Financial Aid
A common myth surrounding financial aid is the misconception that it is exclusively accessible to families with low incomes. Contrary to this belief, financial aid is available to individuals across all income brackets, and eligibility is determined by various factors. It is essential to familiarize yourself with key programs and tools when seeking financial aid for your child. Understanding these resources is crucial for navigating the application process and accessing the support that can contribute to your child's education.
The FAFSA is a universal application used by almost all colleges and universities to determine eligibility for federal, state, and college-sponsored financial aid. It collects detailed financial information from parents and students, which institutions then use to determine the financial aid package offered to admitted students.
F.A.F.S.A Youtube Channel- @FederalStudentAid
The College Board's CSS Profile is an online application enabling students to apply for non-federal financial aid. Specifically designed for College Board member institutions, it offers a detailed overview of the financial and family situations of students and their families. This information helps colleges assess eligibility for institutional financial aid. The CSS Profile is more comprehensive than the FAFSA and should only be completed if a college mandates it. Keep in mind that there are fees associated with completing and submitting this application.
College Board Youtube Channel- @collegeboard
The NY H.E.S.C website has information on grants and scholarships offered by New York State. It also provides details about federal education loans.
High school students and their parents can sign up to receive text messages from the NYS Higher Education Services Corporation to get connected to the resources they need to prepare for college and apply for financial aid.
Text messages include key information about financial aid programs, how to apply, important deadlines, available events to assist students in completing applications, and resources to help put them on the right path toward their college careers.
Sign-up is quick and easy at HESC Text Messaging Registration.
Any questions can be sent to thepath@hesc.ny.gov.
H.E.S.C. Youtube Channel - @NYStudentAid
The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other student financial aid programs, allows students to attend a SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free. The program covers tuition for eligible SUNY and CUNY students. For the 2024-25 academic year, families who earned $125,000 or less in the tax year 2022 are eligible to apply.
For help filling out your financial aid forms check out this FAFSA WALKTHROUGH VIDEO.
The 2024-25 New York State Tuition Assistance Program Application is now open!
The application is available at hesc.ny.gov/TAP (NYS Higher Education Services Corporation - NYS TAP).
Students do not need to wait for the release of the FAFSA to complete their TAP application.
Students will need to create a HESCPIN Account using their email address and create a unique password to access the TAP application. Students who have a NYS Driver’s License, non-driver ID, or Student ID will be asked to include that information when creating their HESC Account.
Since HESC verifies the information in the NYS TAP Application with the information submitted in your FAFSA, students who complete their TAP prior to the FAFSA release will need to complete their FAFSA by February 15, 2024, or their saved TAP application will be deleted, and they’ll need to submit a new TAP application.
Once students complete their FAFSA, they can use the link at the end of the FAFSA to return to and submit their TAP application for processing.
SUNY FAFSA Update
From SUNY Chancellor Dr. John King
There is a place at SUNY for every New Yorker, and I am writing to share the steps we are taking in light of the U.S. Department of Education’s FAFSA delay in order to support high school students who are submitting applications to our campuses for Fall 2024 enrollment.
As you know, the U.S. Department of Education has announced that it does not expect to transmit FAFSA student record information data (ISIRs) to colleges and state agencies until early- to mid-March. This delay is creating a ripple effect in the timeline of all colleges processing financial aid awards. We know how vital federal and state grant aid is to our students and how difficult this federal delay is for them and for you.
To minimize the impact of the FAFSA delays on prospective students, please know that I have asked SUNY campuses to adopt the following strategies:
If campuses have not already done so, extend any deposit deadline for Fall 2024 enrollment to no earlier than May 15 for New York State resident students.
Do everything possible to ensure there are no reductions in Pell enrollments in the Fall 2024 incoming class due to uncertainty about pending financial aid awards.
Ensure there is no delay in reviewing and determining Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) financial eligibility.
Immediately communicate that SUNY is committed to expediting financial aid awards as soon as ISIR data becomes available so students and families will have a complete picture of their financial aid eligibility – including by working closely with you and other local K-12 district stakeholders and community-based organizations engaged in college access.
New Yorkers leave $200 million in federal financial aid on the table each year by not filling out the FAFSA. We are grateful for all that you do to support students and their families in completing both the FAFSA and the NYS DREAM Act application, and I know we are all redoubling those efforts this year. For additional resources, please see the National College Attainment Network’s Better FAFSA resource page.
I am confident that by working together we can get through this difficult period while ensuring all students understand the value of a SUNY education and receive adequate financial support to attain their goals.
If you have any questions, please contact our Recruitment Response Center at 1.800.342.3811 or askSUNY@suny.edu.
Thank you, as always, for your partnership.
Sincerely,
Chancellor John B. King, Jr. J.D., EdD.
FAFSA Update as of 1/31/24
The U.S. Department of Education released an electronic announcement notifying the field that institutions would receive FAFSA applicant information in March at the earliest.
Essentially, this means admissions decisions, scholarships and financial aid info may be delayed longer than normal for many seniors across the country.
The East Rockaway School Counseling Department will continue to monitor this situation and keep the community posted on new updates.