New York Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

TAP is New York's largest need-based grant and helps pay tuition for state residents. Awards range from $1,000 to $5,665 a year and depend on combined family income, the number of family members in college, dependency status, tuition charges and when the student first received state aid. Income is measured by New York net taxable income: $125,000 or less for dependent students and for independent students with tax dependents, $60,000 for married independent students without dependents, and $30,000 for single independent students without dependents. Students must have lived in New York for 12 continuous months, or qualify under the NYS DREAM Act, and be in good standing on state and federal loans. TAP is available to full-time, part-time and non-degree workforce credential students. A student can generally receive it for three years in an associate program, four years in a bachelor's program or five years in an approved five-year program. The FAFSA and TAP application, or the DREAM Act application, must be filed each year.