Financial Aid
NEW YORK STATE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMThe Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) helps eligible New York residents attending in-state postsecondary institutions pay for tuition. Depending on the academic year in which the student began study, annual TAP awards can be as much as $4,000 at New York City College of Technology. Because TAP is a grant, it does not have to be paid back!
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
To be eligible for TAP, a student must:
- Be a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Be a legal resident of New York State.
- Study full time (at least 12 credits per semester) at an approved
postsecondary institution in New York.
- 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.
- Be charged at least $200 tuition per year.
- Not be in default on a student loan guaranteed by HESC and
not be in default on repayment of state awards.
- Meet the income requirement.
- Meet program pursuit and academic program requirements.
WHAT ARE THE AWARD AMOUNTS?
Awards cannot exceed the maximum amounts shown on the TAP award schedules or the amount of tuition for the academic year, whichever is less. For more information visit the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation web site at www.HESC.com
Sample awards subject to change:
| A. Dependent Students or Independent Students Who Are Married or Have Dependents | |
| First Year in Which
Student Received an Award |
Award Range |
| 2000-2001 and thereafter | $275 - $5,000 |
| 1994-95 through 1999-2000 | $275 - $4,125 |
| All years prior to 1994-95 | $100 - $3,575 |
| B. Independent Students Who Are Single With No Tax Dependents | |
| First Year in Which
Student Received an Award |
Award Range |
| All Years since 1994-95 | $425 - $3,025 |
| 1992-1993; 1993-94 | $425 - $3,025 |
| All years prior to 1992-93 | $425 - $2,450 |
WHAT ARE THE INCOME LIMITS?
- Dependent Undergraduate Students or Students Who Are Married or Have Tax Dependents - $80,000 New York State Net Taxable Income.
- Single Independent Undergraduate Students With No Dependents
- $10,000 New York State Net Taxable Income.
WHAT DETERMINES THE AMOUNT OF THE AWARD?
- Academic year in which first payment of TAP or any state award is received.
- Type of postsecondary institution and the tuition charged.
- Combined family New York State Net Taxable Income.
- Financial status (dependent or independent).
- Other family members enrolled in college.
- Number of TAP payments used (Effective 2000-01 TAP awards
are reduced by $150, after 4 semester payments have been received.
For 2001-02 and thereafter, the reduction will be $100).
HOW DO I APPLY?
Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) either online or by mail. Be sure you have included a City University of New York (CUNY) college in Step Six. CUNY's University Application Processing Center (UAPC) will mail you a pre-printed CUNY TAP/APTS Application, based on your FAFSA. Complete the CUNY TAP/APTS Application either online or by mail and obtain all appropriate signatures. Follow the instructions provided with the application. Mail it to UAPC in the return envelope provided with the application. There is no fee for filing either of these applications. See Applying for more detailed information on applying.
The filing deadline for TAP is May 1 of
the academic year for which aid is sought (example: for 2003-2004,
application deadline is May 1, 2004).
NEW FEATURES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
As of the Fall 1998 semester,
students who are disabled, as defined by the 1990 Federal Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA), do not have to be in full time attendance
to be eligible for Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) payments. If
your disability warrants
part-time attendance, you may take as few as three credits per semester
to be eligible for TAP.
Students who are disabled, as defined by the ADA, must see a counselor in Student Support Services, located in Room A-237, telephone 718. 260.5143, in order to establish eligibility for TAP under this provision.
Once TAP eligibility for part-time students
with disabilities has been established, the approval form from Student
Support Services must be submitted to the Bursar's Office, Namm
Hall, Room G-06.
AID FOR PART-TIME STUDY PROGRAM (APTS)
The Aid for Part-Time Study Program (APTS) is a New York State grant program that provides assistance to those attending college on a part-time basis on the undergraduate level. It is money that is paid to the school for tuition only.
PROFILE OF AN ELIGIBLE RECIPIENT
To be considered for APTS at New York City College of Technology, a student must:
- Be a matriculated undergraduate student. A matriculated student is one who has registered for courses and other academic activities that are recognized as "contributing" toward fulfilling the requirements of a specific degree.
- Be registered for at least 6 but less than 12 credit hours a semester made up of remedial and non-remedial courses that are creditable towards the degree, of which 3 must be non-remedial credits.
- Be a New York State resident.
- Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien or refugee.
- Meet the program income limits.
- Not have used up Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) eligibility.
- Not be in default of a Federal Family Education Loan.
- Maintain good academic standing, including, having achieved
at least a cumulative "C" average after having received
the equivalent of 2 full years of state-sponsored student financial
aid.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Application for APTS is an annual two-step process. You must complete two separate forms, the federal and the state forms. It is most important that you apply early! The quickest and easiest way is by completing both applications on the web at the same time. You do this by first completing the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov and then the second application, the state application via the link for New York State residents, found on the "FAFSA on the Web Confirmation" page.
After the two forms are completed on the web, you will receive a paper TAP/APTS CUNY Supplement Form. In order to be considered for APTS, this form must be completed, signed and returned to the processor in the envelope provided. Now, you are done.
UNIQUE NATURE OF THE PROGRAM
APTS is a unique financial aid program. Unlike TAP and PELL grants, in which all students who are eligible will receive funding, all eligible APTS applicants will not. The reason for this is that the APTS program is funded for a limited number of dollars per academic year. Historically, no more than 500 to 700 students who register part-time receive APTS awards.
Another feature of the APTS program is that the income levels for eligibility are higher than the income levels for TAP and PELL grants. (See INCOME LIMITS.)
INCOME LIMITS
Eligibility for an award is based on New York State net taxable income from the preceding calendar year.
If students were eligible to be claimed as tax dependents by their parents, family New York State NET taxable income can be as much as $50,550 to qualify for an award. Family income includes student AND parents' income.
If students were not eligible to be claimed by their parents as tax dependents, their New York State NET taxable income (including spouse's income) can be as much as $34,250 to qualify for an award.
If students were not eligible to be claimed by their parents but were eligible to claim tax dependents other than self and/or spouse, New York State NET taxable income (including spouse's income) can be as much as $50,550 to qualify for an award.
HOW IS APTS AWARDED AND WHEN?
APTS awards are applied on a per-credit, per-semester basis and are awarded only during the fall and spring semesters. There are no APTS awards in the summer.
HOW WILL YOU KNOW IF YOU RECEIVE APTS?
If you apply early and meet the eligibility requirements of the program at the time you register for classes, an estimated APTS award will probably appear on your bill. At a later date, you will receive an APTS award letter confirming that the award was certified by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation.
HOW MUCH WILL I RECEIVE?
The amount of your APTS award will vary, depending on the number of credits you are registered for and the availability of program funds. An APTS award cannot be more than the cost of your tuition. APTS awards at City Tech are either $20 or $45 a credit based on income.
