balance before Excelsior

$3,535

Excelsior Award

$2,750 

Excelsior Tuition Credit

$785

Tuition balance after Excelsior

$0

 

Example No. 2: Partial Excelsior Award 

Fall 2022 Semester Tuition 

$3,535

Pell Grant

$1,500

University at Albany scholarship

$500

TAP Grant

$1,000

Outside scholarship

$200

Tuition balance before Excelsior

$335

Excelsior Award

$335

Excelsior Tuition Credit

$0

Tuition balance after Excelsior

$0

 

Example No. 3: No Excelsior Award 

Fall 2022 Semester Tuition 

$3,535

Pell Grant

$500

University at Albany scholarship

$1,000

TAP Grant

$1,000

Outside scholarship

$1,035

Tuition balance before Excelsior

$0

Excelsior Award

$0

Excelsior Tuition Credit

$0

Tuition balance after Excelsior

$0

 

New York State Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS) 

The Aid for Part-time Study (APTS) program provides grant assistance for eligible part-time students enrolled in approved undergraduate studies.  

Recipients must meet UAlbany's institutional eligibility requirements, as well as the state’s APTS eligibility, course credit and income requirements. The amount of an APTS award is determined by the Office of Financial Aid and cannot exceed $1,000 per academic term.


How to Apply

APTS
Step 1: Request an APTS Application

Request an APTS application at [email protected]. Use “APTS” as the email subject line and include your name and UAlbany ID number in the body of your email. You will receive an application by email.

Step 2: Complete Application and Collect NYS Tax Returns

Complete the APTS Application and collect signed copies of the student, and if applicable, parent New York State Tax Returns as noted in the application instructions. Be sure the application is complete and has all required signatures, and all tax return copies are signed. Applications that are incomplete, unsigned, or missing signed NYS tax return(s) will result in processing delays or award denial.

Step 3: Submit APTS Application and NYS Tax Returns

Upload your application and tax return(s) to the Office of Financial Aid at https://albany.studentforms.com. Please feel free to contact our office at [email protected] with any questions.  

Note: For the protection of your information, students and parents are advised not to send documents with private information such as tax data, social security numbers or citizenship verification via email.

Additional New York State Scholarships and Aid Programs


Awards based on program of study

Additional
Child Welfare Worker Incentive Scholarship

The Child Welfare Worker Incentive Scholarship grants awards for child welfare workers employed at voluntary not-for-profit child welfare agencies licensed by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS).

Recipients must agree to live in NYS and work at a voluntary not-for-profit child welfare agency licensed by OCFS for five years after graduation, and can use the award to get a bachelor’s or graduate degree for not more than four years or two years, respectively. 

Masters in Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship

The Masters in Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship provides 500 top undergraduate students full graduate tuition awards annually to pursue their Masters in Education at a SUNY institution.

To be eligible, a student must be enrolled full-time in a master's degree in education program and agree to teach in a New York State public elementary or secondary school for five years following completion of their degree.

Math and Science Teaching Incentive Scholarship

The Math and Science Teaching Incentive Scholarship provides grants to eligible full-time undergraduate or graduate students in approved programs that lead to math or science teaching careers in secondary education. 

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program

The STEM Incentive Program provides awards for full-time study up to the annual tuition charged to New York State resident students attending an undergraduate program at the State University of New York (SUNY), or actual tuition charged, whichever is less, for the top 10 percent of students in each New York State high school if they pursue a STEM degree in a bachelor's degree program and agree to work in a STEM field in New York State for five years after graduation. 

Awards based on merit or achievement

Scholarships for Academic Excellence

Scholarships for Academic Excellence are awarded to outstanding graduates from registered New York State high schools. Awards are based on student grades in certain Regents exams and are for up to five years of undergraduate study in New York State. 

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

The Segal AmeriCorps Education Award is provided to New York State residents who have successfully completed their term of service with an approved AmeriCorps program.

Awards based on special circumstances

Aid to Native Americans 

Students must be an enrolled member or the child of an enrolled member of a New York State tribe to be eligible for Aid to Native Americans. Awards are available for two-, four- or five-year programs.

American Airlines Flight 587 Memorial Scholarship

The American Airlines Flight 587 Memorial Scholarship provides financial aid to the families and financial dependents of victims of the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 on November 12, 2001.

EOP Grant and Book Funds

The Educational Opportunity Program delivers services that empower students to complete their educational and professional goals. The program also provides monetary awards to qualified students. EOP grants are only awarded to eligible EOP participants and are applied directly to EOP students’ semester charges. 

EOP students also receive book funds for their first four semesters in the program. Book funds are distributed by check at the beginning of each semester. The number of semesters a transfer EOP student received book funds at their previous institution will count against the four-semester limit at UAlbany. And EOP students who are late in applying for financial aid will receive their book funds later in the semester.

Flight 3407 Memorial Scholarship

The Flight 3407 Memorial Scholarship provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of individuals killed as a direct result of the crash of Continental Airlines Flight 3407 on February 12, 2009. 

Memorial Scholarship

The Memorial Scholarship provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of deceased firefighters, volunteer firefighters, police officers, peace officers (including NYS Correction Officers), and emergency medical service workers who have died as the result of injuries sustained in the line of duty in service to the State of New York. 

Military Enhanced Recognition Incentive and Tribute (MERIT) Scholarship

The MERIT Scholarship provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of members of the United States Armed Forces or state organized militia who, at any time on or after August 2, 1990, while New York State residents, died or became severely and permanently disabled while performing their military duties, whether in combat or not. 

For information on financial aid for veterans and military-connected students, including the GI Bill and Military Tuition Assistance, please visit the Office of Veteran and Military Student Services website.

Regents Awards for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans

The Regents Awards for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans is provided to students whose parent(s) have served in the U.S. Armed Forces during specified periods of war or national emergency. 

For information on financial aid for veterans and military-connected students, including the GI Bill and Military Tuition Assistance, please visit the Office of Veteran and Military Student Services website.

World Trade Center Scholarship

The World Trade Center Scholarship provides financial assistance to the children, spouses, and financial dependents of deceased or severely and permanently disabled victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks or the subsequent rescue and recovery operations.