Students planning to attend college in the 2027-28 academic year can now apply for federal financial aid, New York’s Tuition Assistance Program and the state’s STEM Incentive Program, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday.
The applications have different purposes and deadlines. FAFSA and TAP applications for 2027-28 are due June 30, 2028. High school seniors seeking a 2027-28 STEM Incentive Program award must apply by Aug. 15, 2027. Students should check college-specific aid deadlines separately.
Hochul urged families to apply, saying an estimated $226 million in federal college aid went unclaimed by New York students in the 2024-25 academic year because they did not submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
How FAFSA and TAP work
FAFSA is the application used to determine eligibility for federal aid, including Pell Grants, work-study and student loans. Its information can also be used to determine eligibility for some state and college aid. Submitting it does not itself guarantee an award.
TAP provides New York aid toward tuition at participating colleges. The state says awards range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $5,665, depending on eligibility. Part-time students at SUNY, CUNY, independent degree-granting colleges and proprietary colleges may also qualify.
Income limits differ by household type. The state lists a $125,000 limit for dependent students, $60,000 for married students without dependents and $30,000 for independent single students without dependents. Applicants must meet the program’s other requirements as well.
Students who qualify under the Senator José Peralta New York State DREAM Act or the state’s alternate eligibility pathway may apply for state aid through those routes. For students seeking aid for the 2026-27 academic year, the FAFSA and TAP deadline is June 30, 2027.
The state Higher Education Services Corporation distributed more than $778 million in TAP awards to more than 294,000 students during the 2024-25 academic year, according to the governor’s office.
STEM award carries a New York work requirement
The STEM Incentive Program offers tuition awards to students who graduate in the top 10% of their New York high school class, pursue an approved science, technology, engineering or mathematics degree at SUNY or CUNY, and attend full time.
Eligible seniors can apply before deciding which college they will attend. Recipients must live in New York and work in an approved STEM occupation for five years after graduation. The state awarded $7.65 million through the program to 1,237 students in 2024-25.
Application fee waivers available this fall
The opening of the aid applications coincides with New York’s College Application Initiative, which runs from October through November. During designated periods, SUNY, CUNY and participating private colleges will waive application fees.
The initiative also offers help with college and financial aid applications, with a focus on first-generation students and students from underserved communities. Participating colleges and their waiver periods are listed through the state’s College Application Initiative.
Under New York’s universal FAFSA completion initiative, graduating high school seniors must complete the FAFSA, apply for aid through the state DREAM Act or submit an opt-out waiver. The governor’s office said more than 70% of the Class of 2026 completed the FAFSA. Eligibility details and application assistance are available through the state Higher Education Services Corporation at hesc.ny.gov.
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