New York State Programs (HESC)

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

Applicants must apply annually to the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), Albany, NY 12255. The Higher Education Services Corporation determines the applicant's eligibility and mails an award certificate indicating the amount of the grant directly to the applicant.

The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is an entitlement program: awards are noncompetitive, and any student who meets the criteria for eligibility will receive funds. The applicant must:

1. be a New York State resident and an eligible U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien;

2. be enrolled full time (12 or more credits/equated credits) and matriculated. Equated credits, applicable to certain courses, are the number of scheduled hours of course meetings in excess of the credits that may be earned in that course;

3. be in good academic standing and meet TAP Progress and Pursuit Requirements

4. officially declare a major once 60 credits have been completed. Students may initiate a request online via iDeclare. Instructions on initiating a request may be found here.

5. Students who are eligible for New York State financial aid (TAP) are required to register for 12 credit-hours of courses per semester that satisfy their degree requirements (General Education, writing-intensive, major, minor, and appropriate electives).

All income data are subject to verification by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Undergraduate students may generally receive TAP awards for eight semesters of study. The amount of the TAP award is based on tuition charges and the student's New York State net taxable family income. To apply for TAP, students should complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CUNY TAP/APTS Supplement Form. Applications are required annually. The Lehman College TAP code is 1412. For more information, visit https://www.lehman.edu/registrar/tap.php

Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS)

APTS is a financial aid program for matriculated part-time undergraduate students. It is not an entitlement program, nor is it part-time TAP. To be eligible for APTS, students must enroll for a minimum of 3 but fewer than 11.5 credits/equated credits per term. To apply for APTS, students should complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (FAFSA) and the CUNY TAP/APTS Supplement Form. Applications are required annually. For more information, visit: https://www.lehman.edu/registrar/apts.php.

Course Repeat Rule for New York State Financial Aid

As of May 1987, if a student repeats a course in which a passing grade acceptable to the institution has already been received, the course cannot be included as part of the student's minimum full-time or part-time course load for financial aid purposes. When such courses are included in meeting the minimum requirement, they render the student ineligible for a State award. In the following instances, repeated courses may count toward full-time or part-time study: (1) when a failed course is repeated; (2) when a course may be repeated and credit earned each time.

Area of Concentration (Major)

Undergraduates who have earned at least 60 credits must declare a major via iDeclare in order to receive any New York State awards. Instructions on initiating a request may be found here.

Vietnam Veterans and Persian Gulf Veterans Tuition Award (VVTA and PGVTA)

VVTA and PGVTA are awards for full-time or part-time New York State resident undergraduate or graduate degree students who served in the Vietnam or Persian Gulf wars. Full-time students receive $1,000 per semester or the amount of tuition, whichever is less. Part-time students receive $500 per semester or tuition, whichever is less. Total awards received cannot exceed $5,000. Recipients must also apply for the Tuition Assistance Program and Pell Grant awards. Applications are available in the Financial Aid Office.

Regents Awards for Children of Deceased or Disabled Veterans

A special application must be filed with the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, Albany, NY 12255. Documentary evidence to establish eligibility is required with the application. The applicant must be:

1. the child of a veteran who died, or who has a current disability of 50 percent or more, or who had such disability at the time of death resulting from U.S. military service during one of the following periods:

2. April 16, 1917-November 11, 1918

   December 7, 1941-December 31, 1946

   June 25, 1950-July 27, 1953

   October 1, 1961-March 29, 1973

3. a legal resident of New York State. Legal residence in New York State is also required of the parent at the time of entry into military service, or at death resulting from military service. The amount of the award is $450 per year, for up to five years.

New York State Aid to Native Americans

Application forms may be obtained from the Native American Education Unit, New York State Education Department, Albany, NY 12230. The applicant must be a member of one of the Native American tribes within New York State and a New York State resident. The award is $1,100 per year for a maximum of four years of full-time study (or five years, where a fifth year is required for completion of degree requirements). Students must submit semester grades at the end of each semester.

SEEK (Search for Education, Evaluation, and Knowledge)

Application may be made by filing the City University Freshman Application and indicating an interest in being considered for the program in section four of the SEEK/CD Opportunity Programs section. The amount of financial assistance and other support provided to SEEK participants is based on need and fiscal availability. SEEK students must maintain full-time day matriculated status.

The applicant must:

1. be a resident of New York State;

2. be academically eligible (assessed by the University Application Admission Center;

3. be economically eligible (guidelines established by New York State);

4. be an applicant for admission to one of the senior colleges of the City University;

5. File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually.

Vocational Rehabilitation

Handicapped persons may be eligible for benefits under State rehabilitation programs. New York State residents should apply to VESID (Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities), New York State Education Department, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234, or any of its local offices.

For TAP/APTS Purposes Only

Received FIRST TAP Award 2010-2011 and Later

SEEK Students are excluded from this chart

Received FIRST TAP Award Before SUMMER 2006

TAP Program Pursuit and Academic Chart

Received FIRST TAP Award in Summer 2006 or Later