Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

The Office of Financial Aid will begin reviewing individual eligibility for all New York State financial aid awards on the first day of classes each term. During this process we will review your enrollment status, determine your good academic standing and verify your approved major status. Awards being reviewed include the TAP Grant, including the SUNY Tuition Credit award, and all NYS Scholarships. Students will be notified of their eligibility determination via email upon conclusion of the review.

NYS awards will be credited to student’s accounts shortly after confirmation of eligibility.

Undergraduate: 1010

To be eligible for TAP, you must:

• Be a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen and a resident of New York State;
• Have graduated from high school in the United States or earned a high school equivalency diploma by passing a Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) formally known as a GED. (Must be on file with the university BEFORE the first day of classes in the term in which you are seeking the award);
• Be an undergraduate student and or being charged undergraduate tuition if in a dual degree or combined degree program;
• Be registered for at least 12 credit hours that are applicable towards the student’s primary degree;
• Be an admitted, matriculated student;
• Be in good academic standing, per the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, with at least a 2.00 as of the 4th semester payment;
• Be charged at least $200 tuition per year;
• Be in an approved major once the student has earned 60 or more credit hours (Please Note: An intended major does not satisfy the approved major requirement. Students enrolled in intended majors with 60 or more credit hours will be ineligible for a TAP payment);
• Not be in default on any state or federal student loans; and
• Meet income requirements listed below:

• Academic year in which first payment of TAP or any state award is received.
• Type of postsecondary institution and the tuition charge.
• Combined family NYS net taxable income and Federal, State or local pension income, if applicable.
• Financial status (dependent or independent).
• Other family members enrolled in college.

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• After completing the FAFSA, apply for TAP by linking to the application directly from your FAFSA confirmation page.
• If you miss the TAP link after finishing the FAFSA, you must wait three (3) business days until your FAFSA data is received by HESC. After the information is received, you can complete a TAP-on-the-Web application.
• You must supply the school code for the institution you are attending. The first institution you list on the FAFSA will be automatically placed on your TAP application. Verify with HESC that UB’s school code (1010) is on your application.
• The TAP application deadline is June 30 of the academic year for which aid is sought. The academic year begins with the summer semester.
• To check the status of your TAP application or make changes, log onto the HESC site.

The NYS Higher Education Services Corporation maintains records of student TAP awards by assigning points for each payment. A full semester TAP award equals six (6) payment points; and a half-time (6 credits) award equals three (3) payment points. Part-Time TAP and Part-Time VTA points will reflect prorated points based on the certified number of credits a student is enrolled in.

An undergraduate student has a total of four years (or a total of 48 points) of award eligibility or five years (or 60 points) if enrolled in an approved five-year EOP program.

TAP Application Deadline for 2023/24 academic year: June 30, 2024

Summer 2023

• June 1, 2023: Students must meet good academic standing, citizenship and residency requirements. Final official high school transcripts MUST be received by this date.
• July 3, 2023: BEFORE this date, students must meet full-time study, matriculation, approved program, and tuition liability requirements.
• July 3, 2023: BEFORE this date, juniors (60 or more earned credit hours) must be accepted into a major.

Fall 2023

• Aug. 28, 2023: Students must meet good academic standing, citizenship and residency requirements. Final official high school transcripts MUST be received by this date.
• Sept. 5, 2023: BEFORE this date, students must meet full-time study, matriculation, approved program, and tuition liability requirements.
• Sept. 5, 2023: BEFORE this date, juniors (60 or more earned credit hours) must be accepted into a major.
• Oct. 5, 2023: BEFORE this date, students must have saved a Pathways selection.

Spring 2024

• Jan. 24, 2024: Students must meet good academic standing, citizenship, and residency requirements. Final official high school transcripts MUST be received by this date.
• Jan. 31, 2022: BEFORE this date, students must meet full-time study, matriculation, approved program, and tuition liability requirements.
• Jan. 31, 2024: BEFORE this date, juniors (60 or more earned credit hours) must be accepted into a major.
• March 1, 2024: BEFORE this date, students must have saved a Pathways selection.