Federal Pell Grant
Students accepted in a program and enrolled in courses that are degree/program requirements of their primary program of study should apply. Eligibility is determined by family size, income, assets, etc.; continued eligibility is affected by academic progress. Amounts range from approximately $767 to $7,395 per academic year depending on enrollment status. Available to both full and part-time students. Complete the FAFSA to apply.
Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) for Degree Programs
New York State residents who are accepted in a program, enrolled in 12 or more program hours and are in good academic standing should apply for this grant. Usually students are eligible if their family’s state net taxable income is no more than $125,000. Independent students (Married or Single with Tax dependents), the student's net taxable income, including their spouses income if applicable, must not exceed $60,000. For independent students with no dependents, the net taxable income limit is $30,000. Incomes may be higher if more than one family member is in college full-time. Annual awards range from $1,000 to $5,665.. Students may use up to six full time semesters of TAP eligibility to pursue an associate's degree. Complete the FAFSA and NYS Student Aid Payment Application.
Part-Time Tuition Assistance Program (PT TAP) for Degree Programs
New York State residents who were accepted in a program as first time freshmen in 2006-2007 or later, maintained a 2.0 cumulative GPA, and enrolled between 6 and 11 credit hours in their program of study should apply for this grant. Income guidelines are the same as the Tuition Assistance Program. Net taxable incomer cannot exceed $125,000 for dependent students; $60,000 for married students with no dependents; $30,000 for independent single students with no dependents. Awards are based on a prorated schedule through NYSHESC. Complete the FAFSA and the NYS Student Aid Payment Application.
Part-Time Tuition Assistance Program for Non-Degree Programs
Allows part-time students enrolled in non-degree workforce credential programs leading to employment or advancement of a student in a ‘significant industry’ as identified by the Department of Labor to receive part-time TAP.
Approved Programs
| Applied Electronics for Manufacturing Assemblers |
| Applied Electronics for Manufacturing Technicians |
| Bookkeeping/Accounting |
| Career Welding- non credit |
| Certified Cisco Network Administrator (CCNA) |
| Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)- non credit |
| Childhood Development Associate Preparation |
| Customer Sales and Service |
| Direct Support Professional I |
| Direct Support Professional II |
| Direct Support Professional III |
| Emergency Management |
| Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) |
| Enhanced Bookkeeping/Accounting |
| Health Administration |
| Mechanical Assembler Level I |
| Mechanical Assembler Level II |
| Pre-Nursing Primer I |
| Pre-Nursing Primer II |
| Recovery Peer Coaching and Advocacy |
| Tax Preparer |
| Teacher Assistant II |
| Teacher Assistant III |
| Technical Theater |
Approved programs are subject to change as mandated by NYS Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) and NYS Department of Education.
Some of these credential programs are for credit and some are non-credit. Certification is based on credit, so the non-credit courses will be assigned a credit hour equivalency.
Student Eligibility
Students must meet eligibility requirements for part-time (non-degree) TAP
Residency, citizenship, Income verification process (IVP)
Enroll in approved workforce development eligible program at participating college
Be a part-time student taking the equivalent of one to eleven credits
Must file a FAFSA and TAP Application
Other benefits- any awards specified for tuition only, such as employer tuition reimbursement, tuition specific scholarships, and some VA benefits will reduce the amount of part time TAP the student can receive.
Must be enrolled in 1-11 credits. Full time students are not eligible.
Eligibility Requirements not required for non-degree TAP
Student not required to have a high school diploma, equivalent, or passing score on an ability to benefit test to be eligible for an award
Students enrolled as non-matriculated in an approved non-degree workforce development program are not required to meet the 15 week requirement. (Matriculated students are not eligible for part time TAP for non-degree programs)
Student does not need to meet the requirement to be a first-time freshman in 2006 and thereafter
TAP Points
As with students working towards an associate’s degree, students are limited to 36 TAP points, which is the equivalent to 6 full time semesters. A student who uses 12 TAP points (equivalent to 2 full time semesters), will only have 4 additional full time semesters remaining if they choose to pursue an associate’s degree
Excelsior Scholarship
The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other aid programs including the Federal Pell Grant and NYS TAP, provides free college tuition to NYS residents who meet the eligibility requirements. To be eligible, a student must enroll full-time, complete at least 30-credit hours per year, be on track to graduate in two years, and have family Federal Adjusted Gross Income of $125,000 or less. Recipients must live and work in New York State for the number of years equal to awards received. Failure to meet these requirements will result in the conversion of the award to a no interest loan. Complete the Excelsior Scholarship application at www.hesc.ny.gov.
Additional Financial Aid Programs
Students who are accepted in a program and have financial need in excess of their Pell and/or TAP awards may be eligible for additional aid, as outlined below. Amounts vary based on financial need.
Federal Work-Study (FWS):
A type of federal aid that allows eligible students to work part-time while attending school at least half-time. The total amount depends on need, other aid received and the availability of funding. Available jobs can be found in MyCorning. Students are paid on a bi-weekly basis for the number of hours worked. FWS are direct deposited in the student's personal checking or savings account and not applied directly to their student bill. Complete the FAFSA to apply.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG):
From $400 to $600 per academic year and awarded to the students with the greatest financial need, are Pell eligible, and are attending at least 6 credit hours. Complete the FAFSA to apply.
Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS):
This grant is for matriculated part-time students enrolled in at least 3 credit hours and up to 11 credit hours. Applicants must be New York State residents and be in good academic standing prior to applying. For dependent students or married students with dependents, the family net taxable income can't exceed $50,500. Independent students must have a net taxable income of $34,250 or less. Students are not eligible if they have already used all semesters of TAP eligibility. To maximize benefits, only the higher of Part Time TAP or APTS will be awarded each semester, unless the student requests in writing, that they wish to receive both. Remedial courses can be counted toward a student’s part-time load hours if the student is also enrolled in at least three credit hours of coursework that is required for their program of study. Award amount is up to $1,000 per semester. APTS applications are available on our website: Financial Aid Forms. Completed applications are submitted to the EAC. Complete the NYS Student Aid Payment Application at www.hesc.ny.gov as well as the APTS application.