Published
The 2024-25 Excelsior Scholarship Program is Now Open!
The Excelsior Scholarship Program provides tuition for Students from families earning $125,000 or less can attend a state-operated SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free.
To be eligible, students must:
- Have an adjusted combined federal household income of $125,000 or less.
- Be pursuing an undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college or university.
- Be Enrolled in full-time study (at least 12 credits per term).
- Complete at least 30 credits per year.
- Live and work in New York State for a duration equal to the number of years you received the scholarship.
The 2024-25 NYS STEM Application is Now Open!
The NYS STEM Incentive Program provides tuition awards to students who are New York State residents attending a public degree-granting college or university located in New York State. To apply, students must:
- Be ranked in the top 10 percent of his/her high school graduating class at a NYS high school.
- Be a high school senior/recent high school graduate who will be enrolled full-time at a public college located in NYS, beginning in the fall term following his or her high school graduation.
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Be matriculated in an approved undergraduate program leading to a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics at a public college located in NYS.
- Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher.
The NYS Veterans Tuition Awards Application is Now Open!
The Veterans Tuition Award (VTA) is a financial aid program designed to provide tuition assistance to eligible veterans and their family members.
- Award covers the cost of tuition, not to exceed the cost of tuition at a state-operated SUNY.
- Available to students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree or in an approved vocational training program in New York State.
- Available for full-time and part-time study.
- Be a legal resident of NYS and have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months prior to the beginning of the term.
The NYS Regents Awards for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans is Now Open!
The Regents Awards for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans are scholarships for students whose parents served in the U.S. Armed Forces during designated periods of war or national emergencies and, as a result, have passed, become disabled, are missing in action, or were taken as prisoners of war.
- Eligibility must first be established by completing the Children of Veteran’s Award Web Supplement.
- Recipients can receive up to $450 per year.
- Be pursuing an approved undergraduate degree at a college or university located in NYS.
- Parents must have served during specified times of war or national emergency.
NYS College Application Month (CAM)
Early College Application Month registration is open through June 30, 2024. Register now for your school to participate and have the chance to receive the limited NYS CAM promotional items
Upcoming Financial Aid Presentations and Workshops
Navigating the financial aid process can be challenging. HESC offers a variety of events to help counselors, students, and parents navigate those challenges and successfully apply for financial aid.
FAFSA & TAP Completion Events
Need help making changes or completing your FAFSA and TAP application, but have questions or are unsure where to start? Join HESC and our financial aid experts for our virtual completion event to help you wherever you are in your FAFSA/TAP application.
Thursday, June 13 @ 4-6pm
Thursday, June 20 @ 4-6pm
What Juniors Need to Know about Financial Aid
This presentation will help high school juniors and their parents learn how to navigate the financial aid process, the different financial aid programs available, and how to apply for them.
Tuesday, June 25 @ 6pm
Thursday, June 27 @ 6pm
Common FAFSA & TAP Errors
Are you having trouble completing your FAFSA/TAP applications? We know that this year’s form has a lot of changes to it. We’d love to help you through the process to ensure you successfully complete all the sections and submit it correctly. Join us as our experts give you step-by-step instructions on how to fix some of the more common errors that students/ families are making when filling out their applications.
Monday, June 10, @ 4pm
Monday, June 17, @ 4pm
Monday, June 24, @ 4pm
HESC Virtual Drop-in
Encourage your students to drop in and connect with HESC experts to get answers to all their financial aid questions during one of our drop-ins.
Wednesday, June 12 @ 2-5pm
Wednesday, June 19 @ 2-5pm
Wednesday, June 26 @ 2-5pm
Attending College with Academic Accommodations
Please join HESC for an informative event designed to empower students with knowledge about academic accommodations in college. Discover the resources available to support your academic journey and learn how to navigate the process of accessing accommodations to tailor your needs in school on Tuesday, June 11 @ 5pm
Have questions? We’re here to help!
If you have questions regarding the TAP/FAFSA or about any upcoming event, please contact [email protected].
Informative HESC Fact Sheets
HESC offers various online resources to help students and families better understand the federal and state financial aid process and plan and pay for college. Here, you will find a selection of informative PDFs, including fact sheets and brochures, available for downloading HESC Fact Sheets.
Get Connected to the Resources Students Need
HESC Text sends students and parents text messages with vital information on financial aid, crucial deadlines, and valuable resources to help put them on the right path toward their college careers. Sign-up is quick and easy at www.hesc.ny.gov/hesctext.