New York’s main college aid program has not kept up with rising tuition or inflation, and tens of thousands fewer students now receive help compared to 15 years ago, according to a new report from State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
The report, “TAPping in: Is the Tuition Assistance Program Still Meeting Need?” examines trends in the state’s Tuition Assistance Program, or TAP, from the 2008-09 academic year through 2024-25.
DiNapoli found that undergraduate TAP recipients dropped by 77,000, or about 21 percent, over that period. In 2008-09, 371,638 undergraduates received TAP. By 2024-25, that number had fallen to 294,470.
The steepest declines hit two-year programs, where recipients fell 45 percent, and private-sector schools, where they dropped 40 percent. The number of recipients from the lowest income households declined 38 percent.
Awards not keeping pace
While college costs surged, TAP awards grew slowly.
Between 2008-09 and 2024-25, the average TAP award increased just over 21 percent, reaching $2,643. Over the same period, inflation rose 44 percent. Tuition at SUNY and CUNY grew more than three times faster than average TAP awards.
The maximum annual TAP award for most dependent students stands at $5,665 in 2025-26. Only students from households earning $7,000 or less qualify for that maximum, an income ceiling that has not changed in 30 years.
The number of students receiving the maximum award fell 38 percent since 2008-09.
According to the report, if the $7,000 income cap had been indexed to inflation, it would equal about $14,840 as of September 2025.
Shrinking coverage of tuition
TAP covers a shrinking share of tuition, especially at public universities.
At SUNY state-operated campuses, average TAP awards covered nearly half of tuition in 2008-09. By 2024-25, they covered about 36 percent. At CUNY senior colleges, coverage dropped from more than 57 percent to about 40 percent.
Tuition at SUNY state-operated campuses rose from $4,350 in 2008-09 to $7,070 in 2024-25. At CUNY senior colleges, tuition increased from $4,000 to $6,930.
At private four-year nonprofit schools, TAP covers an even smaller share. In 2022-23, the average TAP award represented just 6.5 percent of average tuition.
TAP also cannot be used for non-tuition costs such as room and board, which have risen sharply and can more than double total attendance costs.
Recent rebound, but long-term concerns
The report notes a recent rebound. In 2024-25, the number of TAP recipients increased by about 49,000 from the prior year, marking the highest level since 2019-20.
Lawmakers expanded eligibility in recent years by raising income caps and broadening access for part-time and non-degree students. In 2024-25 alone, total recipients rose 20 percent from the previous year.
Still, DiNapoli warned that TAP has lost ground over time. Total undergraduate TAP spending fell from $810 million in 2008-09 to $778 million in 2024-25.
The report also points to high student loan debt in New York. In 2024, 1.3 million New Yorkers ages 18 to 34 held $40.5 billion in student loan debt, with an average balance of $30,300.
“TAP has helped generations of New Yorkers attend college, but it’s falling behind the realities of today’s costs,” DiNapoli said. “Updating award criteria so that TAP continues to be a useful support for families is needed to help New York retain talent and ensure students have the resources they need to succeed.”
The comptroller’s office suggests policymakers consider updating award criteria and examining whether TAP could help cover non-tuition expenses to better meet students’ needs.
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