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New York State Financial Aid Pathways

Intro to presenter and HESC

We help you pay for college.

The Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) is New York State’s higher education student financial aid agency. HESC awards nearly $1 billion in financial aid to more than 330,000 students each year.

HESC helps New Yorkers attain their higher education through the administration of:

New York’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
Over two-dozen State scholarship and loan forgiveness programs
New York’s 529 College Savings Program
Financial aid outreach programs for students and families

HESC helps more than 300,000 students each year by providing more than $800M in grants, scholarships, and loan forgiveness benefits.

What you’ll learn today

Understanding Financial Aid
The Cost of College
The FAFSA – Deadline June 30 – It’s not too late to apply!
NYS Financial Aid
Steps to Apply
Support & Resources

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Students have three pathways to NYS financial aid:

NYS DREAM Act

FAFSA-TAP

Alternate Eligibility

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The 3 pathways are the FAFSA TAP pathway, the DREAM Act Pathway, and the Alternate Pathway.

The FAFSA-TAP pathway is for students who are US citizens or eligible non-citizens, such as permanent residents who are also New York State residents.

Students can apply through our website, HESC.NY.GOV

The DREAM Act pathway is for students who are not eligible for the FAFSA TAP pathway because they do not meet citizenship or NYS residency requirements for the FAFSA TAP Pathway.

Students can find the link to apply at HESC.NY.GOV/DREAM. Students are brought to the application portal, NYSDREAM.ApplyISTS.Net.

The Alternate pathway was created for students from mixed-status families who are eligible for the FAFSA-TAP pathway but do not want to submit a FAFSA due to privacy concerns about submitting information about one or more of their FAFSA contributors such as a parent or spouse.

Students can find the link to apply at HESC.NY.GOV/altpath. Students are brought to the application portal, NYSDREAM.ApplyISTS.Net.

The Alternate Pathway and the DREAM Act applications are hosted on the same webpage. We have added a new feature on this webpage to route students to either the DREAM Act or the Alternate Pathway application. We will review this tool later in the presentation.

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FAFSA-TAP Application Pathway

Start by submitting a FAFSA at studentaid.gov
Complete the NYS Student Aid Payment Application at hesc.ny.gov
This pathway offers the opportunity for students to maximize their potential financial aid.

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Federal Need Based Programs:�based on your SAI

Federal Non-Need Based Programs:

Unsubsidized Student Loan
Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students

Pell Grant
Supplemental Opportunity Grant
College Work Study
Subsidized Student Loan

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As mentioned before, the FAFSA provides federal financial aid, such as grants, loans, and work-study programs. �The FAFSA: The Key to Federal Financial Aid

·What is the FAFSA

·How it determines your Student Aid Index (SAI)

Let’s say your SAI is 1000…

That means that everyone with the SAI of 1000 is treated the same as you when the colleges prepare the financial aid awards.

It doesn’t mean there is a specific dollar amount of resources in a college savings account!

It’s more like your place in line for financial aid.

Federal Need Based Programs:

Pell Grant �($100 - $7,395) based on your SAI
Supplemental Opportunity Grant ($100 -$4000) based on your SAI
College Work Study �($ 1000- $2000 average) based on your Unmet Need
Subsidized Student Loan�($3500 - $5500) based on your Unmet Need and year in school

Federal Non-Need Based Programs:

Unsubsidized Student Loan (up to $20,500 for the undergraduate years)
Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (up to Cost minus financial aid)

Need to emphasize that the subsidized loan doesn’t accrue interest until graduation of cease attending.

The Unsubsidized loan does accrue interest while attending. If you can’t make payments while in school, the interest accrued is added to the principal.

The 2024 - 2025 interest rate is 6.53% for student loans. The PLUS loan is 9.08%

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FAFSA Support

FAFSA Guidance | HESC

Video & other resources

FAFSA/TAP Completion Events | HESC

Get help from an expert

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Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

A Wide Range of Financial Aid Programs Available!

See a full list of available programs at hesc.ny.gov/find-aid

Excelsior Scholarship

STEM Incentive Program

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HESC offers over two-dozen Financial Aid Programs Available! - (for undergraduate, graduate students, full-time, part-time, and even non-degree studies)

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

�The TAP application determines your eligibility to receive New York State financial aid programs. ��Note: if you are a Dreamer then you will complete the Dreamer TAP application.

The TAP application provides grants and scholarships. ��The award for TAP ($1000 - $5665) is determined by your combined family income (includes pensions), the number of family members enrolled in college at the same time, the cost of tuition and the year you first received any financial aid from New York State for college.

The TAP application determines your eligibility to receive New York State financial aid programs. ��Note: if you are a Dreamer then you will complete the Dreamer TAP application.

Excelsior Scholarship
STEM Incentive Program

Other NYS Programs at hesc.ny.gov

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DREAM Act Eligibility Application

NYS TAP Application Process Tutorial

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What is the New York State DREAM Act?

The New York State DREAM Act gives undocumented and other students access to New York State‐administered student financial aid to support their higher education costs.

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Who is Eligible for the NYS DREAM Act?

Eligibility Criteria:

U-Visa or T-Visa
Temporary protected status, pursuant to the Federal Immigration Act of 1990
Without lawful immigration status,�including those with DACA status.
Are currently of lawful status: permanent legal resident, paroled refugee whose parents live outside of NYS or the country

Immigration Status

Attended a NYS HS for 2 years; and graduated from a NYS HS;
Received a HS equivalency diploma
Be charged in-state tuition at SUNY or CUNY for a reason other than residency

Educational Background

Apply within 5 years of earning high school diploma or equivalency for under-graduate studies.
Apply within 10 years of earning high school diploma or equivalency for graduate studies.

Application Time-Limit

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DREAM Act Application Steps

Visit HESC.ny.gov/DREAM and click "Apply Today"
Create an account.
Add new application.
Submit your DREAM Act Eligibility Application.

Apply for DREAM Act Eligibility

After your DREAM Act Application is approved, submit your TAP application.
Accept TAP award.
Submit all financial aid applications, such as the Excelsior Scholarship.

Submit financial aid applications

Check your email for questions and/or updates about your applications.

Check your email for further�requirements & updates

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NYS Grants & Scholarships

TAP	Eligible students can receive up to $5,665 to help cover tuition expenses.
STEM	Covers tuition expenses at a SUNY or CUNY college for eligible students.
Excelsior Scholarship	Covers tuition expenses at a SUNY or CUNY college for eligible students
ETA Scholarship	Eligible students can receive up to $6,000 for tuition expenses at participating colleges.
For a list of complete grants and scholarships, �visit NYS Grants & Scholarships \| HESC

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| NYS Financial Aid Pathways

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Email: NYSDREAM@applyISTS.com
Chat: Log into the DREAM Act portal to chat with a representative
Live help via zoom: DREAM Act and Alternate Application Support Session.
Videos & resources

hesc.ny.gov/DREAM

Scroll to the bottom of the NYS DREAM Act webpage

DREAM Act Support

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| NYS Financial Aid Pathways

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Alternate

Eligibility�Pathway

NYS TAP Application Process Tutorial

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What is the Alternate Eligibility Pathway?

Pathway for students who are U.S. citizens or FAFSA-eligible non-citizens who do not want to complete a FAFSA due to concerns related to the privacy of their family member’s information.

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Why Choose The Alternate Pathway?

Privacy protection for students and families
Ability to apply for NYS financial aid without filling out the FAFSA

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| NYS Financial Aid Pathways

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Things to Consider

These students will not be eligible for federal aid
These students will not be eligible for Excelsior or ETA
Some institutions may require a FAFSA for institutional aid
Students who’ve previously filled out a FAFSA cannot remove the information from their database

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| NYS Financial Aid Pathways

Federal aid – Pell, work-study, student loans

There are considerations for students to be aware of, if they choose this pathway.

Students are not eligible for federal aid including but not limited to the Pell grant, work study, and more. Students may also not be eligible for institutional aid which requires a FAFSA application. Students should talk to their families or counselors about this consideration.

These students are also not eligible for the Excelsior/ETA scholarships. These students are excluded from these programs due to the Education Law, which outlines these programs as last dollar scholarships.

Finally, if students have submitted a FAFSA application in the past, they should consider continuing to apply through the FAFA-TAP pathway since their information is already in the FAFSA database. This may qualify them for more aid.

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After your Alternate Pathway Application is approved, submit your TAP application.
Accept your TAP award after it has been approved.

Check your email for questions and/or updates about your applications.
We may contact you if anything is missing from your application or for any issues.

Alternate Pathway Application Steps

Apply for Alternate Pathway Eligibility

Visit HESC.ny.gov/AltPath and click "Apply Today"
Create an account.
Add new application.
Submit your Alternate Pathway Application.

Submit financial aid applications

Check your email for further requirements & updates

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| NYS Financial Aid Pathways

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NYS Grants & Scholarships Eligibility

Grants or Scholarships	DREAM Act Applicants	Alternate Eligibility Applicants
Tuition Assistance Program
STEM
Excelsior
Enhanced Tuition Award
Memorial Scholarships

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| NYS Financial Aid Pathways

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Email: NYSDREAM@applyISTS.com
Chat: Log into the DREAM Act portal to chat with a representative
Live help via zoom: DREAM Act and Alternate Application Support Session.
Videos & resources

hesc.ny.gov/Altpath

Alternate Pathway Support

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| NYS Financial Aid Pathways

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Available

Resources

NYS TAP Application Process Tutorial

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Where to Find Scholarships

When searching for scholarships online, be sure to use a trustworthy site.

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TheDream.US

TheDream.US | Scholarships for Undocumented Students

TheDream.US is the nation’s largest college and career success program for undocumented immigrant youth, having provided more than 10,000 college scholarships to Dreamers attending close to 80 partner colleges in 20+ states.

21 partner colleges in NYS.

List of Scholarships and Fellowships – Immigrants Rising

Includes a scholarship/fellowship portal open for students regardless of any immigration background.

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute

NextOpp is designed to connect Latino leaders to scholarships, internships, fellowships, and other resources as you navigate their educational or career journey.

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A FREE scholarship, internship, and fellowship database: CHCI NextOpp - CHCI Next Opp - CHCI Next Opp

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Training

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Resources

Visit our website for more information

hesc.ny.gov

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL

@NYSStudentAid

New York State Student Financial Aid

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THANK YOU!

We’re happy to answer any questions you may have now!