Financial Aid

Part-Time Students

Aid for Part-Time Students | Part-Time TAP

Aid for Part-Time Students

 

What is APTS?

Aid for Part-Time Study is a grant program funded by NYS for part-time students who are NYS residents attending NYS institutions. There is a limited pool of funds, and funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible part-time students. For this program, part-time study means being enrolled for at least 3 but fewer than 12 semester hours per semester.

 

Can graduate students get APTS?

No, only undergraduate students may receive APTS.

 

How do students apply?

Complete an application available in the Office of Financial Aid. Applications are available annually in August. In addition to submitting a completed copy of the APTS application, students must submit an online TAP application through the HESC website and provide Hofstra University’s Student Financial Services Office with signed copies of the student’s (and parents’ if applicable) prior year NYS tax return and W2s.

 

What is the deadline for submitting the APTS application?

Applications must be received by Hofstra's Office of Financial Aid by October 6 to be considered for fall eligibility or February 28 to be considered for spring eligibility (students who submitted a fall APTS application need not reapply for spring consideration). All required documentation must be submitted, or else the student’s application is considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.

 

How much is awarded?

Up to $1,000 per semester is awarded.

 

How does a student qualify?

  • You must submit a TAP application through the NYS HESC website.
  • You must submit signed copies of your (and your parents' if applicable) prior year’s NYS tax return and W2s to Hofstra’s Student Financial Services Office.*
  • You must be matriculated in an undergraduate degree program.
  • You must be registered part time with at least 3 credits but fewer than 12 credits per semester.
  • You must be a resident of NYS attending a NYS college.
  • You must maintain good academic standing, including having achieved at least a cumulative C average after having received the equivalent of two full years of payment of state-sponsored student financial aid.
  • You must be either a US citizen, permanent resident alien, or refugee.
  • You must meet the income limits.
  • You must not have used up TAP eligibility.
  • You must have a tuition charge of at least $100 per year.
  • You must not be in default of an FFEL loan.
  • You must have a copy of your final US HS transcript/diploma or GED on file as of the first day of the semester in which you are applying for APTS.

*Unless all documentation has been submitted, a student’s application is considered incomplete and will not be reviewed for APTS eligibility.

 

What are the income limits?

The income limit is based on the net taxable income as taken from the NYS income tax return.

  • If you were claimed as a tax dependent by your parents, combined income of the student and parent cannot exceed $50,550.
  • *If you were not eligible to be claimed as a tax dependent by your parents, income of the student and spouse, if married as of December 31, cannot exceed $34,250.
  • If you were not eligible to be claimed as a tax dependent by your parents but you were eligible to claim dependents of your own other than yourself and your spouse, income cannot exceed $50,550.

*NYS regulations regarding dependent/independent status are different than federal regulations. Please refer to the HESC website for dependency.

 

If I meet the eligibility requirements, am I guaranteed to get it?

Not all potentially eligible candidates are awarded APTS funds. APTS funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until the allocation is depleted for the academic year.

 

How many total TAP/APTS/Part-Time TAP points am I allowed?

You are allowed:

  • A maximum of 48 points for four years of full-time undergraduate study or eight years of part-time undergraduate study
  • A maximum of 60 points if you are enrolled in an approved five-year undergraduate program

 

When will I know if I will receive APTS?

The processing of APTS applications and eligibility begins towards the end of the semester (early November in the fall and mid-April in the spring). Student eligibility is determined and awards are posted to students’ accounts towards the end of the academic semester. Students will be contacted regarding their eligibility once applications have been processed.

Since NYS awards are never guaranteed and APTS applications are reviewed after the start of the semester, students should not assume that they will receive APTS and should plan accordingly to ensure their bill is paid. Students will be responsible for any late fees incurred.

Part-Time TAP

What is Part-Time TAP?
Part-Time TAP is a grant and does not have to be repaid. Part-Time TAP is not the same as Aid for Part-Time Study. It is for NY state residents who were first-time, full-time freshmen in 2006-2007 or thereafter, who are attending part time at approved schools in New York state .

Who is eligible for Part-Time TAP?
To be eligible for Part-Time TAP, a student must:

  • Be a first-time freshman in the 2006-2007 academic year or thereafter
  • Have earned 12 credits or more in each of the two consecutive semesters, for a minimum total of 24 credits earned
  • Maintain a minimum of a C average

In addition, the student must:

  • Be a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen
  • Be a legal resident of New York state
  • Have graduated from high school in the United States, or earned a GED, or passed a federally approved “Ability to Benefit” test as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department
  • Be matriculated in an approved program of study and be in good academic standing
  • Be charged at least $200 tuition per year
  • Be taking 6 but fewer than 12 credits per semester or 4 but fewer than 8 credits per trimester
  • Not be in default on a student loan guaranteed by HESC or on any repayment of state awards
  • Meet income eligibility limitations

What are the income limits?
The income limits for Part-Time TAP are the same as those for undergraduate TAP:

  • Dependent undergraduate students or students who are married or have tax dependents: $80,000 NYS net taxable income
  • Single independent undergraduate students with no dependents: $10,000 NYS net taxable income

Semester Schools
Partial TAP payment will be made for students taking 6-11 credits as shown below:

Points Accrual for Part-Time TAP Payments - Semester Schools

Credits

Percent of Full Award

Points Accrued

6

50.00%

3

7

58.34%

3.5

8

66.67%

4

9

75.00%

4.5

10

83.34%

5

11

91.67%

5.5

How do I apply?
To apply, complete and submit the FAFSA at www.FAFSA.gov (1-800-4-FEDAID) and TAP application at www.HESC.ny.gov (1-888-NYS-HESC) and follow the instructions provided.

Am I allowed additional TAP points if I attend school part time?
No, you are not allowed additional TAP points for part-time study.

How many total TAP points am I allowed?
You are allowed:

  • A maximum of 48 points for four years of full-time undergraduate study or eight years of part-time undergraduate study
  • A maximum of 60 points if you are enrolled in an approved five-year undergraduate program

Note: The maximum TAP points allowed inclusive of both undergraduate and graduate study cannot exceed 96 payment points.

When I was in high school, I took Advanced Placement (AP) courses and received college credits. Can my school use these credits toward my eligibility for Part-Time TAP?
No. Advanced Placement (AP) credits and/or college credits a student earned in high school are not accepted toward Part-Time TAP.

I am a first time freshman. Can I start school as a part-time student this year?
No, you need to have earned 12 credits or more in each of two consecutive semesters prior to being eligible as a part-time student. However, this prior study requirement needs to be met only once.

Can I receive both Part-Time TAP and Aid for Part-Time Study?
No, you cannot receive both Part-Time TAP and Aid for Part-Time Study as these are two different programs with different requirements and both programs use up TAP points. It is important to note that not all schools participate in the Aid for Part-Time Study Program; however, Part-Time TAP is available to all eligible students at SUNY, CUNY, and not-for-profit institutions.