TAP Performance Reports

The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) Performance Reports highlight the program’s continued success in supporting college completion for thousands of students across the state. The reports, which examine cohorts from 2013 through 2017, reaffirm the findings of the TAP Difference Report - TAP recipients are significantly more likely to graduate college. The reports highlight that TAP recipients achieve graduation rates higher than the national college average, underscoring the program's vital role in fostering student success.

Key Findings

• TAP supports degree completion: Over 70% of six-year TAP funding was spent on students who successfully graduated.
• Strong performance at key institutions: TAP funding first disbursed at SUNY or Independent 4-year institutions was most likely to benefit graduates by the end of the six years, with completion rates at these institutions consistently exceeding 75%—well above the national average of 62%.
• On-time completion rates improving: The percentage of TAP graduates finishing their degrees on time grew from 49% in 2015-2016 to 52% in 2017.
• Transfer students excel: Students who transferred from two-year to four-year institutions had the highest completion rates among both transfers and non-transfers, rising from 64% in the 2015 cohort to 71% in the 2017 cohort—again surpassing the national average.