NYS TAP

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• What is TAP?
  A tuition only award for undergraduate students.
  It is only for U.S. citizens/permanent resident aliens who are NYS residents attending a NYS-approved college/institution full time.
  Students must make academic progress as defined in the college Bulletin to continue to receive TAP.
• How do I apply for TAP?
  A link to the TAP application will be generated by filing the FAFSA.  If you filed the paper FAFSA, you will receive a paper TAP (ETA) or you can apply online at www.hesc.ny.gov. Applications are available as of October 1 for the upcoming award year. Students and, if necessary, parents will be required to input prior-prior year information, also known as PPY, onto the TAP application. Tax information for two years prior will be required for all subsequent TAP applications.
• How many credits do I have to register for to apply for TAP?
  12 credits per Fall and Spring semester. The 12 credits full-time course load must consist of courses applicable to the student's program of study as a general education requirement, major requirement, or elective. Courses that count specifically to Minor requirements will not count towards eligibility. Please check with your Center for University Advising Dean for clarity as needed.
• What is the TAP award based on?
  The TAP awards are based on you and your family’s New York state net taxable income, plus any federal, state or local pension income, if applicable.
• How do I know which form I filed?
  IT-201: This form is for a NYS resident who lived in New York for the entire tax year.
  IT-203: This form is for a NYS resident who lived in New York for part of the tax year, or for a nonresident.
• How will I receive my TAP award?
  Hofstra does not award TAP. A TAP estimate may appear on your financial aid award letter from Hofstra, and NYS HESC will send your estimated TAP award certificate directly to you. You can send a copy of the TAP certificate to the Student Financial Services department but you don’t have to. Student Financial Services will eventually get the information from TAP through computer processes. TAP (New York State Tuition Assistance Program) will disburse to the student’s account approximately 7-8 weeks into the term, after the absolute last day to register.
• Can my award amount change?
  Yes. New York State HESC determines TAP award amounts based on an award schedule, produced sometime after the annual passing of the New York state budget. HESC also verifies other family members enrolled in postsecondary education and completes a process called income verification prior to finalizing a TAP award. It is important that you always input the most accurate information when completing a TAP application so HESC can properly calculate your award.
• What happens if there is an error with my TAP application?
  As applications are processed, HESC will send either a request for information letter or email in order to satisfy an incomplete application. Any information requested by HESC can be submitted to HESC directly by logging in to the MyHESC account.
• How do I change a school code?
  Online at www.hesc.ny.gov or you can also call TAP at 1-888-NYS-HESC to change your school code.
• How do I change my address for TAP?
  Online at www.hesc.ny.gov
• How many semesters of TAP can I receive? Is there a limit to the number of semesters I can receive TAP?
  Yes, undergraduates are limited to 8 semesters of TAP. TAP is actually based on a point system.
  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
• Do I need to provide Hofstra University with any additional information for me to receive TAP?
  Yes. All students receiving TAP must submit proof of U.S. high school completion (final high school transcript, high school diploma, or an equivalent). This documentation must be submitted in order to receive the TAP award. Students have until the last day of the academic year to provide a final high school transcript or high school diploma. Failure to submit the necessary documentation may result in losing eligibility for that academic year’s award.
• What do I need to provide if I was homeschooled or if I graduated from a high school outside of the United States?
  Homeschooled students must meet the same criteria as students who attend public high schools: receive a high school diploma or the recognized equivalent, or a passing score on an approved ability-to-benefit (ATB) test. You must take and pass a Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) formally known as a GED and receive a New York State High School Equivalency Diploma from the New York State Education Department (SED) by the first day of classes to be certified for a financial aid award for that term; or achieve a satisfactory score on an approved ATB test by the term add/drop date.
  For students who graduated outside the U.S. but satisfy the New York state residency requirement and all other eligibility requirements for a TAP award, you must achieve a satisfactory score on an approved ATB test by the term add/drop date.
• Do repeat courses count toward being a full-time student for TAP purposes?
  No. Repeat courses will not count toward full-time enrollment for TAP consideration. The only instances where repeat courses will count toward TAP full-time consideration is if the student must retake repeated course(s) in question due to a specific grade requirement that was not satisfied.
• Must I declare a major (or specific major) to receive TAP?
  Yes. Students receiving TAP must be enrolled in an approved degree program to be eligible for TAP. Students must declare a major no later than 30 days after the end of the add/drop period of the first semester of their junior year to satisfy this requirement of Satisfactory Academic Progress/Pursuit of Program. Failure to declare a major by the deadline will result in the student losing TAP eligibility for the remainder of their time at Hofstra University. Students are allowed to change their majors after the deadline.
• How can I check to see if I am eligible to receive my TAP award?
  Hofstra uses the following chart to determine satisfactory academic progress for TAP awards as follows:

  Academic standards for non-remedial students who first received payment in 2010-11 and thereafter:
  Before Being Certified for This Payment	6 pt 1st	12pt 2nd	18pt 3rd	24pt 4th	30pt 5th	36pt 6th	42pt 7th	48pt 8th	54pt 9th**	60pt 10th**
  A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits	0	6	15	27	39	51	66	81	96	111
  With At Least This Grade Point Average	0	1.5	1.8	1.8	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0

  • * * (The 9th and 10th payments are for approved 5-year program students only, such as the 150-credit BBA in Accounting.)

  Academic standards for non-remedial students who first received payment in 2006-07,  2007-08 through 2009-10 and 2010-11 and thereafter, and remedial students. If a student’s first award was in 2010-11 and thereafter, and the student does not meet the definition of a remedial student, see charts for non-remedial students.
  Before Being Certified for This Payment	6pt 1st	12pt 2nd	18pt 3rd	24pt 4th	30pt 5th	36pt 6th	42pt 7th	48pt 8th	54pt 9th**	60pt 10th**
  A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits*	0	3	9	21	33	45	60	75	90	105
  With at Least This Grade Point Average	0	1.1	1.2	1.3	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0

  • * * (The 9th and 10th payments are for approved 5-year program students only, such as the 150-credit BBA in Accounting.)

  Academic standards for students who first received payment prior to 2006:
  Before Being Certified for This Payment	6 pt 1st	12pt 2nd	18pt 3rd	24pt 4th	30pt 5th	36pt 6th	42pt 7th	48pt 8th	54pt 9th**	60pt 10th**
  A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits	0	3	9	18	30	45	60	75	90	105
  With At Least This Grade Point Average	0	.5	.75	1.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0

  • * * (The 9th and 10th payments are for approved 5-year program students only, such as the 150-credit BBA in Accounting.)
  • Program pursuit requires the student receive a passing or failing grade in a certain percentage of the full-time minimum course load of 12 credits. During the first year of study, a student must secure a passing or failing grade in a minimum of 6 credits per semester (50% of the minimum full-time course load); during the second year, 9 credits per semester (75% of the full-time course load); and during the third and fourth years, 12 credits per semester (100% of the minimum full-time course load). Grades of W, UW, and permanent INC are not acceptable in meeting the pursuit requirement.
  • A one-time waiver is available for students who fail these standards due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the student’s control, such as severe medical problems. Further information about the waiver is available from your Student Financial Services counselor.

Get more information on TAP

NY State Residents
Apply for New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

Full-time undergraduate students who are residents of New York state may also apply for the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). This is a grant program, which means you don't have to pay it back.

How it works

After you submit the FAFSA, you will be provided with a link to your online TAP application. Once you complete your online TAP application and after the state higher education agency receives your FAFSA data, you will be sent an award certificate. If the link is not provided, you can complete the application directly at www.tapweb.org/totw. Have your HESC User ID and HESC PIN handy. To contact the TAP office by phone, call 1-888-NYSHESC (1-888-697-4372).