Part-time TAP
Part-time TAP is available for students attending SUNY, CUNY and not-for-profit independent degree-granting colleges on a part-time basis.
Eligibility:
An applicant must:
- be a legal resident of NYS and have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months;
- be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen;
- have graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma by passing a Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) formally known as a GED, or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department;
- study at an approved postsecondary institution in New York State;
- be matriculated in an approved program of study and has a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.00;
- be enrolled as a part-time student taking six to eleven credits applicable toward the degree program, per semester; (at least four, but fewer than eight credits per trimester/quarter)*
- be charged at least $200 tuition per year;
- meet income eligibility limitations;
- not be in default on any state or federal student loans and not be in default on any repayment of State awards;
- be in compliance with the terms of any service condition imposed by a NYS award
- must have been a first-time freshman in the 2006-07 academic year or thereafter.
* Credit-bearing courses in the student's minimum part-time course load (6-11 semester hours or the equivalent) must consist of courses applicable to the student's program of study as a general education requirement, major requirement, or elective.
TAP Income Limits
| Student Type | NYS Taxable Income Limit |
|---|---|
| Dependent undergraduate students or Independent students who are married and have tax dependents, or Independent students who are unmarried and have tax dependents, or students who qualified as an orphan, foster child or ward of the court at any time since the age of 13 | $80,000 |
| Independent undergraduate students who are married and have no other tax dependents | $40,000 |
| Single independent undergraduate students with no tax dependents | $10,000 |
Award Calculation
To be considered for a Part-time TAP award, students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the NYS Student Aid Payment Application (TAP application). When the application is fully approved, TAP will be calculated with a full-time TAP award.
The TAP Payment Roster will be sent to the school with the full-time TAP award listed. Part time-TAP awards are recalculated after a school identifies part-time students when certifying its roster.
TAP Credits
Semester Schools
| Points Accrual for Part-time TAP Payments - Semester Schools | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | Percent of Full Award | Points Accrued |
|
6
|
50.00%
|
3
|
|
7
|
58.34%
|
3.5
|
|
8
|
66.67%
|
4
|
|
9
|
75.00%
|
4.5
|
|
10
|
83.34%
|
5
|
|
11
|
91.67%
|
5.5
|
Trimester Schools
| Points Accrual for Part-time TAP Payments - Trimester Schools | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | Percent of Full Award | Points Accrued |
|
4
|
50.00%
|
2
|
|
5
|
62.50%
|
2.5
|
|
6
|
75.00%
|
3
|
|
7
|
87.50%
|
3.5
|
Apply through the FAFSA
The easiest way to apply for TAP is through the FAFSA. Make sure you have completed your FAFSA!
New York State (NYS) residents attending NYS schools can link directly to the TAP application from the FAFSA submission confirmation page.
Didn't Apply for TAP through the FAFSA? You Can Still Apply
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 – HESC 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.
Received this notice from HESC? Apply now.
The Application Process Begins with Creation of Your HescPIN
At the beginning of the online TAP application, you will be prompted to create a HESC-specific user name and personal identification number called a HescPIN. You will use your HescPIN when "signing" your TAP application and when accessing your HESC account information in the future.
Payment
Recipients must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the NYS Student Aid Payment Application every year in order to receive award payments.