New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

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.

Eligibility

To be eligible for TAP, a student must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen

  • Be an undergraduate student (graduate students are ineligible for TAP)

  • Be a resident of New York State (that is, you must have lived in the state for at least one year prior to the first term for which you are seeking payment)

  • Study full time (at least 12 credits per semester) at an approved postsecondary institution in New York

  • Have graduated from high school, or have a GED, or have received a passing score on an approved Ability to Benefit (ATB) test as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department

  • Be charged at least $200 tuition per year.

  • Be matriculated in an approved program of study and be in good academic standing

  • Have at least a cumulative C average after receipt of two annual payments

  • Have declared a major no later than 30 days from the end of the add/drop period in the first term of the junior year in an approved four-year program

  • Remain in good academic standing for New York State financial aid programs by meeting academic progress standards and demonstrating program pursuit each semester you receive TAP

  • Must not be in default on any state or federal student loan

  • Meet income eligibility requirements

Ability to Benefit

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.

  • The ATB regulation applies to all students who are first-time state aid recipients in the 2006–07 academic year or thereafter.

  • Beginning in summer of the 2008-09 academic year, students must take the ATB exam within the add/drop period of the term.

New York State TAP One-time Waiver and ‘C’ average Waiver

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:

  1. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP): a requirement that students accumulate a specific number of credits and achieve a specified cumulative grade point average each semester depending on the number of NYS award payments the student has received.

  2. Pursuit of Program (POP): defined as receiving a passing or failing grade (on a A-F grading scale) in a certain percentage of courses each semester depending on the number of NYS awards the student has received.

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:

  • A death or illness in the student’s family
  • Other extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the student
  • Personal illness involving either hospitalization or extended home confinement

ONE-TIME and ‘C’ Waiver NYS TAP Waiver Instructions

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.

ONE-TIME and ‘C’ Waiver NYS TAP Waiver Application Form

Please submit your application and supporting documents to the Office of the Registrar.

Download a copy of the application form.

NYS Good Academic Standing Charts

To receive payments under New York State Tuition Assistance Programs you must maintain good academic standing. This requirement applies to all students receiving payments from either TAP or the Aid For Part-Time Study program.

Academic Progress [for students who received their first NYS award in the 2007-2008 school year or meet the NYS definition of "remedial student*"]

Meeting the Academic Progress Standard requires that you:

  • accumulate at least 9 degree credits by the end of your 2nd TAP-supported semester and between 9-15 credits each semester thereafter, and
  • attain the minimum GPA as specified in the chart for each payment requested.

NOTE: If you are receiving APTS as a part-time student, you have two terms to meet the credit accrual and GPA requirement that a full-time student must achieve in one term.

*A remedial student is defined as either (1) a College Discovery student or (2) a student who enrolled in a minimum of 9 equated credits of remedial classes in their first year (including summer) at BMCC.

Academic Progress [for students who received their first NYS award in the 2010-2011 school year and do not meet the NYS definition of "remedial student"]

Meeting the Academic Progress Standard requires that you:

  • accumulate at least 15 degree credits by the end of your 2nd TAP-supported semester and at least 15 credits each semester thereafter, and
  • attain the minimum GPA as specified in the chart for each payment requested.

NOTE: If you are receiving APTS as a part-time student, you have two terms to meet the credit accrual and GPA requirement that a full-time student must achieve in one term.